Your career can be a force for good: Top tips from the AAC team

Every now and then, we tend to question ourselves: Am I truly making a difference in the world? For those of us who care deeply about animals, this question can feel urgent. While activism and donations are powerful tools, what if your career—the work you do—could also be a step toward doing good for animals?

At Animal Advocacy Careers (AAC), we believe it can. And we’re here to make it easier for passionate, mission-aligned advocates to pursue careers that create a lasting impact for animals.

To close out the year, we asked our incredible team what career advice they would give to anyone wanting to make a meaningful difference—and why our work at AAC matters. Their responses are powerful, personal, and full of hope.

"When applying to organisations, be clear about how your skills, experience, and attitude will contribute to the role and positively impact the organisation. Job-seeking is hard and filled with setbacks, but it’s worth it to find a role where you can make a genuine difference, even if that road is a bit longer."

Lauren Mee 🔶 also offers a challenge: Don’t limit yourself. "Apply for roles that stretch your current skills and experience. Growth happens outside your comfort zone."

AAC exists because animals need us. This is the first movement built entirely by allies, and without organisations dedicated to attracting top talent, progress will stall. That’s where we come in: matching skilled, passionate professionals with overlooked opportunities to drive systemic change.

Before applying for mid- or high-level roles, Engin Arıkan advises building a portfolio of accomplishments.

"Focus on tasks that demonstrate your potential: organise a campaign, write a report, or even achieve something unrelated to animal advocacy—like completing a prestigious programme or excelling in a competitive field. Accomplishing hard things signals your readiness to take on big challenges."

He adds, "So many people want to help animals but aren’t aware of how to turn that desire into a career. If more people leverage their professional skills for animal advocacy, we would have a better chance of achieving real progress."

Job seeking is rarely smooth, but Ana Barreiro 🌱🔸 reminds us that every advocate in this space has faced their share of hurdles. "Keep learning, developing your skills, and improving with feedback. And broaden your options: helping animals doesn’t always mean working for a nonprofit. There are many paths, and you’ll find yours."

Her perspective highlights an essential part of AAC’s mission: showing people what’s possible. "Many people think their impact is limited to occasional activism or donations. We show them a greater possibility—that they can dedicate their careers to animals and create meaningful, lasting change."

The bigger picture

Our team’s advice is a reflection of AAC’s core purpose: to help people navigate the challenges of building impactful careers. Every conversation we have, every job we post, and every candidate we help, is toward a better world for animals.

But we can’t do it alone.

Want to support our mission?

➡️ Donate to AAC: Every contribution helps us connect more advocates with roles that matter. Together, we can build a movement driven by talent and passion.

➡️ Follow us for opportunities: Whether you’re looking for a role, seeking career advice, or just curious about what’s possible, follow AAC to stay inspired.

Patrycja Wierzchałek points out the value of networking:

"Attend conferences and online events, engage with professionals, and build connections. Conversations, even casual ones, can lead to unexpected opportunities."

AAC helps candidates build these connections, providing support, resources, and access to a global network of mission-driven professionals. By placing top talent in organisations that need them most, we multiply the movement’s collective impact.

Why your career matters

The truth is, animals can’t wait. They need people who are skilled, motivated, and unrelenting in their pursuit of change.

As Ana says, "Helping animals isn’t limited to a single path. Everyone’s journey is unique." That’s why AAC exists: to help you find your path and to make job-seeking for mission-aligned individuals just a little bit easier.

And if you know someone else who’s passionate about animal advocacy, share this article. Let’s keep building a community of change-makers—because animals need all of us. Together, we can change the world, one career at a time.

Follow Animal Advocacy Careers for more stories, advice, and opportunities to make a difference. ✅