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- Feb 20, 2014
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I know that this forum is geared toward pre-veterinary students, but I'm sure many of you have worked as an assistant or technician and have some great insight to help me make a really difficult decision.
My end goal: Work as a veterinary technician in a zoological facility.
I have a B.S. in Animal Science and am in my final semester of an A.S. in Animal Health Technology (Veterinary Technician) and will be eligible to sit for the VTNE and state board after May.
I have experience in emergency and critical care, avian and exotics, and equine medicine. I have been applying like crazy to summer zoo internships, and was not expecting this outcome. I am now faced with 2 incredible offers, and must make a decision by the end of the weekend.
Offer #1
Large AZA zoo, unpaid, 12 weeks, 40 hours/week, offers housing for nominal fee. During the phone interview it was mentioned that I would be able to work hands-on with many of the collection animals, as long as it is relatively safe to do so. I will be able to practice my technician skills, except for clin path because they send all samples out.
Offer #2
Well-known company, AZA accredited, paid, 6 months, 40 hours/week + potential on-call hours at night. I will be working with injured wildlife brought in to the hospital, and will be assisting with procedures on collection animals, but not allowed to work hands-on with them. Tasks involved with collection animal procedures include cleaning/autoclaving instruments and filing charts/radio-graphs. I'm worried I may start to lose some of my technician skills by not being able to draw blood/place catheters/take radio-graphs etc. on a regular basis, but this is a dream company to work for (and I have worked with them in the past).
My dilemma is deciding which internship will benefit my career the most. I know paid experience is often weighed heavier than unpaid, but I worry that if my paid experience isn't working hands-on with zoo animal species, it may be a set-back when interviewing for future positions.
Any insight?
My end goal: Work as a veterinary technician in a zoological facility.
I have a B.S. in Animal Science and am in my final semester of an A.S. in Animal Health Technology (Veterinary Technician) and will be eligible to sit for the VTNE and state board after May.
I have experience in emergency and critical care, avian and exotics, and equine medicine. I have been applying like crazy to summer zoo internships, and was not expecting this outcome. I am now faced with 2 incredible offers, and must make a decision by the end of the weekend.
Offer #1
Large AZA zoo, unpaid, 12 weeks, 40 hours/week, offers housing for nominal fee. During the phone interview it was mentioned that I would be able to work hands-on with many of the collection animals, as long as it is relatively safe to do so. I will be able to practice my technician skills, except for clin path because they send all samples out.
Offer #2
Well-known company, AZA accredited, paid, 6 months, 40 hours/week + potential on-call hours at night. I will be working with injured wildlife brought in to the hospital, and will be assisting with procedures on collection animals, but not allowed to work hands-on with them. Tasks involved with collection animal procedures include cleaning/autoclaving instruments and filing charts/radio-graphs. I'm worried I may start to lose some of my technician skills by not being able to draw blood/place catheters/take radio-graphs etc. on a regular basis, but this is a dream company to work for (and I have worked with them in the past).
My dilemma is deciding which internship will benefit my career the most. I know paid experience is often weighed heavier than unpaid, but I worry that if my paid experience isn't working hands-on with zoo animal species, it may be a set-back when interviewing for future positions.
Any insight?