Petsmart Resume Example
If you're hoping to step into a career as a a PetSmart, you'll need experience in maintaining store cleanliness and stocking shelves efficiently. A strong resume for Petsmart applications showcases your skills, experience and achievements and helps you stand out from other candidates. In this article, we'll discuss how to create a PetSmart resume that catches the eye of employers, with tips and examples to help you write your own.
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After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a PetSmart employee resume that really stands out from other applicants. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant industry skills and achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Continue reading to find the best PetSmart resume tips from careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in a PetSmart employee resume
A successful PetSmart resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections.
How you choose to present your resume is up to you. There are plenty of options for a professional resume layout and format, but every application should include the following:
Resume Header with Contact Details
Your PetSmart resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Create a clear, well-structured header that acts as the headline of your resume. Use color accents and blocks to help this section stand out and catch the eye of the reader.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Elijah White
elijah.white@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
12 Grimmauld Place, Brooklyn, NY
https://linkedin.com/in/elijah-white-123
Resume Summary
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. Furthermore, when writing your profile, focus on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for PetSmart roles.
Alternatively, use this section to emphasize your career objectives and explain how and why this role is a suitable step for you at this stage of your career.
A strong resume summary focuses on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for PetSmart roles in a clear, quantifiable way. It also gives an insight into your personal qualities, to help the reader understand why you're a suitable candidate. See below for some great examples of how to approach your PetSmart resume.
Good example:
Dedicated Pet Care Specialist with extensive experience at PetSmart, skilled in providing exceptional care for a variety of animals including fish, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. Proficient in maintaining clean and safe habitats, monitoring animal health, and delivering knowledgeable customer service to assist pet owners with product recommendations and pet care advice. Strong background in inventory management, merchandising, and ensuring compliance with company policies and animal welfare standards. Demonstrates excellent teamwork, communication, and a passion for animal well-being
Bad example:
Pet care worker with some experience in looking after different animals. Worked in places where I kept areas clean and checked on animal health. Helped people with choosing products and gave advice on pet care. Have done some work with stocking shelves and following rules. Good at working with others, talking to people, and caring about animals
On the other hand, a resume summary can be ineffective if it lacks specific information about how your skills align with the job description, or fails to paint a picture of your unique qualities and talents. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your PetSmart resume summary
Work Experience
In the next section, list your employment history, taking care to mention anything relevant to the %{company-sector} industry. Include any career achievements that make you a strong candidate to work as a PetSmart. Add each previous employment in reverse-chronological order, focusing on roles that suit the %{company-sector} industry. This means starting from your current or most recent role and working back from there. List your job title, the company name, the location of the job and your dates of employment.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs in the %{company-sector} sector, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience required to work as a PetSmart. You'll also want to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers.
Good example:
Pet Care Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Paws & Whiskers Emporium, Spokane
- Successfully managed the care of over 50 pets monthly, ensuring health, grooming, and exercise needs were consistently met
- Implemented a new scheduling system that increased pet care efficiency by 30%, enhancing client satisfaction and repeat business
- Trained and mentored a team of 10 junior pet care assistants, improving overall service quality and staff retention rates
Bad example:
Pet Care Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Paws & Whiskers Emporium, Spokane
- Managed pet care responsibilities, ensuring all needs were addressed
- Improved scheduling processes to enhance operational efficiency
- Guided team members to boost service quality and retention
Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs that fail to show how you fit into the competitive %{company-sector} industry. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Educational Achievements
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for PetSmart roles.
Candidates aren't usually required to have a degree for PetSmart positions, but it's still worth listing your highest or most relevant qualifications. If you have a recognized certification or qualification, such as Grooming Specialist Certification, be sure to include this. You might also want to include any educational achievements that showcase animal handling expertise or POS system operation.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. You can also add some bullet points outlining any high grades, awards you won or specialist subjects you studied. Adding this information will show the employer your dedication to learning and your areas of specialist knowledge.
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any university societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, 2017 - 2020
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Hard and Soft Skills
The skills section of a PetSmart employee resume is a chance to list any skills you have that match those of the job description. You could include animal handling expertise, customer service expertise or any other skills that show you're a suitable candidate. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for PetSmart jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as a PetSmart.
Showcasing hard skills on your PetSmart resume
Hard skills are specific skills related to the job you're applying for. They include particular abilities, technical skills and industry knowledge that relate directly to jobs as a PetSmart. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in a PetSmart resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
For an effective resume hard skills section, focus on the technical skills that are most essential in the job description, and that match your specific expertise. Some examples of the best hard skills for a PetSmart resume are listed below.
- Pet care knowledge
- POS system operation
- Animal handling expertise
Soft skills on your PetSmart resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for a PetSmart job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. In fact, as technology develops, soft skills are growing in importance for recruiters and employers, so be sure to add several of these to your resume. You should generally look to include up to five soft or transferable skills that match the job description.
A strong soft skills section should play to your strengths, listing skills that reflect your personal qualities while also reflecting the skills listed in the job description. For some examples of good soft skills for a PetSmart resume, see below.
- Communication skills
- Customer service expertise
- Team collaboration
Resume tip:
Emphasize your technical expertise by listing relevant tools, software, or methodologies you’ve mastered, ensuring they align with the job requirements. (1) Structure this information in an easily readable format, using headings to separate skills, experience, and education. (2)
Certifications
Under this section, list any relevant certifications or licenses that are relevant to PetSmart jobs. These could be professional accreditations and licenses, or certifications that improve your level of suitability for the position. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for a PetSmart resume:
- Pet First Aid, 2022
- Animal Behavior Certification, 2022
- Grooming Specialist Certification, 2022
Optional Information
There are several additional sections you could add to a PetSmart employee resume, to improve your chances of success. Choose any optional sections that showcase essential or desirable skills or experience for PetSmart jobs.
