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Looking for some help...
- Thread starter HelloNello
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Hey there!
I understand your frustration- it can be pretty tough to find a job or volunteering opportunity. I think your best shot is to go to your local humane society. After a while, vet clinics might be more willing to hire you. The more you volunteer, the better your chances of landing a job are! Also, you might try asking for a job as a kennel girl or something of the sort.
About your classes- I am pretty sure it means you need a full year of the course plus the semester/term of lab. However, you might want to double check with an instructor or advisor just to make sure!
I understand your frustration- it can be pretty tough to find a job or volunteering opportunity. I think your best shot is to go to your local humane society. After a while, vet clinics might be more willing to hire you. The more you volunteer, the better your chances of landing a job are! Also, you might try asking for a job as a kennel girl or something of the sort.
About your classes- I am pretty sure it means you need a full year of the course plus the semester/term of lab. However, you might want to double check with an instructor or advisor just to make sure!
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I second Mystic's advice.
You said that you've been having a hard time getting hired, have you offered to volunteer or asked to shadow? You can get really good experience that way and you may get the opportunity to obtain a paid position.
In addition to checking out shelters, you could volunteer at a wildlife clinic or try and find an internship. Does your school have a vivarium? I know the one at my school employed students to take care of the animals.
You said that you've been having a hard time getting hired, have you offered to volunteer or asked to shadow? You can get really good experience that way and you may get the opportunity to obtain a paid position.
In addition to checking out shelters, you could volunteer at a wildlife clinic or try and find an internship. Does your school have a vivarium? I know the one at my school employed students to take care of the animals.
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Volunteeringwise - Keep at it. Even though a veterinarian says that they don't have space, contact them in a few months. Who knows, something may come up and I'm sure they'll appreciate the follow up. Do you have any friends that are Vet Techs ... or do your friends/family know people in the Veterinary field? It always helps when you're introduced versus contacting someone "cold". Some hospitals have Extern programs.
Where are you located? If anything try volunteering at an animal shelter just to get some exposure to animals.
Where are you located? If anything try volunteering at an animal shelter just to get some exposure to animals.
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What I ended up doing to get experience was to send my resume and a cover letter to every clinic within an hour's drive. In my cover letter I explained that I was looking to apply to vet school, that I was equally willing to work or volunteer or shadow, and what my availability was. I had a job within a few weeks and another potential one lined up (I did end up being hired). This was after years of looking for experience in the same area.
Don't be afraid to ask about becoming kennel help! Or looking at places where you're not just a tech/assistant - I did pretty much everything at one of my jobs, and all of it was valuable experience. And, as has been mentioned above, try shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centers if there are any around. Does your school have a lab animal department that you can work with?
As far as pre-reqs: It would be best to contact the schools you are interested in, as some will want two semesters of lecture and one of lab while others will want two of each. They will also be able to tell you how your school's credit system fits into their requirements.
Good luck!
Don't be afraid to ask about becoming kennel help! Or looking at places where you're not just a tech/assistant - I did pretty much everything at one of my jobs, and all of it was valuable experience. And, as has been mentioned above, try shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centers if there are any around. Does your school have a lab animal department that you can work with?
As far as pre-reqs: It would be best to contact the schools you are interested in, as some will want two semesters of lecture and one of lab while others will want two of each. They will also be able to tell you how your school's credit system fits into their requirements.
Good luck!
I agree with everyone. Also, if you have a pet, why don't you ask your vet to let your shadow or volunteer in her/his clinic? That's what I did. She was really really nice and I learned alot from her. Also, always try shelters or humane societies. In my area, they have volunteers for vet services, so you work with a vet there. That's a great way to gain vet experience as well.
For me, it isn't about getting paid. I just want to gain experience, so I don't mind if it's just unpaid. But I'm sure once you have more experience, people would be more likely to hire you.
Hope that helps!
