| How to Become a Dolphin Trainer Posted: 14 Apr 2019 01:00 AM PDT As a dolphin trainer, you will be responsible for keeping captive dolphins healthy, stimulated, and active. You will need to feed the dolphins, keep their tanks clean, and train them to entertain a crowd. Though captive dolphins can be used as a form of public entertainment, they can also be used to encourage the conservation of dolphins and other marine life.[1] To be a successful dolphin trainer, you will need to have an academic background in behavioral and biological sciences, the necessary experience and training, and the willingness to work hard. EditUnderstanding the Role - Understand the career prospects of the role. Dolphin trainers often work long hours and are often in the water with the animals or walking around talking and educating the crowd. It is a popular profession that is not made for everyone. The field is competitive and you will need to distinguish yourself among a sea of applicants.[2]
- The average salary for dolphin trainers varies from facility to facility. The salaries for entry-level positions can range between $18,000-$20,000. Many trainers have a second source of income to help them stay financially stable.
- The more experience you have as a trainer, the higher your salary will be. A trainer with 8-12 years of experience can make $25,000-$40,000 a year. Many trainers stay in the profession out of a love for working with dolphins and the opportunity to form long lasting relationships with them.
- Be aware of the role expectations for a dolphin trainer. As a trainer, your typical work day may include preparing the dolphin's meals, feeding them, and cleaning their tanks. Dolphins need at least three meals a day: morning, midday, and afternoon.[3][4]
- Trainers also need to give the animals all necessary vitamins and medications during your dolphin daily assessments (DDA). DDAs are done at the beginning of every work day to assess the dolphin's entire body and their medical needs.
- You will also need to stimulate the marine mammals physically and mentally through hands-on training sessions. As a trainer, you will need to be enthusiastic and energetic as you work with the dolphins to practice existing and new behaviors with the dolphins. You may observe and study the dolphins if you work in a research facility, or you may display the dolphin's skills and behaviors to a crowd if you work at an entertainment center, like SeaWorld.
- Keep in mind the pros and cons of the role. Though every child that has been to a dolphin show may dream about being a dolphin trainer, in reality, it can be a demanding job. You will need to clean and maintain the large tanks where the dolphins live and you will need to work outside during hot summer months. Because you will be working with dynamic and highly intelligent animals, you will need to adapt your schedule to fit the dolphins' needs, so you may be working irregular work hours. You may also need to work on holidays, as dolphins need to receive constant care.[5]
- However, there are many pros to being a dolphin trainer, such as the long term relationship you get to build with dolphins and the opportunity to work closely with dolphins on a daily basis. You will also be able to work alongside a team of trainers and support each other as you teach and learn from the dolphins.
EditGetting the Necessary Education and Training - Do well in your science and math courses in high school. To prepare early for your training career, you should try to do well in your biology classes in high school, as well as your math classes. If your high school offers any classes in animal science, you should enroll in them and try to get high grades in these classes.[6]
- A strong background in science and math will help you succeed in your undergraduate degree as you pursue a training career.
- Get a bachelor's degree in biology, marine biology, or animal science. Though some entry-level dolphin training positions may accept a high school diploma, receiving more advanced training through an undergraduate degree can only improve your chances of landing a good position as a trainer.[7][8]
- Many trainers have undergraduate degrees in biology, marine biology, psychology, or animal behavior/animal science. A four year degree in a life sciences related field will give you a good starting point in terms of the necessary expertise and knowledge to be an effective dolphin trainer.
- There is a one-year program through the College of Marine Mammal Professions located in Florida that focuses on classroom and hands-on experience in dolphin training. There is also a two year program through Moorpark College in California that focuses on exotic animal training, including dolphin training. Taking an animal training specific program can lead to a higher success of employment. Keep in mind, however, that some facilities, like SeaWorld, prefer to see the perseverance it takes to get a bachelor's degree. [9]
- Check if your local zoo or aquarium has volunteer programs or internships in animal training. You should also get more experience with animals by volunteering or interning at your local zoo, aquarium, veterinarian clinic, wildlife rehabilitation center, or animal center. You can start doing this during your high school years or during your undergraduate degree.[10]
- Getting first hand experience in a work environment can help you get a better sense of duties and responsibilities required when working with animals. This will give you a chance to determine if you have the patience, persistence, and dependability necessary to be a dolphin trainer. As well, volunteering or interning will also allow you to build relationships and contacts with individuals working in the field.
