Understanding hard skills like animal handling, basic grooming techniques, and knowledge of pet care protocols is essential for kennel assistants to ensure the well-being of animals.
Kennel Assistant Resume Examples & Templates
Looking to start your career as a kennel assistant? Our kennel assistant resume examples showcase essential skills like animal care and communication to help you stand out to potential employers.
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Popular Kennel Assistant Resume Examples
Check out our top kennel assistant resume examples that emphasize key skills like animal care, communication, and teamwork in a fast-paced environment. These examples will help you highlight your unique contributions to potential employers.
Ready to build an impressive resume? Our Resume Builder offers simple templates designed specifically for animal care professionals, making it easy for you to showcase your experience.
Recommended
Entry-level kennel assistant resume
What this resume does well:
This entry-level resume for a kennel assistant effectively highlights the job seeker's hands-on experience in animal care, demonstrating significant responsibilities such as monitoring health and implementing sanitation protocols. New professionals in this field must convey their practical skills and commitment to animal welfare through relevant experiences and achievements, even with limited formal work history.
Mid-career kennel assistant resume
What this resume does well:
This resume effectively showcases the job seeker's extensive experience in animal care, emphasizing leadership and operational improvements. The focus on customer service and training highlights readiness for greater responsibilities, demonstrating a strong trajectory towards advanced roles within the field.
Experienced kennel assistant resume
What this resume does well:
The work history section highlights the applicant’s strong background in animal care with notable achievements like conducting 120 pet check-ups monthly and managing inventory with 95% accuracy. The use of bullet points improves clarity, making it easy for hiring managers to quickly identify key accomplishments.
Resume Template—Easy to Copy & Paste
Michael Allen
Brookfield, WI 53005
(555)555-5555
Michael.Allen@example.com
Skills
- Animal Handling
- Pet Training
- Sanitation Standards
- Customer Service
- Inventory Management
- Team Collaboration
- Emergency Response
- Problem Solving
Certifications
- Certified Kennel Technician - National Animal Care Association
- Pet First Aid and CPR - American Pet Association
Languages
- Spanish - Beginner (A1)
- French - Intermediate (B1)
- ASL - Beginner (A1)
Professional Summary
Dedicated Kennel Assistant with 8 years of experience in animal care, specializing in handling, training, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Proven track record of improving efficiency and increasing adoption rates.
Work History
Kennel Assistant
Pawsitive Pet Care - Brookfield, WI
December 2023 - December 2025
- Managed care for 20+ pets daily
- Reduced feed costs by 15%
- Improved kennel cleaning efficiency by 30%
Animal Care Specialist
Happy Tails Sanctuary - Brookfield, WI
December 2019 - November 2023
- Trained 50+ pets in basic commands
- Enhanced adoption rate by 25%
- Spearheaded a ,000 fundraising event
Pet Handler
Furry Friends Haven - West Allis, WI
December 2017 - November 2019
- Assisted with pet grooming and hygiene
- Maintained 95% customer satisfaction
- Organized weekly pet social events
Education
Master of Science Animal Science
University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado
June 2017
Bachelor of Science Zoology
Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado
May 2015
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How to Write a Kennel Assistant Resume Summary
Your resume summary is the first opportunity to grab an employer's attention, so it's important to make a memorable impression. As a kennel assistant, you'll want to highlight your love for animals and relevant experience in caring for them. To help you craft the perfect summary, check out these examples that illustrate what works well and what doesn’t:
Weak resume summary
I am a dedicated kennel assistant with years of experience caring for animals. I want a job where I can use my skills to help pets and their owners. A supportive workplace that values teamwork and offers chances for professional growth would be perfect for me. I believe I can contribute positively to the team.
Why this summary misses the mark:
- Lacks specific details about relevant skills or accomplishments related to animal care
- Contains personal language that detracts from professionalism, making it sound less compelling
- Emphasizes what the applicant seeks in a role instead of clearly stating how they can benefit the employer
Strong resume summary
Compassionate kennel assistant with over 3 years of experience in animal care and support. Successfully improved the overall health of shelter animals by implementing a new feeding schedule, which increased weight gain in at-risk dogs by 20%. Proficient in administering medications, managing veterinary records, and fostering positive relationships with pet owners to improve adoption rates.
Why this summary works:
- Begins with specific experience level and area of expertise in animal care
- Highlights a quantifiable achievement that demonstrates measurable impact on animal welfare
- Showcases relevant skills important for kennel assistants, making it attractive to potential employers
PRO TIP
If you’re just starting out in your kennel assistant journey, consider using a career objective on your resume. This can help highlight your passion and goals instead of focusing solely on experience. Check out various resume objective examples tailored to the pet care field for inspiration.
Showcasing Your Work Experience
The work experience section is important for your resume as a kennel assistant, where you'll showcase the majority of your relevant experience. Good resume templates always emphasize this section to help you stand out.
This part should be organized in reverse-chronological order, listing your previous positions. Use bullet points to highlight specific responsibilities and achievements that demonstrate your skills with animals and customer service.
Now, let’s look at a couple of examples that illustrate effective entries for kennel assistants. These examples will clarify what makes an impact and what pitfalls to avoid:
Weak work experience
Kennel Assistant
Happy Paws Animal Shelter – Anytown, USA
- Cared for animals.
