1,100 Apply For Summer Zoo Jobs

By Erika Summers – Action 3 News

Omaha, NE – People flocked to the zoo; not to see all the animals or exhibits, but hoping to get a job working with them. The Henry Doorly Zoo job fair started off with a line all the way out the door. It’s another sign the economy is still struggling.

An all day job fair for part-time and full-time work at the zoo brings in 1,100 applicants. That’s a huge increase from last year which had 699 people apply for the job.

Still struggling in a tough economy, the words “you’re hired” aren’t heard often enough. It shows as a line full of Henry Doorly Zoo job seekers stretches up the stairs and fills several rooms. “There’s a job fair here and I need a job. Way the economy is, I’ve been out of work for awhile,” said job seeker, Dave Campos.

Tough competition is obvious. Just in the first hour, more than 500 people applied to work at the zoo. The zoo will hire 300 to work the summer months during the zoo’s busiest time. People with years of experience in the workforce stand in line hoping for the same opportunity as teenagers trying to get their first job. “My parents want me to get out of the house more often and I sort of need the money,” said job seeker, Nick Tuschen.

14-year-old Amber Flaming tells Action 3 News she wants to start building up her resume now. “I love animals. When I grow up I want to go to college and be a vet and photographer so this will give me experience for that,” said job seeker, Amber Flaming.

Others are here because they have to be in order to pay the bills. “I have two kids in college and one kid’s college is $128,000 so it’s need based,” said job seeker, Robin Rada.

The zoo ended up interviewing about 700 people for the summer jobs.

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