Getting experience in an area void of opportunity

[Myotis]

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Ok, I'm getting a little discouraged trying to find vet experience opportunities in my town. There aren't many vet hospitals in the area, and finding job openings is next to impossible (except at one place with a horrible reputation, so I'd like to try to avoid it). I've taken in resumes to most of the vets in the area, but none are hiring and none take on volunteers or allow shadowing (I'm not at all sure why). I've been looking diligently for about a year to no avail. There are some opportunities for volunteering at a wildlife rehab center and the local humane society, but I'd really like to work in a hospital again. I already have about 1150 hours of experience from working as a kennel staff in high school, but I'd like more experience and I miss the hospital environment desperately (I'm currently a tutor/office assistant and it's driving me nuts). Any advice?

 

[Pandacinny]

It sounds like, even though you miss it, you have a lot of private practice stuff. Until you can form some connections or make something work out, I'd see what other options you have. Are there any research opportunities at your school?

Does a vet work with any local shelters or rescues? If so, maybe you could volunteer with those rescues and get to know local vets that way. Once they get to know you, they'll have a reason to reconsider your resume because they'll see how great and hard working you are. Could be a way to get your foot in the door, you know?

Maybe if you talk to the hospitals and see if you can do a little shadowing for free for awhile, it'll help the local vets get to know you in a similar way.

 

[turnandburn]

Ok, I'm getting a little discouraged trying to find vet experience opportunities in my town. There aren't many vet hospitals in the area, and finding job openings is next to impossible (except at one place with a horrible reputation, so I'd like to try to avoid it). I've taken in resumes to most of the vets in the area, but none are hiring and none take on volunteers or allow shadowing (I'm not at all sure why). I've been looking diligently for about a year to no avail. There are some opportunities for volunteering at a wildlife rehab center and the local humane society, but I'd really like to work in a hospital again. I already have about 1150 hours of experience from working as a kennel staff in high school, but I'd like more experience and I miss the hospital environment desperately (I'm currently a tutor/office assistant and it's driving me nuts). Any advice?

That's a difficult situation but it does sound like you have racked up a number of hours in a small animal clinic. I would try to diversify your experiences; volunteering at the wildlife rehab center would be great! Get involved in leadership activities inside and outside of school (even if not animal related).

 

[sumstorm]

Ok, I'm getting a little discouraged trying to find vet experience opportunities in my town. There aren't many vet hospitals in the area, and finding job openings is next to impossible (except at one place with a horrible reputation, so I'd like to try to avoid it).

Careful deciding a place is horrible based on a horrible reputation. Reputations can arise for a number of reasons; a client that feels they are charged too much for care for 'just a pet', a pet that dies on the table due to unforseen complications, an animal that has an unfortunate reaction to routine care like rabies vax, a disgruntled employee, a vet that deals with clients who can't or won't spend money so uses cheaper and riskier procedures, etc.

you might consider giving it a chance by asking to shadow there first to get a feel for whether it is worth working at.

 

[Hoxydude]

I completely understand how hard it is to find somewhere to volunteer/work. I talked to every vet within a half an hour of me ( it was some 25 odd vets), and only one accepted me as a volunteer ( that vet turned out to be a complete nightmare). All of the vets I talked to said it was due to insurance reasons. They were not allowed to have someone working in the clinic unless they were being paid because that person was not covered under their insurance policy. No one was willing to hire me.... so yeah I completely understand. I am looking at working at the humane society and the on-call vet that is there. Maybe try something like that? I'm sure the rehab place will have a vet on call or at least one they work with on a regular basis .

I agree with turnandburn and pandacinny. It looks like you have a lot of clinic hours allready, and since you're having a hard time finding a vet, maybe it would be better to start the diversification process. It can't hurt at least to work at the rehab place until you find a vet to work with 😀

Good luck!!

 

[Myotis]

Careful deciding a place is horrible based on a horrible reputation. Reputations can arise for a number of reasons; a client that feels they are charged too much for care for 'just a pet', a pet that dies on the table due to unforseen complications, an animal that has an unfortunate reaction to routine care like rabies vax, a disgruntled employee, a vet that deals with clients who can't or won't spend money so uses cheaper and riskier procedures, etc.