- Keep in mind most interns are not allowed to have contact directly with the animals and are often allowed to only observe and assist, but not do any hands on work. If possible, look for volunteer programs that focus specifically on dolphin training, as this will be good practice as you pursue your career goals.
- Consider getting your SCUBA certification. In many dolphin training positions, you are expected to be a strong swimmer, as you will often be working with dolphins directly in the water. Strong snorkeling and SCUBA skills are also beneficial and can elevate you above other applicants.[11][12]
- You can complete a basic scuba diver certification program or take additional courses to become a master scuba diver. Most programs are a combination of classroom learning, testing, and applied training with scuba equipment in a pool or an open water location. Some scuba programs also offer training in CPR and first aid, which can come in handy when you work in a marine mammal facility, with other trainers and with the public.
- Many dolphin training facilities will give you a swim test as part of the hiring process and some facilities will only hire trainers that are SCUBA certified.
- Brush up on your public speaking skills. As a dolphin trainer, you may be expected to educate the public about these animals and their behaviors. You should have strong public speaking skills and be comfortable talking in front of a crowd every day. Improving your public speaking skills will make you a more well rounded candidate to employers and ensure you are able to communicate well with people, as well as with dolphins.
- Many specialized programs in dolphin training will offer public speaking courses as an option. You can also take a public speaking class at your local college or university to brush up on your skills.
- Be physically fit. Physical fitness is an important component of being a trainer, as you will need to be fit enough to work in an aquatic environment every day. In addition to being a strong swimmer, you should also maintain an exercise routine that includes cardio and endurance training. As a trainer, you will need to be able to keep up with the daily demands of your role and not get easily tired or overwhelmed by the physical requirements of the role.
- You may want to integrate swimming into your weekly workout routine, in addition to cardio and strength training. This will ensure you are at a constant level of fitness suitable for the role of dolphin trainer.
EditFinding a Position - Join a marine mammal trainers organization. As a member of an organization like the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) or the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association (IMATA), you will be able to keep up to date with the field and network with your peers. You will also get access to current news and literature about animal training and continuing education workshops to improve your knowledge and expertise.[13]
- An association is also a great opportunity for networking and connecting with other trainers and potential employers.
- Apply for entry-level positions at a training facility. Once you have the necessary education and hands on experience, you may start to apply for entry-level positions. Depending on your interests, you may apply at a research facility so you can interact and observe with dolphins for scientific studies. Or, you may apply at an entertainment facility where you display dolphin behaviors to a crowd and share information on dolphins with the public.[14]
- Keep in mind entry-level positions can be competitive, so apply to several open positions at once. Make sure your resume and cover letter showcase your strong skill set, including your education, your volunteer and intern experience, and your strong swimming skills.
- Consider applying for a position through your internship or volunteer program. Many volunteer programs and internships can lead to a full time position, so do not be afraid to use your existing contacts to your advantage. If you feel confident in your work through an internship or a volunteer program and there is an open position, let your supervisor know that you are strongly interested in working at the facility as a full time trainer.[15]
- Be prepared to watch and learn from more senior trainers. Once you land an entry-level position, you will start by shadowing more experienced trainers and go through an extensive training period before you can perform more in depth training with the dolphins. Watching and learning from a more senior training will allow to become more familiar with the personalities of each dolphin and learn different training procedures according to the needs of the dolphin.[16][17]
- Once you have shadowed and done several weeks of training, you will then feed and interact with the dolphin under the supervision of the senior trainers. Over time, you will be taught how to communicate with the dolphins through hand signals.
- As you become more senior as a dolphin trainer, you can train the dolphins in new behaviors and facilitate public interaction with the dolphins. The speed of your career as a dolphin trainer depends on your past experience, your level of comfort with dolphins, and your level of confidence in your knowledge and skills as a trainer.