As for pre-reqs, like everyone else said, it is better to email the adviser at the schools you want to apply to. they should be able to give you a clear answer 🙂
For me, it isn't about getting paid. I just want to gain experience, so I don't mind if it's just unpaid. But I'm sure once you have more experience, people would be more likely to hire you.
Hope that helps!
As for pre-reqs, like everyone else said, it is better to email the adviser at the schools you want to apply to. they should be able to give you a clear answer 🙂
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Agreed ... it's all about the experience. For me, if it meant that I had to clean poop, then so be it ... you know? Also, keep in mind that these Veterinarians that you're shadowing are certainly candidates for Letter of Recommendation.
Please take it seriously and don't waste your or the Veterinarian's time ... this is an important relationship that you'll be building that will stay with you for your career, if not your whole life.
In talking with others, I've found that staying out of people's way, but being sure to get a good view and asking the right questions (the type of questions your ask your professor that indicate you've got a solid grasp on the material). This way they don't have to constantly explain, "This is what I'm doing." Think about it if you were in their shoes ... what types of questions would you like to be asked?
Finally, agreed on the pre-reqs ... email the schools, get the answers in writing, and SAVE those emails.
Please take it seriously and don't waste your or the Veterinarian's time ... this is an important relationship that you'll be building that will stay with you for your career, if not your whole life.
In talking with others, I've found that staying out of people's way, but being sure to get a good view and asking the right questions (the type of questions your ask your professor that indicate you've got a solid grasp on the material). This way they don't have to constantly explain, "This is what I'm doing." Think about it if you were in their shoes ... what types of questions would you like to be asked?
Finally, agreed on the pre-reqs ... email the schools, get the answers in writing, and SAVE those emails.
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I worked at a local pet store/adoption center and got a lot of experience from that. What I always went for was internships, usually unpaid, but it seems to help if you are doing it through you're school somehow and you can often even have it put on your transcript. A lot of zoos will do internships as well as research labs if you are into that sort of thing. Basically any kind of volunteer work that can be related to your schooling could be considered an internship...try contacting your school's career center. Have you tried contacting any vets to see if you could just follow them around for the day? I did that with a mobile equine vet and found it to be a very rewarding experience
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Hello!
Well at first I sent out emails to see if clinics were willing to take on a shadowing student, but I didnt get a lot of responses. So I ended up sending a cover letter and resume to about 15 clinics in my area (Massachusetts) stating what I was looking for, and ended up getting a lot of clinics offering me shadow jobs. So what I got a kennel job for a couple of nights in the week and they told me that I can watch on my days off. So this is where a lot of my small animal experience comes from. Then I got a call from a great Equine clinic, and I go there once a week to shadow (hey how can they say no to free help 🙂 ). This place is way more hands on and I feel more comfortable shadowing there, plus there is another girl shadowing with me so it makes it even better because we can be clueless together 🙂 jk (but it did take me about 2 years to get into that clinic).
I would just send out cover letters and resumes it seems from my experience they like those better than emails 🙂 Good Luck! Also, what area are you in?
Well at first I sent out emails to see if clinics were willing to take on a shadowing student, but I didnt get a lot of responses. So I ended up sending a cover letter and resume to about 15 clinics in my area (Massachusetts) stating what I was looking for, and ended up getting a lot of clinics offering me shadow jobs. So what I got a kennel job for a couple of nights in the week and they told me that I can watch on my days off. So this is where a lot of my small animal experience comes from. Then I got a call from a great Equine clinic, and I go there once a week to shadow (hey how can they say no to free help 🙂 ). This place is way more hands on and I feel more comfortable shadowing there, plus there is another girl shadowing with me so it makes it even better because we can be clueless together 🙂 jk (but it did take me about 2 years to get into that clinic).
I would just send out cover letters and resumes it seems from my experience they like those better than emails 🙂 Good Luck! Also, what area are you in?