Hobbies and Interests
Adding your hobbies and interests is a legitimate way of showing off your skills and personal qualities. Consider listing hobbies and interests to help your resume stand out, or to provide the employer with some insight into your personality and wider interests. They're perfect for candidates who might lack genuine work experience as a PetSmart. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Volunteer Work
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your PetSmart resume. Include the title of your volunteer role, who you volunteered for, as well as the dates you carried out the work. Provide brief details of your responsibilities and the impact you made.
References
Standard PetSmart resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Include a maximum of three professional references, being sure to check with your referees before including them in your resume.
References will be available upon request.
Best action words for your PetSmart resume
Add strong verbs to your work experience section to show the hiring manager the impact you made in your previous roles. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Assist
- Manage
- Organize
- Train
- Communicate
- Stock
- Maintain
- Advise
- Sanitize
- Monitor
If you need help creating a resume that impresses HR managers, take a look at Jobseeker's professional resume templates. You can also access beautiful cover letter templates that help your application stand out.
Example of a PetSmart resume
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your PetSmart resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
12 Grimmauld Place, Brooklyn, NY
•
elijah.white@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/elijah–white123
Dedicated Pet Care Associate with extensive experience at PetSmart, skilled in providing exceptional care for a variety of animals, maintaining clean and safe environments, and offering knowledgeable advice to pet owners. Proven ability to handle daily tasks efficiently, including feeding, grooming, and administering medications, while ensuring high standards of customer service. Passionate about animal welfare and committed to supporting pet parents with their needs
Pet Care Associate
2020
-2022
Pawsitive Pet Solutions (Baltimore)
- Successfully increased customer satisfaction ratings by 25% through dedicated care and personalized pet recommendations
- Managed inventory and reduced stock discrepancies by 15% by implementing efficient tracking and ordering systems
- Trained and mentored 10 new employees, enhancing team productivity and ensuring high standards of pet care services
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science
2017
-2020
University of South Florida (Tampa)
Pet care knowledge
POS system operation
Animal handling expertise
Communication skills
Customer service expertise
Team collaboration
Pet First Aid
Animal Behavior Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for a PetSmart resume
Tips for best resume practices
- Include any relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role, for maximum readability.
- Showcase your key PetSmart qualities with a strong resume summary or objective to catch the attention of the reader.
- Use action verbs to showcase how you've put your PetSmart skills to use in your career (e.g. 'assist', 'manage', 'organize').
- Tailor your resume to make it as relevant as possible to the role you're applying for. Consult the job description and adapt your resume to reflect the required skills and experience.
- Quantify the impact you've made in different roles by offering evidence of your key abilities and your contribution.
Steer clear of these common resume writing errors
- Don't include irrelevant work experience in your resume because it takes up valuable space and is unlikely to improve your chances of success.
- Don't use complex and elaborate formatting that can make your PetSmart resume less readable and more difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't lie or exaggerate the details of your PetSmart career or education, as this can backfire later in the recruitment process.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms that can make your PetSmart resume more difficult to read.
- Don't use passive language because it can switch off the reader. Adapt phrases like 'the work was completed' to 'I completed the work'.
Tips on creating an ATS-optimized resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. When you're writing your PetSmart resume, there are several things you can do to make sure your resume stands the best chance of passing the ATS stage.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Choose a resume structure that matches the traditional, reverse-chronological layout or alternatively, the functional resume structure. This should make your resume more readable for ATS applications.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Using clear, simple headings makes it easier for an ATS application to scan your resume, as it can easily identify what's in each section of your document.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
A PetSmart resume FAQs
Accompanying your resume for PetSmart applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
A traditional cover letter should follow formal letter-writing conventions and structure, including a header, the recipient's address and professional greetings and sign-offs. For the main body of the letter, open with a short paragraph introducing yourself and explaining your reasons for applying for the PetSmart role. Follow that with an explanation of your skills and experience and how they're relevant to the position. Close by expressing your gratitude and enthusiasm, and leaving a call to action that encourages the employer to open a dialogue with you.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
Even if you have little or no relevant work experience, it's still possible to write a PetSmart employee resume that makes a strong impression on employers. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. Utilize additional sections at the end of your resume to show you've got what it takes to do the job. These include hobbies and interests, voluntary roles, certifications and internships.
A strong resume headline can give the reader an immediate idea of your suitability for PetSmart jobs. Resume headlines are also helpful for the ATS stage of the recruitment process, as they can help you reference the job title and one or two keywords for the role. Write a concise headline including the job title, a reference to your experience or track record and one or two key skills.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Junior PetSmart Associate Seeking Opportunities
- Dedicated Pet Care Specialist
- Experienced Senior Pet Care Specialist
The top resume format for your applications will vary according to a couple of factors. First, how much professional experience you have. Second, what type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. If, however, you have relevant work experience in the industry, it's typically best to use a reverse chronological resume format. This highlights your achievements in work, which is probably the most important factor for hiring managers to consider.
Key takeaways for your PetSmart resume
The best resumes focus on your skills and the value you've added to previous roles, rather than focusing on your duties and responsibilities. Select a resume format that suits your experience levels and the job you're applying for, and make sure you tailor your resume for each application.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) MIT Communication Lab: CV/Resume: https://mitcommlab.mit.edu/broad/commkit/cvresume/
(2) UC Berkeley Career Center: Resumes: https://career.berkeley.edu/prepare-for-success/resumes/
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