EditReferences EditQuick Summary
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| How to Make Breakfast Pizza Posted: 13 Apr 2019 05:00 PM PDT Leftover pizza for breakfast is excellent, but freshly baked pizza with breakfast toppings is so much better. Roll out refrigerated pizza dough and top it with cheese sauce or olive oil with garlic. For a supreme breakfast pizza, cover the top with sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, vegetables, and cheese. If you'd like a lighter pizza, top the pizza with bacon, fresh mozzarella, and whole eggs. EditIngredients EditSausage and Scrambled Egg Breakfast Pizza - 1 13.8-ounce (391 g) can of refrigerated classic pizza crust, at room temperature
- of breakfast sausage
- 1 cup (212 g) of cheese sauce
- 1 cup (130 g) of frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) of unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (75 g) of yellow onion, diced
- 1/4 cup (45 g) of green bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup (45 g) of red bell pepper, diced
- 5 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup (113 g) of shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (113 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese
Makes a pizza EditBacon and Egg Breakfast Pizza - 8 bacon slices, cut into pieces
- 1 1/2 tablespoons (15 g) of cornmeal
- 1 13.8-ounce (391 g) can of refrigerated classic pizza crust
- of olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 8-ounce (226 g) ball of fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 3 large eggs
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons (7.5 g) of chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of crushed red pepper flakes
Makes a pizza EditSausage and Scrambled Egg Breakfast Pizza - Preheat the oven to and spray a pan with cooking spray. Get out a round pizza pan or a rectangular baking sheet. Spray the pan or sheet with nonstick cooking spray.[1]
- Spraying the pan will prevent the pizza from sticking to it.
- If you don't have cooking spray, drizzle a little olive oil over the pan. You can then brush the oil with a pastry brush for even coverage.
- Roll out the dough and place it on the pan. Open a 13.8-ounce (391 g) can of refrigerated classic pizza crust and use your hands to stretch it out to a circle. If you prefer, use a rolling pin to make the dough fit the round pizza pan.[2]
- If you're using a rectangular sheet, roll the dough to the circle and place it on the center of the sheet.
- Cook the sausage for 5 to 7 minutes over medium-high heat. Put of ground breakfast sausage into a skillet and turn the burner to medium-high. Cook the sausage until it's completely browned and break up the meat with your spoon as you stir. Then transfer the sausage to a bowl.[3]
- If you can't find ground breakfast sausage, take breakfast sausage links and split open the casings. Then squeeze the sausage into a skillet.
- Sauté the onion and peppers for 3 to 5 minutes. Put 1 tablespoon (14 g) of unsalted butter into the skillet that you used to cook the sausage and turn the burner down to medium. Add 1/2 cup (75 g) of diced yellow onion, 1/4 cup (45 g) of diced green bell pepper, and 1/4 cup (45 g) of diced red bell pepper. Cook the vegetables until they soften just a little and then turn off the burner.
- Stir the vegetables occasionally to prevent them from sticking.[4]
- If the sausage released more than of grease that's still in the pan, you don't need to add butter to the skillet.
- Scramble the eggs until they're just set. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl and keep the burner on medium. Pour 5 beaten eggs into the skillet and season them with salt and pepper according to your taste. Stir the eggs frequently and cook them until they're soft and barely set.[5]
- Don't cook the eggs until they're substantial since they'll cook even more in the oven.
- Spread cheese sauce, sausage, vegetables, and eggs over the dough. Spoon about 1 cup (212 g) of cheese sauce over the pizza dough and scatter the browned sausage over it. Then top the pizza with the sautéed vegetables and scrambled eggs.
- Scatter the hash browns and cheese on top. Take 1 cup (130 g) of thawed hash brown potatoes and sprinkle them over the top of the pizza. Then spread 1 cup (113 g) of shredded cheddar cheese and 1 cup (113 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- You can use your favorite type of shredded cheese. For example, use 2 cups (226 g) of shredded pepper jack cheese if you like a little spice.[6]
- Bake the pizza for 20 to 25 minutes. Put the assembled pizza into the preheated oven and bake it until the crust becomes golden brown. The cheese should also melt and bubble a little. Let the pizza cool for 10 minutes before you slice it and serve it.[7]
- Refrigerate leftover breakfast pizza in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.
EditBacon and Egg Breakfast Pizza - Preheat the oven to and grease a pizza pan. Get out a round pizza pan or a rectangular baking sheet. Then spray the sheet with olive oil or nonstick cooking spray.[8]
- If you don't have spray, just drizzle the pan with a little olive oil and brush it evenly using a pastry brush.
- Chop the bacon and fry it for 3 to 4 minutes. Cut 8 slices of bacon into pieces and put them in a skillet. Turn the burner on to medium-high and cook the bacon until it turns a little golden. Stir the bacon occasionally to help it cook evenly.[9]
- The bacon won't become completely crispy because it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Put the bacon on a paper-towel-lined plate. Turn off the burner and lay a paper towel on a plate. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to the paper towel so it drains a little.[10]
- For a leaner option, consider using Canadian bacon slices that you don't need to cook.
- To save time, use pre-cooked bacon crumbles that you can scatter over the pizza.
