Getting a job or volunteer work with a vet

[smilin1590]

I was wondering how any of you went about getting a job or volunteer work at a veterinary clinic. I don't know if I should just walk in and tell them I'm trying to become a vet and see if they can make use of me or what. I also don't just want to clean up poop(i mean I don't mind) I just want to experience other stuff as well. But if cleaning up poop is what it takes then I will. What are some of the duties that you guys have who work in a clinic? thanks!

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[david594]

I was wondering how any of you went about getting a job or volunteer work at a veterinary clinic. I don't know if I should just walk in and tell them I'm trying to become a vet and see if they can make use of me or what. I also don't just want to clean up poop(i mean I don't mind) I just want to experience other stuff as well. But if cleaning up poop is what it takes then I will. What are some of the duties that you guys have who work in a clinic? thanks!

Duties are all over the board based on where we work, what state we live in, and how much experience we have. With no experience though you should expect to be picking up a bunch of poop to begin with.

Start off by preparing a nice resume and cover letter.

 

[bmichs75DVM]

Well I would make up a resume and a cover letter like David said. I would then call and/or personally go to the vet clinics in which you are applying and give them your information. Sometimes you will get a flat out no or we don't need anyone or we will call you back. If you get lucky and find a job somewhere, you would probably begin doing small insignificant duties and move up once you have more experience. Also, sometimes it is also good to get some experience shadowing the vet clinic in which you are planning on applying before you actually apply.

 

[Konfetkette]

I'd love to clean up poop if I got to work at a vet clinic. It seems no one is hiring.... and if they are, they take only experienced people.

 

[LightReaver]

Hey! This is my fist time using forums. I'm usually just a lurker. Hopefully I can get to know some of you in the future and have you answer some of my questions sometime. Sorry for being off topic, but to answer your question, maybe I can help a little bit. I work at a small animal clinic, and I plan on applying to vet school in the fall. The doctor hired me over two years ago to do kennel duties (while I went to school). Lucky for me, our clinic has always been a bit short-staffed, so the others would frequently come to the back where I was and ask for help. It wasn't too long before I went from doing strictly kennel duties to helping in the treatment area, also. Now, I can gladly say the doctor calls me a tech! I cannot emphasize enough how much you have to be willing to learn and do just about anything they tell you, including pick up poop, clean cages out, give baths, etc. Now I find myself in the position of the other techs that were there when I started. We finally hired some high school kids to do kennel stuff (aka. kennel kids), and I'm teaching them stuff as well. It may take a while for you to move on up at whatever clinic you start, but be patient and, more importantly, show a desire to learn and help...Oh yeah, and you have to able to take some constructive criticism.

 

[Optimistic 13]

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[sumstorm]

What Optimistic said is the case for me as well. I observed 4-8 hours a week at several vet clinics from March on, was offered a job I turned down at one in May (I didn't feel the atmosphere would be good for me) and accepted a position at another in July (I left for a 2 week vacation and the vet realized how helpful I was.) If you have special skills, let vets know when you approach them (I have a ton of grooming experience, exotics experience, and training experience). I go for face to face with receptionists and such, hopefully at a less busy time. Harder to say no if you are present. If you have health insurance, might try to mention that casually...so that if you get hurt you won't absolutly have to relie on the clinics liability insurance.

 

[bunnity]

I had a hard time trying to get an "in" with vet offices, but I had a great experience working with the vets at my local shelter. I was considered an "intern"; basically it started with me watching and asking questions and ended with me being an unpaid vet tech. I got to spend a lot of time in surgery, and the shelter ran a low-cost clinic so I got to see a lot of regular clinic stuff too. They offered me a job after a few months but I was under a contract type thing at my paid job

I found the shelter much more willing to take someone with little experience. They really needed the help a lot of days so I was able to be useful to them as well. Remember, if you start out as something unpaid there is a good chance you can eventually get a paying job - a lot of places have high turnover for techs, especially shelters.

 

[spikey]

Often, if you tell a veterinarian that you are interested in the field and would like to shadow, they are very eager to help.

I started by shadowing, since I didn't know what I wanted to do. I really enjoyed just observing for a bit, and I got to know the practice.

From there, I was hired for kennel work, but was asked to assist the doctors and the technicians restraining and lab work. Presently, I work as a doctor's assistant (and go to vet school) and do mostly everything that a tech does day to day. I love speaking with clients and meeting new pets. I'm learning so much from school and I'm encouraged to discuss things with the doctors so that I can better understand.

Bottom line: Shadowing is a great start! Go for it, and good luck!

