In Jobbed, we'll take a look at one of these Help Wanted ads each week, and then check tentatively for a pink slip in our own mailboxes. Click the Continue Reading link below to see our first entry.
Having trouble finding work? You're not alone. Follow Westword as we troll for the weird, the wacky and the worst of what the recession-era world of online job ads has to offer.
The job: Wildlife Technician for A All Animal Control of Denver Pay: $15-$20 per hour Qualifications: 2-5 years sales and repair-work experience; an associates degree Responsibilities: Capturing nuisance wildlife in an urban and suburban setting. This position involves working on roofs and ladders and in attic and crawl spaces. You will be required to work in all types of weather at all times of the year. You will perform repair work on areas that animals have damaged using hand tools, sheet metal and screenings. Applicant must be organized, articulate and knowledge of wildlife is important. Our company pays for your gas to and from work.What it doesn't say: A knowledge of wildlife is important, indeed. You need to know that you will be sprayed by skunks, punched by raccoons, stung by wasps, bitten by black widows, shat on by pigeons and mocked by squirrels. If you are lucky, no one will ask you to shoot a coyote with a paintball gun (although you might enjoy this), remove a wayward bear from a shopping center or trap a caiman in Washington Park. Make sure you get your rabies shots, not just for unfortunate encounters with wildlife, but in case you meet up with rabid animal-rights activists.