Volunteering, Internships &
Externships
Volunteering is a great way to get experience and express your love of animals whether you are a student, retired or working. It can lead to a new career. If you are a student, internships and externships can also provide experience needed to test whether you might like pursuing a new field.
I've listed several links. This is not an endorsement of those programs--do your due diligence. You can also approach organizations not listed here and propose a position--don't limit yourself to programs you read abut. Most of you will be looking at volunteer experiences that are hands-on with animals. There are other ways to volunteer, for example, by joining the boards and junior boards of animal rescues and other pet-helping places. Basically, if you can think of a way to contribute, non-profits will be delighted to offer you the opportunity.
Remember, learning what you don't like is as important as learning what you do like.
Selected Links
Petfinder's "Volunteering With Dogs" (info about photography, prison dog training programs and more)
Dartmouth University's list for students (at many places)
North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
PennVet (University of Pennsylvania), for high school, college and veterinary students
University of Illinois, Dept. of Animal Sciences
The Hare Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University
Explore sites, think about what you really want and develop materials, eg, cover letters and resumes, that reflect your passion as well as what you offer. You can do this even if you don't think you have experience! I'll show you how.