 

[SHEEPRL]

My mom had taken our horses to a mixed animal vet and mentioned me to him. A month or so later I took a horse to be castrated and talked to him about it, explained I was not looking to be hired, wanted to shadow etc gave him a cover letter/resume. I got a call and we talked about days I would come in. Now almost a year later I am still there, although not getting paid I assist with surgeries, exams and ranch calls. He is very accommodating and helpful. I think in general most are willing to help and pointing out that you want no money will take the pressure off of them. I would try a vet in your area that way if you do not get paid it not too far to drive. Also if you have a veterinarian that you use ask them first and if they cannot use you ask if they know if anyone would welcome an intern.
Good Luck

 

[Konfetkette]

You can always start volunteering at an animal shelter. That's how I'm starting in March! Hopefully they will have some....contacts.....

 

[r00]

x100000 for shadowing/volunteering....

i have called/visited tons of clinics and hospitals in orlando with NO luck whatsoever... even the people that we hiring had no interest in the fact that I want to be a DVM because I had no experience at all. I just happened to walk into a very nice little clinic about 3 weeks ago and the office manager asked if I wanted to sit in on a surgery that afternoon. Since then I am basically capable of doing anything and everything that everyone else does with a few exceptions. I prepare vaccines, clean rooms, assist with dentals/surgeries, answer phones, etc... yesterday one of his assistants was sick and he sent her home because I was there (meaning he felt confident enough in my skills to allow his employee of 4 years to go home and rest)


HOPEFULLY i can go back to some of those places that are hiring soon and find a paid job, but even if I cant I am getting invaluable experience simply by spending time around the vet and his assistants.

 

[wordsyouwant]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has participated in the American Association of Equine Practitioners Shadow a Veterinarian Program? I am looking to see what experiences anyone has had.

Thanks!

 

[cRose]

When I was an undergrad in college, I sent resumes with a great cover letter to all of the vet clinics in the surrounding areas. I waited 2-3 weeks and followed up with a phone call at each clinic. Of course, I got receptionists or office managers at every place, but hoped that they'd pass the message along to the veterinarians. Then, I waited. About a week or two later, I got a call from a vet clinic and was invited to shadow 3 times a week. No other clinics ever followed up!!! -- but I'm sure if I remained persistent I'd have found another one willing to let me shadow.

I shadowed for an entire summer. I set it up as an unpaid internship through my college (but I was there so frequently and was so dependable that they ended up paying me under the table a little ). I obnoxiously asked lots of questions and got to observe a lot. The technicians also taught me how to do lots of labwork (reading fecal samples, running bloodwork and snap tests, etc).

The next summer, I was invited back for a paid position, and my experiences grew from there. Moral of the story is that you'll probably have to shadow and gain some experience that way before you'll find a place that'll hire you as a paid employee. Also, most vet practices won't accept "volunteers" due to liability reasons, but shelters are always looking for volunteers.

Hope this has helped, good luck!

 

[VetUBet]

So I'm new here, but I think this is how I reply to the thread (I know, I'm just now coming out of my cave). You could always volunteer at the Humane Society. That's what I do right now since economy is down end every vet hospital in my 1hr drive radius is not hiring or only hiring experienced techs. I like the whole shadowing idea though. I'll try that when I move soon!

 

[IvyLynx]

1. send out emails to any clinics where you may be able to work -- hi! i'd like to work for you! i'm pretty awesome, here's proof with my resume (oh, and you believing me saying i'm hardworking and stuff like that)
2. visit those clinics with resume, grab application
3. wait.

if they reject you, RETURN. worked for me! also helps if you know any vets i suppose. i asked a few vets at the local vet school if they knew anyone with openings. someone sent a couple people my resume and put in a good word for me, without me knowing actually..but anyway...., got me a few calls!

 

[themightyfuzz]

I needed veterinary related hours, so I mailed my resume and cover letter to all the vet clinics within a certain radius.

Only one clinic sent me an e-mail, but it worked out great! I started out originally as a volunteer (and as I discovered, they have a couple off and on volunteers) and was there everyday from morning until close and took Friday off for my own personal benefit (I was 2,200 miles away from my home state which in itself is a long story, so I wanted to do some sightseeing, etc).

I was actually offered a position as a kennel person, but turned it down because I would be doing more kennel work instead of the sitting in/assisting on surgeries, going on lots of farm calls and seeing all the fun alpacas/llamas, etc. I have never regretted my decision in turning down the $$. While I did help clean kennels when we were short staffed, so did the veterinarians in a crunch! Being a volunteer gave me the flexibility to ask more questions, learn how to run all the blood work, and more or less do the tech work.