- Roll the pizza dough to fit your pizza pan. Sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons (15 g) of cornmeal on your work surface and open a 13.8-ounce (391 g) can of refrigerated pizza crust. Use your hands or a rolling pin to roll the dough until it fits your round or rectangular pizza pan or baking sheet.
- The cornmeal will prevent the dough from sticking to your work surface.
- Place the dough on the pan along with olive oil and garlic. Transfer the rolled dough to your prepared pizza pan. Then drizzle or brush of olive oil over the dough and scatter 2 cloves of minced garlic on top.[11]
- Spread the mozzarella, bacon, and green onions over the pizza. Slice an 8-ounce (226 g) ball of fresh mozzarella into thick slices and lay them on the pizza. Then scatter the bacon and 3 sliced green onions over the pizza.[12]
- Try to leave 3 gaps that are around in size so you can add the eggs.
- Bake the pizza for 10 to 12 minutes. Put the pizza into the preheated oven and cook it until the crust begins to turn golden brown. Keep in mind that the middle of the pizza won't be finished baking.[13]
- Crack 3 eggs onto the pizza and bake the pizza for 8 to 10 more minutes. Carefully remove the pizza from the oven and leave the oven turned on. Crack 3 eggs directly onto the pizza. Try not to break the yolks. Then put the pizza back in the oven and bake it until the whites are set.[14]
- The dough will finish baking and become crisp.
- If you prefer your egg yolks to be fully cooked, bake the pizza for 2 to 3 more minutes.
- Season the pizza with parsley, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Turn off the oven and remove the pizza. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons (7.5 g) of chopped fresh parsley leaves and 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of crushed red pepper flakes. Then add salt and pepper according to your taste. Slice the pizza and serve it while it's hot.[15]
- Refrigerate leftover pizza in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.
- To make any breakfast pizza vegetarian, leave out the bacon or sausage.
- For quick, personal breakfast pizzas, spread the sauce and toppings on bagels instead of pizza dough.
EditThings You'll Need EditSausage and Scrambled Egg Breakfast Pizza - round pizza pan or a rectangular baking sheet
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Skillet
- Knife and cutting board
- Spoon
EditBacon and Egg Breakfast Pizza - round pizza pan or a rectangular baking sheet
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Skillet
- Knife and cutting board
- Spoon
EditRelated wikiHows EditReferences
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| How to Be Efficient Posted: 13 Apr 2019 09:00 AM PDT Being efficient can be a struggle. Fatigue, anxiety, procrastination, and the barrage of daily distractions stifle productivity. Although the obstacles to greater efficiency are imposing, you can take some simple steps to improve your efficiency. Getting enough rest every night, dividing large projects into smaller and more manageable tasks, and setting time limits and deadlines for yourself are simple steps you can take to make yourself more efficient. EditChanging Habits - Get 7 – 9 hours of sleep every night to stay alert and relaxed. Inadequate sleep can lead to fatigue, which can sabotage your productivity. Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.[1]
- Teens should aim to get 8 – 10 hours of sleep a night.[2]
- To help yourself establish a healthy sleep routine, set an alarm to remind yourself to go to sleep at the same time every night.
- If you find that you are still fatigued after getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night, you may want to consider consulting a doctor, as daytime fatigue may be a symptom of sleep apnea or another underlying health condition.
- Eat healthy snacks throughout the day to provide your brain with fuel. If your body is hungry when you work, your productivity will suffer. Healthy snacks like almonds and chia seeds have fatty acids that will keep your mind alert and focused. Fruits and vegetables are also healthy options.[3]
- Avoid snacking on carbohydrates or junk food. These foods can drain you of energy.
- Save important and difficult tasks for times when you feel energized. If you feel most focused and energized in the morning, work on your most important or difficult task then. And, if you're a night owl, use your mornings to work on simple and unimportant tasks. Trying to complete important or difficult tasks when you feel fatigued will reduce your overall productivity.[4]
- Everybody works best at different times of the day, so experiment with your schedule to find out when you work most efficiently.
- Adopt a confident and relaxed posture to increase your confidence. The physical posture you assume can have a psychosomatic and neurological effect on you. Imitating a confident smile and posture, for example, can spur your brain to feel confident, which can lead to gains in productivity.[5]
- Forcing yourself to smile, for example, can lead to the release of endorphins, which will help you feel less stressed about a project.
- Try to say no at least once a week. If you're the type of person who is always saying yes to your coworkers, friends, and family members, you may find yourself in the position of having trouble finishing important tasks because you're always doing things for other people.[6]
- Saying no can be difficult, but committing yourself to turning down at least 1 request from a friend, coworker, or family member a week will free up additional time for you to finish an important project or progress toward one of your long-term goals.