- Cleaned kennels and provided food.
- Assisted visitors and answered questions.
- Monitored animal behavior and health.
Why this work experience section misses the mark:
- Lacks specific employment dates to establish timeline
- Bullet points are overly simplistic and do not highlight unique skills or contributions
- Emphasis on routine tasks rather than compelling achievements or measurable outcomes
Strong work experience
Kennel Assistant
Paw Paradise Pet Resort – Orlando, FL
March 2021 - Current
- Ensure the health and safety of over 30 dogs daily through regular feeding, grooming, and exercise routines.
- Maintain a clean and sanitary environment, achieving a 100% compliance rate in health inspections.
- Communicate effectively with pet owners about their pets" needs and behaviors, improving customer satisfaction scores by 20%.
Why this work experience section works:
- Starts each bullet with compelling action verbs to clearly convey the job seeker’s contributions
- Incorporates specific metrics to highlight achievements and compliance levels
- Showcases relevant skills such as communication and attention to detail that are important for kennel assistants
Resume summaries and work experience are important, but don't overlook the importance of other sections. For expert advice on crafting a complete resume, refer to our detailed guide on how to write a resume.
Top Skills to Include on Your Resume
Including a skills section on your resume is vital as it highlights your key competencies and provides immediate value to potential employers. This allows job seekers to present their qualifications clearly, making their resumes more effective.
Hiring managers rely on the skills section to quickly evaluate if applicants meet essential job criteria, streamlining their selection process. For kennel assistant professionals, showcasing both hard and soft skills is important, as it demonstrates skill in animal care and strong interpersonal abilities, which will be discussed further below.
Soft skills are essential for kennel assistants as they foster trust and effective communication with pet owners, ensuring a caring and supportive environment for the animals.
When selecting skills for your resume, it's important to align them with what employers expect. Many organizations use automated systems to filter applicants based on these key resume skills, so matching their criteria is essential.
To improve your chances, carefully review job postings for insights into which skills are most valued. This approach ensures you highlight relevant abilities that attract both recruiters and ATS systems alike.
PRO TIP
Elevate your resume's chances by using our ATS Resume Checker. It identifies over 30 common errors, ensuring your application smoothly navigates through applicant tracking software. Start optimizing today!
10 skills that appear on successful kennel assistant resumes
Highlighting essential skills in your resume will help you attract the attention of recruiters looking for kennel assistants. You can find examples of these skills in our resume examples, ensuring that you present yourself confidently when applying for jobs.
Consider adding relevant skills from this list that align with your experience and the requirements of the roles you're pursuing:
Animal care knowledge
Communication
Attention to detail
Physical stamina
Teamwork
Customer service
Time management
Problem-solving
Compassion for animals
Basic veterinary procedures
Based on analysis of 5,000+ veterinary professional resumes from 2023-2024
Resume Format Examples
Choosing the right resume format is important for a kennel assistant, as it effectively showcases your animal care experience and relevant skills to potential employers.
Entry-Level 0 - 2 years
Functional
Focuses on skills rather than previous jobs
Best for:
Recent graduates and career changers with little to no experience
Mid-Career 3 - 7 years
Combination
Balances skills and work history equally
Best for:
Mid-career professionals eager to highlight their skills and growth potential
Experienced 8+ years
Chronological
Emphasizes work history in reverse order
Best for:
Compassionate leaders in animal care with extensive experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include a cover letter with my kennel assistant resume?
Absolutely, including a cover letter can significantly improve your application by showcasing your personality and enthusiasm for the position. It allows you to highlight relevant experiences that may not be fully captured in your resume. For tips on crafting an effective cover letter, consider checking out our comprehensive guide on how to write a cover letter or using our user-friendly Cover Letter Generator for quick assistance.
Can I use a resume if I’m applying internationally, or do I need a CV?
As a kennel assistant, when applying for jobs abroad, you may need to prepare a CV instead of a resume. A CV is more detailed and emphasizes your qualifications in the pet care field. Explore our resources for CV examples and tips on how to write a CV that stands out internationally.
What soft skills are important for kennel assistants?
Soft skills such as empathy and patience are important for kennel assistants. These interpersonal skills improve your capacity to connect with both animals and their owners, fostering trust and cooperation to ensure pets receive the best care possible.
I’m transitioning from another field. How should I highlight my experience?
When applying for kennel assistant positions, highlight transferable skills such as teamwork, organization, and communication from your previous jobs. These abilities show you can adapt to a fast-paced environment and care for animals effectively. Share specific instances where you've demonstrated these skills to illustrate how they apply to the responsibilities in this role.
How do I write a resume with no experience?
Creating a resume with no experience for a kennel assistant role can highlight volunteer positions, animal care certifications, and soft skills such as communication and empathy. To make a lasting impression on employers, focus on your passion for animal welfare rather than formal job history.
Should I include a personal mission statement on my kennel assistant resume?
Yes, adding a personal mission statement to your resume is advisable. Including it effectively conveys your core values, dedication to animal care, and career aspirations. This approach works best for organizations that share a strong commitment to animal welfare and prioritize compassionate service.
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