Junior Groomer

Petco • Normal, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Want to help pets live their best lives? Petco is a place where you can make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome, and nurture your wellbeing. Petco's core values emphasize doing what's right for pets and people, ensuring pets live their best lives, fostering fun, and committing as one team. For over 60 years, Petco has been a destination for pet needs, from food and toys to expert support. The company believes in the universal truths of pet parenthood and supports every aspect of the pet-human bond. Petco is a large organization with over 29,000 team members across more than 1,500 stores, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, preventive care clinics, and distribution centers. Through Petco Love, founded in 1999, they support animal welfare groups and have facilitated homes for approximately 7 million animals.

This role begins as a Junior Pet Stylist in Grooming, involving a ten-week training period. During this time, you will learn fundamental grooming tasks such as brushing, bathing, drying, and nail cutting. The industry-leading program provides hands-on experience with guidance from seasoned groomers, designed to develop essential grooming skills and establish a foundation for a future career with Petco Grooming.

The Junior Pet Stylist's primary purpose is to learn and perform services like bathing, drying, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, working alongside experienced groomers. Beyond bathing and drying, the role involves assisting in the overall grooming process, with a strong focus on the comfort, safety, and well-being of the pets, and delivering optimal customer service to pet parents. This position offers an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about animals and grooming to launch their career in the pet care industry.

Requirements

• 0-1 year of animal related experience, including shelter volunteering or pet sitting.
• Genuine passion for animals and a desire to pursue a career in pet grooming.
• Basic understanding of dog breeds, behavior, and common grooming practices.
• Capable of handling pets of all sizes and temperaments with care and empathy.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills for interactions with pet parents and grooming team members.
• Availability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays, as required by the Pet Care Center’s grooming schedule.

Nice To Haves

• Prior grooming salon assistance is preferred.
• High-school diploma or GED is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Learn how to perform bathing, drying, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning services.
• Assist in the grooming process, prioritizing the comfort, safety, and well-being of the pets in our care.
• Deliver optimal customer services to pet parents.
• Perform limited grooming services including bathing, drying, nail trimming, brushing, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning according to pet parents’ instructions and in adherence to company policies and procedures.
• Ensure the well-being and safety of every animal in the salon at all times.
• Interact professionally and effectively with pet parents, provide optimal customer service, address grooming related inquiries and provide timely resolution.
• Maintain a clean and safe grooming area and salon.
• Disinfect and sanitize grooming tools and equipment.
• Perform daily and weekly cleaning duties in the salon and in adherence to Petco hygiene and sanitation policies.
• Perform other cleaning and maintenance tasks as assigned, including but not limited to cleaning air filters, vents, and drains.
• Schedule grooming appointments, manage paperwork, and maintain accurate grooming records.
• Learn and adhere to Petco's grooming policies, standards, and guidelines to ensure safety, quality, and consistency in all activities and areas of the grooming business.
• Learn dog behavior, pet and self-safety, proper check-in/out procedures, customer service, and grooming policies during weeks 1-3 of training.
• Begin on-the-job training in bathing and drying techniques during weeks 1-3 of training.
• Perform bathing and walk-in services while achieving weekly productivity goals during weeks 3-10 of training.

Benefits

• Competitive base pay
• Medical, dental, vision and more
• 401k and more
• Paid Time Off
• Petco Discounts
• All the supplies & equipment you need, including, brushes, nail trimmers, clippers, blades, shampoo, sprays, tools, etc.
• State of the art equipment, including bathing system, kennels, tables, and dryers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees