Equally ambitious boyfriend logistical question

[Evil Liz]

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Hello! I am a 4th year veterinary student and I would love some input on my plans after graduation.

My boyfriend is applying to professional school next May at the same time I am graduating with my DVM. I want to live in the state he wants to go to school in, so I selected that state for my NAVLE and license. However, he will not know if he is accepted until next August, which puts the start date to moving and getting my first job in that range. Since my license will be for a state I will not be living in, I plan to work in my home state next summer as a veterinary assistant ("tech-ernarian" is a term I've heard haha).

So, will practices think taking 3-4 months off after graduation is a red flag? Or will it be tough for a new grad to sign on at that point? I am interested in small animal ER or urgent care if that makes a difference.

Thank you for any input 🙂

 

[JaynaAli]

ERs are always desperate for doctors, especially in the current environment. And many people take some time off between vet school and jobs. I think @Trilt has posted before that she didn’t start her first job after graduation until July or August? I don’t think it’ll probably have any big impact at all on your employment chances. There may technically be less jobs available or less desirable ones left since many of your classmates will have started jobs in the weeks before that, but I would think in the current market you’ll be able to find something pretty easily. How will that change with inflation and a recession is anyones guess but usually vet Med is considered fairly recession proof. And I personally think if we did have a slow down it would take things from the current state of bat**** crazy to slightly more manageable.

With that said, it’s not that hard for a new grad to get licensed in multiple states. For <$500 (in most states) and a few hours of paperwork you could probably get licensed in your home state and do some relief shifts or something and make a larger amount of money. With as crazy as things are now a place may be willing to accept someone on a short term 3 month basis, you never know.

 

[Trilt]

ERs are always desperate for doctors, especially in the current environment. And many people take some time off between vet school and jobs. I think @Trilt has posted before that she didn’t start her first job after graduation until July or August? I don’t think it’ll probably have any big impact at all on your employment chances. There may technically be less jobs available or less desirable ones left since many of your classmates will have started jobs in the weeks before that, but I would think in the current market you’ll be able to find something pretty easily. How will that change with inflation and a recession is anyones guess but usually vet Med is considered fairly recession proof. And I personally think if we did have a slow down it would take things from the current state of bat**** crazy to slightly more manageable.

With that said, it’s not that hard for a new grad to get licensed in multiple states. For <$500 (in most states) and a few hours of paperwork you could probably get licensed in your home state and do some relief shifts or something and make a larger amount of money. With as crazy as things are now a place may be willing to accept someone on a short term 3 month basis, you never know.

Yup, I didn't even start looking at jobs until graduation in May. Started my first one in August. Nobody has ever questioned a thing.

 

[britzen]

I vote get your license in your home state too and do some relief or short term work for more money.

I had a government job lined up, and started poking around for what was out there in GP/ER land around May just to see what the money was like compared to government land. Had zero trouble getting multiple offers in the current market.

Another classmate of mine is taking off until October to travel and decompress. She also has multiple offers and has had no issues finding clinics willing to hire / wait to hire until the fall.

 

[MixedAnimals77]

You won't have an issue. Read an article the other day iirc it was from the AVMA that theres at least 18 openings per 1 dvm looking for a job. That doesnt even include those not advertising but hiring. The job market is very much in your favor right now. Agree with everyone else's suggestions above!

 

[Polocrosse2017]

I'm glad this was brought up. My fiancée and I will be in a similar boat at some point. She will get her PA while I am in my first year of internship. (We will get married soon after I start 4th year). We will have to figure things out at some point! She is thinking of doing ER work while I am doing my internship and maybe even residency. We will eventually cross that bridge. Hopefully we can eventually find something that fits us both in the same city!