The wildest place to work in Knoxville is hosting its annual job fair this weekend.

The Knoxville Zoo is looking to help people find a place within the zoo that best suits their needs.

The fair is a chance for us to meet everybody, said William Becker, media relations representative for the zoo. People will come in and fill out an application.

The staff will then determine what area they’ll be best in, Becker added.

It is then the responsibility of the person in charge of that area to call the applicant back for an interview, he said.

Job openings at the zoo include positions in admissions, visitor services, food services, the gift shop and membership. No positions working with animals are open to students.

Interviewers at the fair look for a number of traits in an applicant.

We look for somebody who is friendly, energetic, outgoing, loves animals and is interested in working for a good cause, Becker said.

Some items of consideration for students, however, are the hours. Students don’t have a lot of free hours.

According to Becker, employees are required to work some weekend and holiday hours, but they will not have to work nights.

There are also some perks that come along with a zoo job, but those won’t be discussed with you until you’ve gotten the job, Becker said.

Of course, jobs look great on a résumé for when you obtain your degree, and a zoo job is an interesting alternative to a mundane summer job.

If you’re interested in retail, it is beneficial, Becker said. You’ll get that kind of experience at the zoo. Any kind of job experience looks good on a résumé.

The Knoxville Zoo’s job fair is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Zoo’s conference center. If other plans keep you from the fair, just call 637-5331, extension 300 for more employment information.