I am grateful to the veterinarians that gave me this opportunity and glad I was in a newer, more modern facility with both large and small animals, exotics, etc. You never knew what was going to happen next and I really did discover I like a variety of animals (who knew I'd like working with llamas??).

But anyway, don't limit yourself on what type of veterinarian you'd like to send your resume to and I would personally check in with your veterinarian or a family veterinarian to see what they suggest on who to shadow or send a resume to. By the end of the summer, my horse's specialist (dang lame horse!) loved me and offered me a spot in his clinic, but the hour long drive was a bit of a deterrent when gas was so expensive.

In the end, my daily duties at the clinic ended up drawing up vaccines, sometimes checking clients in, prepping surgery animals (shaving, scrubbing them down), monitoring anesthesia during surgery, doing almost all of the blood work on the in house machines, snap tests, staining slides, surgery cleanup, pulling trach tubes and that sort of thing, restraining animals, going on farm calls so restraining large hairy animals that like to jump on you (aka llamas/alpacas), restraining dogs/cats/parrots/ferrets/whatever I had to do, taking x-rays, filling prescriptions, etc...I never knew what I was going to learn to do the next day!

 

[winddolphin]

Right now it might be harder to find a job, at least where I live. I don't know too much about larger hospitals, but smaller clinics are pretty down. It's slow season to begin with, and the economy doesn't help. If you are not stressed financially, begin as a volunteer is probably easier. Before they know you and trust you tho, be prepared to just observe and clean.

 

[sumstorm]

One thing to remember is that even if someone says 'No' always ask if they could tell you of anyone else that you could approach. Then contact that person with the introduction of Dr. so and so suggested I contact you about.....

I walked into a clinic where the liability issues didn't allow me to observe, but walked out with a list of 22 names (though some were 3 hours away) including specialists and unique skill sets such as rehab, dermatology, accupuncture, histology, etc. Out of those, I managed to get 7 vets (mostly the unique ones, which I pursued strongly) to let me observe for at least a few days. It was like a smorgasboard of veterinary medicine.

Oh, and often the way to get a job offer is to prove yourself while observing (even if that is just being on time and cheerful and paying attention) and being there when an opportunity opens.

 

[Groominator]

Two out of three times that I volunteered with a vet, i had brought my cat in to be seen (he needed it for whatever reason) and then i happened to mention to the doc that i was looking for a volunteer gig. Want to be a vet some day, blah blah blah. For one thing the vet can get an impression of how you are with animals from how you treat yours and from the questions you ask, IMO. In my most recent time asking, the vet actually offered me a job as an assistant/unlicensed tech and that's what I'm doing now. I meant to bring a resume with me that last time but it slipped my mind so i came back with it a few days later.

 

[DocDVMD]

I think that the very best place to start is your personal family vet. Since he/she will have experience with you/your family/your pets, they'll definitely be more willing to help you out. One caveat: it is VERY difficult to get positions if you're under 18 due to liability and insurance issues. My personal vet experiences started with shadowing at the beginning of high school, followed by several assistant positions (in my state you need a license to be a vet tech), an awesome internship at the AMC, etc etc etc. Once you get the ball rolling and gain experience, more places will be willing to hire you.

Another thing is to START EARLY. If you're looking for a summer position, you should have begun contacting people already! In the profession there doesn't seem to be a high turnover rate for assistants or techs, so you have to be assertive and persistent. Good luck!

 

[justinpaws]

If none of the above work, I highly suggest volunteering at either a shelter, or a wildlife rehabilitation clinic (even better! more interesting (IMO)!). It worked for me...you do start out cleaning (not even poop, you're not that close to animals) dishes and crates, but just follow the techs and vets around and ask questions and show up regularly. After you show how hard-working you are, they'll let you do more and more stuff. The interesting thing about vets who work in these highly underpaid/non-profit professions is that they always seem open to teaching people who want to learn...at least that's what I've found. You know they are not in it for the money, and like to share their knowledge. This of course does NOT apply to all vets, but it can be somewhat difficult to find ones that are willing to take time out of their busy days to teach you. The vets at my small animal hospital NEVER answer my questions, they are really just irritated by them. But the awesome wildlife people always give me a detailed answer, and never get annoyed.

This has other benefits to it too...just to name a few, (1) you learn a lot more and get experience, (2) you help a good cause, (3) you make good references for letters of rec, (4) you won't get turned down, they are always short-staffed, and (5) you network...the vets, techs, and other volunteers definitely know other people and can put in a good word for you so you can get a job elsewhere!