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I had the exact same problem when I first started trying to find a job in a Vet clinic. Do you have any animal experience at all? If you don't then thats probably why you can't get a job. If you do, then all the vet clinics are probably not hiring due to the economy. With most clinics, you'll have to start in reception or kennel. I started in reception. I just happened to be lucky and applied to the right place at the right time. I am still quite amazed that I got the job because I was having absolutely no luck finding a veterinary related job and I have lots of animal experience. Also, be persistent and do not fear rejection! I also have a very tight schedule because I have a double major and I have riding lessons. You just have to find somewhere that is willing to work with your schedule.
Also, I found this out after I got this receptionist job, but a lot of Vet schools hire undergrads too! I live very close to Ohio State and one of the girls that works at my vet clinic also works at OSU as a receptionist. So if you have one in your area, definitely apply, no matter what position it is. The best step is to get your foot in the door and then you can worry about moving up later.
Oh also, I read chyactnate's response about emailing your cover letter and resumes. I did this as well, do it even if the website doesn't say they are hiring. they might be thinking about it and just havent posted. If you don't get a response, I would definitely go to the clinic and follow up in person.
Also, I found this out after I got this receptionist job, but a lot of Vet schools hire undergrads too! I live very close to Ohio State and one of the girls that works at my vet clinic also works at OSU as a receptionist. So if you have one in your area, definitely apply, no matter what position it is. The best step is to get your foot in the door and then you can worry about moving up later.
Oh also, I read chyactnate's response about emailing your cover letter and resumes. I did this as well, do it even if the website doesn't say they are hiring. they might be thinking about it and just havent posted. If you don't get a response, I would definitely go to the clinic and follow up in person.
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If you're really having issues finding private clinics that'll hire you or allow you to shadow/volunteer, I guess you could do what I did... Completely forget private practice all together and get diverse experience elsewhere and hope for the best. I ended up with ~6000 hrs of vet/animal experience and none of that was in private practice. Just increase your search radius to include wildlife rehab centers, animal shelters, research labs, animal sanctuaries, zoos etc... Be wise about picking experiences that will enhance your application, but otherwise anything is a good first step. If you're a rising junior, you still have another summer, and there are lots of internships out there that will at least provide housing, and some will even give you a little stipend.
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Are you able to get involved in any research with a faculty member at your school? I got a ton of experience by doing developmental biology research on zebrafish (yes, fish!).
I also had a VERY difficult time finding experience. I contacted every vet clinic in my hometown while i was in high school, contacted the same places the summer after my 1st year of college...never heard back or was told that i was too much of a liability, need experience to get experience etc.
When I went back to school I contacted all the animal hospitals in that area and just asked to volunteer a few days a week. I realized that they really needed the help. I volunteered about 10 hrs a week during school. One of these days was a Saturday which was very busy for the hospital. I learned SO much through volunteering. After 3 months I realized I was doing so many tasks that the assistants were doing. I gained up the courage and asked my supervisors if I could actually get hired. It all worked out and I had worked at that same place for about 2 1/2 years. Just left because I'll be starting vet school in a couple of weeks. I gained so much great experience and met some wonderful doctors (who were great for eLORs)
Don't give up hope!
I also had a VERY difficult time finding experience. I contacted every vet clinic in my hometown while i was in high school, contacted the same places the summer after my 1st year of college...never heard back or was told that i was too much of a liability, need experience to get experience etc.
When I went back to school I contacted all the animal hospitals in that area and just asked to volunteer a few days a week. I realized that they really needed the help. I volunteered about 10 hrs a week during school. One of these days was a Saturday which was very busy for the hospital. I learned SO much through volunteering. After 3 months I realized I was doing so many tasks that the assistants were doing. I gained up the courage and asked my supervisors if I could actually get hired. It all worked out and I had worked at that same place for about 2 1/2 years. Just left because I'll be starting vet school in a couple of weeks. I gained so much great experience and met some wonderful doctors (who were great for eLORs)
Don't give up hope!
