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Has anyone here ever worked at Petco or Petsmart?

Posted: Dec 31, 2012

In my quest to get out of this godforsaken MT sweatshop business, and due to my lack of skill / desire to work in other aspects of healthcare, or typical office settings anymore, I've been seriously looking at retail jobs at Petco and Petsmart. Where I live there are lots of them, all within 10 miles in any direction!

I'm a couple years out from retirement age, but can never retire. I'm physically fit and healthy. I love all animals, even rats, snakes. Every time I go into one of those stores, I like the atomosphere, and think I would fit in and enjoy the work. Petco in particular offers amazing benefits, even for part-time employees. And Petsmart has a beautiful, large cat-adoption center (where I tend to spend most of my time whenever I go there to buy cat food & litter.)

So, I just thought I'd throw that out there. Anyone ever worked there? Did you enjoy it? Hate it? Move up into management? Do you feel a person over 50 has a chance of being hired there? All input/feedback welcomed!

;

I never worked there, - but always thought this

[ In Reply To ..]
would be my ideal job in retail. Does your Petsmart have the Pethotel? That looked like so much fun to me, and also the kitty adoption too (those cats would probably think I was crazy, I would be giving them so much love!) I see "mature" types working there too. Maybe you could even work your way into grooming or helping in the vet section. Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

Agree with above - Me

[ In Reply To ..]
I love the people at my local Petco. I also have lots of cats and sometimes there is a very nice mature lady working who also loves cats, and we chat and she gives me recommendations on what kinds of food to buy. It seems like a fun job. Good luck to you.

That sounds hopeful! Nice to know they hire mature - people, too. I think one area where - s*m

[ In Reply To ..]
I could excel is with helping people with litterbox issues... more than a lifetime's worth of experience there!
;D

They have both the hotel and the vet. I'm not really - that much into grooming, however - (s*m)

[ In Reply To ..]
(2 long-haired cats at home) so I get my fill of that already! But the rest seems right up my alley. I'm also fascinated by the birds (not in the same way a cat would be... LOL), and would like to learn more about them. Same goes for chinchillas. I would probably have a chinchilla if I didn't have cats.

I often have long - chats with

[ In Reply To ..]
The folks in the fish dept. They probably think I am some crazy, lonely person who wants to talk about fish (LOL), but most of them are very helpful. Ferrets seem like they would be fun too. I don't particularly like to see birds in cages, but I suppose if they are treated right it is not so bad.

I agree with you about caged birds... - would rather see them fly free. NM

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I did for about 2 years - sm - XXX

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but was part-time just for extra money, that and my husband was only home on weekends so gave me something to do after 5pm (worked 7am-3pm at FT job). I was a lead cashier, so not management, but was in charge of several cashiers and making sure the drawers balanced at the end of the night when I worked nights. I was making I think $8.00/hour when I left in 1998. You made more money part-time with each animal you "learned" with their training, I think I had dogs, cats and birds. We moved and had a baby at the same time (baby born 13 days after the move). Was set for a transfer to store near me after the move but DH was never home at a set time so it just did not work out and I had to quit, did not want to work both weekend days to hold onto it which is what I probably would have had to do. I have seriously thought about going back myself, trying to get into management. I did like it there though, just be prepared to stand for 8 hours. We did have those cushion mats though at the registers. I know the it is stressful for the managers though, but as a PT employee not so bad. I do not remember about any benefits as I did not need them, at least not insurance and I think I only worked 18-26 hours, it varied, 2-3 nights a week and first shift on Saturday or Sunday.

Loved seeing all the different dogs the most, and the 20% employee discount came in very, very handy.

Thanks for the description! I'm interested in P/T, as - I dont know about standing for 8 hrs. sm

[ In Reply To ..]
The ad didn't say what the hourly pay was, but even part-time gets healthcare, 401K + match, discounts on pet supplies, paid vacation and sick days, and even discounted gym membership. (LOL - the savings on cat litter alone might make up for any low hourly pay!) I did recently have a weekend gig where I was on my feet all day, and I was surprised that I wasn't really that tired. Was worried my back would hurt, but it didn't. I would be interested in training for everything they wanted to throw at me. If nothing else, at least I could then claim retail experience on future resumes. I would also like the opportunity to learn to use a cash register. Most places want cashier experience. I'd also been looking at auto dealership cashier jobs, since my working life actually started out in an auto dealership, where cashiering was about the only thing I DIDN'T do! But that was a long time ago. (Hint - I ran a teletype machine, and we did our accounts payable, receivable, DMV and parts journals by hand, in these huge ledgers!)