Well, it worked for me. You just have to show your dedication, which isn't that hard. Just something to consider if you don't want to go the traditional route. Good luck!

 

[sumstorm]

Just remember that not all areas have shelters, rescue groups, or humane societies with vets. Some send animals out to a vet clinics. These can still be good places to get leads on a vet who might be 'softer' regarding shadowing. In the area I am in currently, wildlife rehab is done by volunteers and almost never consult vets. Local shelters never deal with vets (recently a deputy shot a dog in the head while it's owner was at work on a Saturday, then the shelter staff took it to the shelter, where it sat with an open shot wound till Monday....and no one goes to the shelter on Sunday, not even to feed/water...thank goodness the deputy was a bad shot, and I know all the sides of this story because at the time I was observing at the vet the owner uses, I volunteered at the shelter, and I ran a local humane society), and rescue groups do drop off's at vets to keep the costs down (several vets waive the exam fee for them if they drop off.)

So, I suppose it depends on how sophisticated of an area your in...and probably how high the stray/unwanted population is. Having said all that....with an additional 30 minute (over an hour in peak traffice) drive I can get to a shelter with a vet.

 

[lyndaelyzoo]

I had never even heard of the American Association of Equine Practitioners Shadow a Veterinarian Program until now (thanks to WordsyouWant!!) and have since e-mailed two equine vets to see if I could work with them on weekends and possibly during the summer. Will let you know how it works out!!!

 

[StillDreaming]

I went from clinic to clinic and submitted an application to volunteer. All of them said they would call me back, and after 2 weeks when i hadn't heard anything, I CALLED THEM BACK, just to follow up. This got me in at one clinic and I volunteered there for 6 months. I was offered a tech position, but couldnt take it due to commitments to another job as well as i was pursuing a large animal position elsewhere. But while i was volunteering i got to see so much! and I got to know the vets pretty well too, to a point they trusted me to help out holding, giving meds, etc. even though i was only a volunteer.

As for the large animal position i got. It turned out I was just in the right place at the right time, as well as knowing a few people at the clinic helped them remember my face. I also followed up consistently (for a couple months!) and eventually they found a spot for me on the payroll.

So my advice is just go to places and apply, and then FOLLOW UP! If you do so, some people might get annoyed, but in other cases they will see how interested you are in working and how committed you are, and for me it got me my experience and a job i absolutely LOvE!

 

[smilin1590]

thank you guys so much for all the informative and positive feedback. I've started my quest and I'm excited. Also what were some of your duties as a shadow. Did you take notes, ask lots of questions(obviously) help out with certain clinic duties, watch surgeries? Sorry I'm just so excited and interested! thanks again

 

[themightyfuzz]

I learned very quickly with what veterinarians I could ask questions and which ones I couldn't.

The youngest veterinarian (who was just a year out of school) was more unsure of having volunteers around, which is fine. She needed to focus and concentrate on her job during surgery and that was fine with me.

The other vets warmed up to me very quickly (I was quiet the first couple days, except to ask questions of the techs where things were located, what things were called, etc) when they realized that I was serious about shadowing and being an effective volunteer.

I didn't take notes, but sometimes I wish I had kept a journal of the things I learned each day. I think it would be interesting to look back on in a few years.

Anyway, my advice is to be as helpful as possible, while remaining out of the day in complicated situations for the first while until you have a routine down pat. Then questions are pretty easy to ask when there's downtime or on route to farm calls (my favorite time for questions since we're all stuck in the vehicle together ). Also, when I was there, the vets would often pull me in to "help" (really I wasn't needed) hold animals that had interesting/unusual cases so I could hear and see what was going on as well. I loved the people I worked with...they taught me a lot in a very short while.

 

[cms07c]

Hey! This is my fist time using forums. I'm usually just a lurker. Hopefully I can get to know some of you in the future and have you answer some of my questions sometime. Sorry for being off topic, but to answer your question, maybe I can help a little bit. I work at a small animal clinic, and I plan on applying to vet school in the fall. The doctor hired me over two years ago to do kennel duties (while I went to school). Lucky for me, our clinic has always been a bit short-staffed, so the others would frequently come to the back where I was and ask for help. It wasn't too long before I went from doing strictly kennel duties to helping in the treatment area, also. Now, I can gladly say the doctor calls me a tech! I cannot emphasize enough how much you have to be willing to learn and do just about anything they tell you, including pick up poop, clean cages out, give baths, etc. Now I find myself in the position of the other techs that were there when I started. We finally hired some high school kids to do kennel stuff (aka. kennel kids), and I'm teaching them stuff as well. It may take a while for you to move on up at whatever clinic you start, but be patient and, more importantly, show a desire to learn and help...Oh yeah, and you have to able to take some constructive criticism.