- When deciding whether to say no to a request, ask yourself the following questions: Can the requester finish the task on their own? Is there anyone else available to help? What are the consequences if the task isn't completed?
EditOrganizing Your Day - Write down your short-term and long-term goals so you can prioritize. Rank your goals and tasks for the next decade, year, month, week, and day. Having this list nearby will allow you to stay focused on the most important tasks before you.[7]
- When setting goals, start by imagining where you want to be in 5, 10, or 20 years, and then create an outline of the shorter-term goals you'll need to accomplish to reach this goal.
- Be as precise as possible when you're setting your goals. If your goals are more concrete, it will be easier for you to think of the concrete steps you'll have to take to reach them.
- Keep these lists of goals somewhere visible while you work to keep yourself motivated.
- Create a daily to-do-list to organize your day. The best time to write up a to-do-list is right before you go to sleep. Write down all the tasks you need to complete the following day in order from most important to least important.[8]
- Break your day into hour-long time-slots and assign a task to a specific time slot.
- Set time limits for all your tasks. Setting a firm time limit for a task will force you to finish it in a certain amount of time. If you set aside a relatively short amount of time, you will force yourself to complete your work without procrastinating.[9]
- Setting a time limit that is too short can cause you to rush and produce lower quality work, so try to find the sweet spot between a deadline that is too short and one that is too long.
- Set a deadline by which you know you can finish the task, but only if your work is free of distractions.
- Take advantage of short 5-minute periods to complete small tasks. Set aside 2- to 5-minute periods throughout the day. During these short windows of time, commit yourself to completing one small task. This can be composing a short email, checking a voicemail, etc. Completing a task within a 5-minute window will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to complete more tasks.[10]
- Try to set aside 1 of these short periods once every hour or so.
- Try to limit the amount of time you spend thinking about the task before doing it. Overthinking can lead to anxiety and procrastination.
- Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable parts. Large projects can be overwhelming. Worrying about completing them can cause intense anxiety, which can lead to procrastination. Treating large projects as a series of small tasks can ease some of this anxiety.[11]
- If you are writing a 10-page paper, for instance, approach it one paragraph at a time.
- Take a strategic break every hour to stay energized. Working nonstop without a break can leave you fatigued and steadily reduce your efficiency. Try to work hard and stay focused without distractions for 50 minutes and then take a 20-minute break.[12]
- Working without taking enough breaks over a long period of time can lead to burnout, which may lead to a deterioration of your efficiency over the long term.
EditGetting Things Done Faster - Avoid multitasking so you can focus your attention on a single task. In the modern world with cellphones, email, and the internet, it can be difficult to avoid multitasking. Focusing on more than one task at a time, however, can prevent you from getting into a flow.[13]
- If you're doing work on your computer, try installing an app or program that limits your access to websites that are not required for your work.
- When working on a project, silence your cellphone and keep it in another room, out of reach. Designate specific times to check for any messages and voicemails.
- Find shortcuts to complete tasks you do on a regular basis. If you regularly use certain computer programs to do work, for example, learn keyboard shortcuts for common actions. Or, if you frequently write emails to schedule meetings, make a template for that type of email so that you don't have to write them from scratch every time.[14]
- Ask colleagues and friends about any shortcuts they may use to speed up their work.
- Delegate tasks to classmates, friends, or employees. If you are working on a school or work project, make sure the workload is divided evenly among everyone who has a stake in the project's completion. Trying to do all the work yourself will stress you out and prolong the time it takes to finish the project.[15]
- When delegating, try to present your request as an appeal for help rather than an order to minimize friction.
- If you're not the one in charge of the group or team and believe the workload hasn't been distributed evenly, explain to the group leader or another member of the group that you could use some help completing the task(s) assigned to you.
- If you feel that the other members of the group or team aren't doing their part, avoid pointing blame and instead try to get them involved in the project by asking for help on specific tasks.
- Reduce the number of daily decisions you have to make. Making decisions takes energy. The more decisions you make, the more energy you expend. You can reduce the number of daily decisions you make and conserve your energy by eliminating or outsourcing decisions about simple daily tasks, such as what to wear or what to eat.[16]
- To simplify your daily decision about what to wear, simplify your wardrobe. Reduce your choice to two or three different outfits.
- Make a weekly breakfast, lunch, and dinner plan, so that you don't have to agonize about what to make on a daily basis.
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