I'm also interested in other retail areas, but I think I would be much more interested in going to work every day and dealing with pets and pet supplies, than household furnishings, lingerie or linens!

One of the Petcos near where I live has a cat-rescue organization come in every weekend with cats and kittens for adoption. I love petting all the kitties - my only problem is I want them ALL! And I also enjoy it when people bring their dogs (or the occasional parrot or cockatoo on their shoulder) into the store.

Working in a vet's office would've been interesting to me, as well, but I would have had a problem every time a sobbing person came in with a pet that was going to be put down, because it just gets my waterworks going, as well, which I then have trouble turning off. So, better to deal with animals' owners in a happier setting!

PS: I only make about $5 an hour now, so whatever - they pay would be a huge improvement for me! nm

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I love my Petco and spent time there - P

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I have 2 little friends and we all love animals. I have worked in animal rescuing and adoptions and spent time at Petco. Our animals were mostly the cats then although we adopted out dogs at other places. Numerous Saturdays the girls and I would go there not only buying supplies for my 4 felines but to see and visit with the animals. It is a wonderful place to be around. I told the girls they should ask owners about their animals they walk in, most love telling you their pet names and also talking about them. Great place to be for anyone who loves animals. I am also with you about working where animals might have to be put down, my heart just would not take it, could not work around a veterinarian's office.

At PetsMart we had to wear those back support - sm - XXX

[ In Reply To ..]
brace/suspender things at all times since we had to lift/move heavy bags, cases of dog food, etc. Worked great at preventing any back pain, etc. I believe everyone wore them, don't know about now of course, don't notice when I go into our PetsMart here. There are no sit down jobs in that store, everyone is on their feet their entire shift. (except when I was in the safe room balancing the cash drawers, sitting at the desk at the computer). But sounds like Petco is the place to apply, like I said I do not remember about any benefits for PT at PetsMart.

I recently applied for a job at our local vet, got on here asking about interviewing, etc. Ultimately I did not get the job though, they went with 2 ladies who had medical office experience. I may get another chance if one does not work out though....

-- it was PetsMart by the way! - nm - XXX

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Need that extra coffee, it was Petsmart, not Petco! - P

[ In Reply To ..]
Sorry about that, brain freeze.

I applied there last year - Alice

[ In Reply To ..]
I applied at both Petco and Petsmart last year via their online application process. I never received a call from either. I included information about having my own pets, but that wasn't enough. Later, an advisor at the local unemployment office gave a seminar in which I was advised to make sure that the proper keywords are included on my actual resume. Companies like this often use some kind of software that scans your resume for keywords and discards it if it doesn't have those keywords.

So, if you've never done this type of work before, you might consider putting a paragraph on your resume about things you would like to do, such as grooming, bathing, love dogs, love cats, love snakes and rats, etc. And be sure to include anything that would be of interest to an employer. However, details of MT jobs are not necessary to include on a resume for a job at Petco or PetSmart; just a summary of the fact that you have been working.

I LOVE Petsmart just too far for me - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
to drive and make it worth it..But if you get into the dog training, you get like 20 dollars for everyone you sign up..my buddy does it and pulls in a lot of money that way..Dont know how the company is, but would rather play with animals then this any day..

Re: Working at PetSmart/PetCo - kjm

[ In Reply To ..]
I have never worked there but absolutely love going into the small animal department, particularly the guinea pigs. I usually bring a couple of my guinea pigs into the store with me whenever my husband and I go to PetCo and the people there love it and let us do a little bit of guinea pig 101 and educate people on the responsibilities that come with owning an animal such as a sweet guinea pig (the best part is the kids when they get to pet one of the guinea pigs and they get so happy just by getting to see an animal up close and personal like that). I have thought of working there myself but my allergies to certain types of cats, dogs, and other pets can get so bad that I am afraid I would be a bit of a detriment than a help! Good luck to you!

I used to have a guinea pig as a kid - his name - was "Rambling Sam". Love piggies! (OP)

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("Rambling Sam" was actually named after a horse I had read about in a magazine).

My husband worked at PetSmart for a few years. - grits

[ In Reply To ..]
He loved working there, but like everything else, it's only as good as the manager. Good luck!

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