I absolutely agree with you. Right now I'm a kennel tech and most techs are happy to have you do some of their easier tasks in treatment, whether it be preparing fecal floats or just walking the dogs in ICU. Don't get discouraged if you have to start as a kennel-tech and dont move up right away, it takes time, but like I keep telling myself, you have to start somewhere..

 

[r00]

These tips are more important than ever to me because I just quit my job yesterday... AAAHHHH lol

 

[Jooorodal]

Hello everyone! This may be a bit off topic but I am in a similar boat as I have been searching for a position (any) within a veterinary clinic and have no prior experience, and was offered a job outside of the field. I am wondering if I should take up the offer which would be 25 hrs a week and just volunteer/shadow during my free time or if i should turn down the offer and continue to short for a position within a vet clinic?

 

[Bottle of Bear]

Hello everyone! This may be a bit off topic but I am in a similar boat as I have been searching for a position (any) within a veterinary clinic and have no prior experience, and was offered a job outside of the field. I am wondering if I should take up the offer which would be 25 hrs a week and just volunteer/shadow during my free time or if i should turn down the offer and continue to short for a position within a vet clinic?

necroooo

That being said, bird in the hand's worth two in the bush. If you need the money take the job, gain some experience on the side. If you're really rich and can afford to focus on just gaining experience, then keeping your schedule open could be the better option.

Either way, not many clinics hire people without experience unless they know friends/family, so banking on getting offers in the field this early in your career probably not the wisest choice.

 

[ilikecake]

Some advice that worked for me when I was just starting out.. Go to smaller practices. 1-2 doctor practices are usually run and managed by the veterinarian, and they are more inclined to let you come volunteer your time and learn about the field. I got my first two vet jobs this way. I volunteered for a month or two, and as soon as the position opened up, was immediately hired.

 

[Ashley*76]

I have struggled to get hired anywhere. I've completed internships at KESMARC, shadowed at large international clinics as well as local, and have a very flexible schedule. I have never had an issue getting a job before (typically offered as soon as the interview is over for non vet work) but I've gotten zilch at any clinic I've applied to. I've called them back to check in, I've visited in person...I'm at a loss

 

[Devastating]

I have struggled to get hired anywhere. I've completed internships at KESMARC, shadowed at large international clinics as well as local, and have a very flexible schedule. I have never had an issue getting a job before (typically offered as soon as the interview is over for non vet work) but I've gotten zilch at any clinic I've applied to. I've called them back to check in, I've visited in person...I'm at a loss

I have known that struggle, unfortunately. Most of them simply never contacted to say anything either way after interviewing me, even if I followed up. Just got to keep looking and keep trucking.

 

[Ashley*76]

I have known that struggle, unfortunately. Most of them simply never contacted to say anything either way after interviewing me, even if I followed up. Just got to keep looking and keep trucking.

Trust me I'm trying. It's especially hard when it's near your undergrad, so alllll the pre-vet students are trying for jobs. Even with over 30 clinics in town, the hunt is real!

 

[kayed12]

I have a question for anyone and everyone....
I have plenty of animal hours (shelter based) and have finally landed a volunteer spot being supervised by a veterinarian in a clinic! YAY! Hard work to get someone to believe in you and take you under their wing! I have no animal/ vet hours from a PAID position, its all volunteer based. However, my question is: Do you think it matters if all your experience is strictly volunteer? Or do they want to see you getting paid in the animal world? Thank you everyone!

 

[deleted806434]

I have a question for anyone and everyone....
I have plenty of animal hours (shelter based) and have finally landed a volunteer spot being supervised by a veterinarian in a clinic! YAY! Hard work to get someone to believe in you and take you under their wing! I have no animal/ vet hours from a PAID position, its all volunteer based. However, my question is: Do you think it matters if all your experience is strictly volunteer? Or do they want to see you getting paid in the animal world? Thank you everyone!

No it doesn't matter. The vast majority of my hours were volunteer when I sent in my application and it wasn't a problem

 

[TrashPanda]

100% of my hours were volunteer, and I did just fine. In fact if anything, I think having a lot of volunteer/non-profit experience (not just in veterinary medicine) helped, especially since it aligns with my career goals.

Some schools might have a preference for paid hours because they're often more hands on, but 1) that's not always the case and 2) plenty of people have been accepted with just shadowing hours.

It's definitely not anything to be concerned about.