Experience question

[Hobbs21]

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So I am currently going through the process of trying to get in the door with local vets. I've read all of the other threads but didn't find an answer to my question. So here goes. If you are putting a resume in at an office you're not familiar with, who do you address the cover letter to? Many of these offices have 3 DVMs or more.

Also what is the current consensus on walking in or calls/e-mails? Would walking in give me a better chance of getting in? How important is it to get a paid position?

 

[Bearby]

Cover letter: Either to the owning veterinarian or office manager. You can usually find out the name by calling the office and asking.

Walk-in vs E-mail: Unless the owner says to only submit resumes by e-mail, I think going in makes a better statement. It gives you the opportunity to see the clinic, talk to the receptionist or office manager, etc. Just make sure you look nice, you never know who will see you. First impressions matter.

Paid vs Unpaid: Doesn't matter as far as applications are concerned. I opted for paid positions because I didn't have the means to support myself by simply volunteering. You will usually have to start by volunteering if you don't have any previous experience so you can get an idea of the flow and demands of the clinic, but if you do well you may be offered a position. It's really luck of the draw as to if and when you will get a paid position in a veterinary clinic.

Good luck!

 

[LetItSnow]

So I am currently going through the process of trying to get in the door with local vets.

If you want my opinion: re-read Bearby's post.

And if it were me I'd go face-to-face every time over mail/phone. And then I'd follow it up with mail (or email, if you had the address) after you met face-to-face.

 

[Fireflysushi]

I got over 1000hrs of vet experience on a volunteer only basis. The clinic just wasn't able to hire somone without a vet tech cert, so I don't really think this hurts you, but I would definitely try for a paying position if you can.
I often saw people come into the clinic to drop off resumes, the receptionist just took their app and then they left. I think it means more if you drop it off in person, but don't expect them to introduce you to the vet or give you a tour. Sometimes you really have to work to get in. I had to call that clinic six times just to get an interview to volunteer!

 

[nordicat]

I got over 1000hrs of vet experience on a volunteer only basis. The clinic just wasn't able to hire somone without a vet tech cert, so I don't really think this hurts you, but I would definitely try for a paying position if you can.
I often saw people come into the clinic to drop off resumes, the receptionist just took their app and then they left. I think it means more if you drop it off in person, but don't expect them to introduce you to the vet or give you a tour. Sometimes you really have to work to get in. I had to call that clinic six times just to get an interview to volunteer!

SO TRUE. When someone calls our clinic looking for a job/shadowing/whatever, we write down their name & number and put it in the office manager's inbox. Depending on 1) who we already have shadowing/interning/volunteering and 2) how the office manager feels that day, it could go straight in the "circular file". 😡 At my old clinic, if the receptionist taking your app decided she didn't like you/your clothes/your name/WHATEVER, she'd pitch your application without passing it on to the manager. Personally, I give every app and resume and message to my manager, but I get a little cranky about the people who are just looking for any old job and aren't interested in a future as a tech or vet. 😛

Be persistent, and be persistent at several places! Follow up, then follow up some more. But DO give it a few days...sometimes the manager might be out for a couple days, or they might be really swamped and haven't even had a chance to look at your stuff.

 

[Rangerblp]

Most all vets are going to be more than happy to let you have some time with them if you walk in from my experience. I applied at LSU last year and I have over 14K animal and veterinary hours. I was told that the experience really didn't make a difference and it was confirmed when a friend of mine from high school graduated from LSU. She said two girls in her class had never been in a vets office other than to take their dogs. They had never worked or shadowed in a clinic. If you have awesome grades you'll get in so focus more on your grades than you do experience.

 

[Trilt]

Most all vets are going to be more than happy to let you have some time with them if you walk in from my experience. I applied at LSU last year and I have over 14K animal and veterinary hours. I was told that the experience really didn't make a difference and it was confirmed when a friend of mine from high school graduated from LSU. She said two girls in her class had never been in a vets office other than to take their dogs. They had never worked or shadowed in a clinic. If you have awesome grades you'll get in so focus more on your grades than you do experience.

This is not correct for most schools. I am not familiar with LSU, but there are many schools that won't even look at an application until you have some pre-requisite of veterinary experiences - I know someone with a 4.0 who was rejected last year, and that was with a significant chunk of experience in addition.

Ditto to Bearby's post and LetitSnow's go in person addendum.

 

[Hobbs21]

Thanks for all the advice. I did end up going into different places and I got lucky! Starting to shadow at my vet's office tomorrow! I'm still going to try a few more places because they don't do LA, but I'm so happy to get my foot in the door. Also I don't really know how much of a difference it made but I think going in person and dropping off my info helped a lot. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[Minnerbelle]

Most all vets are going to be more than happy to let you have some time with them if you walk in from my experience. I applied at LSU last year and I have over 14K animal and veterinary hours. I was told that the experience really didn't make a difference and it was confirmed when a friend of mine from high school graduated from LSU. She said two girls in her class had never been in a vets office other than to take their dogs. They had never worked or shadowed in a clinic. If you have awesome grades you'll get in so focus more on your grades than you do experience.

Are you sure those two girls didn't have experiences other than clinical private practice experience? I'm one of those "never been in a vet office other than to take my own animals" peeps, but I had over 6000 animal and veterinary hours. I can guarantee you it wasn't my grades alone that got me into vet school. I didn't have a bad gpa, but it definitely was not exceptional.

 

[lostbunny]

Thanks for all the advice. I did end up going into different places and I got lucky! Starting to shadow at my vet's office tomorrow! I'm still going to try a few more places because they don't do LA, but I'm so happy to get my foot in the door. Also I don't really know how much of a difference it made but I think going in person and dropping off my info helped a lot. Thanks again for the advice!

Good job and congrats! Going in to hand in resumes in person definately does make a difference! 🙂

 

[libster06]

Most all vets are going to be more than happy to let you have some time with them if you walk in from my experience. I applied at LSU last year and I have over 14K animal and veterinary hours. I was told that the experience really didn't make a difference and it was confirmed when a friend of mine from high school graduated from LSU. She said two girls in her class had never been in a vets office other than to take their dogs. They had never worked or shadowed in a clinic. If you have awesome grades you'll get in so focus more on your grades than you do experience.

Not true for other schools. And I really wouldn't base anything off of hearsay from other students. There is no telling the statistics of the two girls you mentioned above, so it's hard to assume that "experience doesn't count for anything if you have good grades". LSU doesn't focus a ton on experience, but they do focus some.

Along with that, "if you have awesome grades you'll get in" is also a misconception. There are many other factors, besides both grades and experience, that determine admission... personal statement, supplemental essay, and most importantly (and seemingly often underestimated) the viability and comparable competitiveness of all the other applicants.