Ava Williams
Playing with the dog between team meetings and telephone conferences – that’s what many working people wish for. Because the compatibility of job and pet is often just as important to dog owners as the opportunity to reconcile work and family life, with a targeted job search and open discussion of their desire, dog owners can find the dream job with a dog-friendly employer when reorienting themselves professionally.
Basic obedience is important
“First of all, the dog should be friendly and well-behaved,” explains Sabine Dinkel, a consultant from Hamburg. “It’s also important that the dog can stay in its place and doesn’t follow its owner’s every step,” adds the expert, who likes to take her basset dog Wilma to work herself.
Dog-loving companies
If these points are given, the job search can begin in a targeted manner. The career advisor recommends looking at companies that have something to do with animals themselves: for example, feed manufacturers, wholesalers of animal supplies, or veterinary clinics. “You often meet dog colleagues in young companies and creative areas such as advertising, PR, or design,” says Dinkel. “A lot of hairdressers are also fond of dogs.
Openness in the interview
In the next step – the job interview – Dinkel advises applicants to speak openly to the employer about whether and what possibilities there are to bring a dog to the workplace. “Then it’s good to have a photo of your dog with you that you can show if you’re interested.” In the interview, the job seeker can also bring forward arguments about the positive effects a dog has on a good working atmosphere at work, the expert explains: “We now know that dogs have a relaxing effect – they make us laugh again and bring that little bit of harmony and security that many people lack in the workplace.”
Compromise with colleagues
The new employer is convinced of the applicant with the ‘colleague dog’, but what do the new colleagues say? “Ideally, everyone who works in the immediate vicinity should agree with the dog,” emphasizes Dinkel. If there are any reservations, the expert advises dog owners to suggest compromises themselves: “You could consider not bringing the dog with you every day and organizing dog care daily.”