The people who I've heard bad things about him from are actually people who work for him, some of them say he's a great vet, others don't, but they don't advise working for him if it can be avoided because he's verbally abusive. And there was a big scandal with him recently where he was videotaped verbally abusing clients, and apparently he has a bit of a legal record. And even so, the place is about 40 minutes away.

As for diversifying my experience, I actually have worked in wildlife rehab before, but I still definitely want to get involved in the place up here. And I'm going to try to get involved at a local horse rescue. I do have quite a bit of experience at a small animal clinic, but it was as a kennel staff and I always felt that that really wasn't enough for vet school and that I needed tech experience. Is kennel staff experience enough?

Thanks for all the tips, and happy holidays 🙂

 

[Wolphcats]

All of the vets I talked to said it was due to insurance reasons. They were not allowed to have someone working in the clinic unless they were being paid because that person was not covered under their insurance policy.

That is preposterous! I am currently volunteering with an exotics vet, but they had my sign a waiver releasing them of any damages should I be injured while there and that I would be covered by my own health insurance. My health insurances said that while I am not being paid, I am covered, otherwise it is workman's comp. So next time you try to volunteer and they say it is because of insurance, ask to sign a waiver.

 

[GellaBella]

That is preposterous! I am currently volunteering with an exotics vet, but they had my sign a waiver releasing them of any damages should I be injured while there and that I would be covered by my own health insurance. My health insurances said that while I am not being paid, I am covered, otherwise it is workman's comp. So next time you try to volunteer and they say it is because of insurance, ask to sign a waiver.

It's not preposterous. Insurance coverage laws for vet hospitals vary by state. In some states you can basically do anything as a volunteer. Here in nj though I'm not really technically allowed to do ANYTHING like no touching the animals, no helping with cleaning, no bending down to pick up a towel that fell. Seriously. The head managers of this vet practice made it very clear to me several times (when I'd do stuff like bend down to grab that towel) that I'm supposed to stand there and watch that is all. Nj is very strict about only vet assistants and techs being involved in the actual work

anyways to the op, I agree with others, try to find a new type of vet experience if possible. If it's really been a year with no hits I wouldn't waste anymore time barking up that tree. Maybe you will findother types of vet work to be just as, if not more fulfilling

 

[rugbychick16]

It's not preposterous. Insurance coverage laws for vet hospitals vary by state. In some states you can basically do anything as a volunteer. Here in nj though I'm not really technically allowed to do ANYTHING like no touching the animals, no helping with cleaning, no bending down to pick up a towel that fell. Seriously. The head managers of this vet practice made it very clear to me several times (when I'd do stuff like bend down to grab that towel) that I'm supposed to stand there and watch that is all. Nj is very strict about only vet assistants and techs being involved in the actual work

anyways to the op, I agree with others, try to find a new type of vet experience if possible. If it's really been a year with no hits I wouldn't waste anymore time barking up that tree. Maybe you will findother types of vet work to be just as, if not more fulfilling

I agree. It really varies from state to state, and if they say you can't do anything for insurance purposes if you're not actually hired there, they do really mean it. I ran into the same problem, and have very little veterinary experience as a result.

Also-most vet clinics can't technically have "volunteers", because only non-profit organizations can have volunteers do work for them. You have to be labeled as an "observer" or say you're "shadowing", which also usually means that you can't touch anything.

 

[168135]

I've had very little luck getting veterinary experience since starting university so I've been volunteering my time at a shelter, got a research position at my school, and I'm looking at animal-related internships that I can apply for and do over my summer vacation (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=679880)

Hope this helps!

 

[Gilrandir]

I'm currently volunteering at a local SPCA in their exam room, which is where all the intake animals get their initial full examination and vaccinations, and any sick animals within the shelter get treated. It's pretty much like a low-budget clinic, except I get to do some stuff hands-on! There's a separate facility on the premises for spay and neuter operations, too, which I used to volunteer at (and still occasionally drop by to help when they're inundated with feral cats from the Trap, Neuter, Release program) Sometimes I saw some pretty interesting things while helping the vets - tumors and the like.

Edit: Er, my point being, you can ask if your local shelter has something similar and if they need help in that area. They might not right away - I started as a normal volunteer in the cat section - but don't write off shelters as purely nonclinical! 🙂 Good luck with your search!

 

[sumstorm]

That is preposterous! I am currently volunteering with an exotics vet, but they had my sign a waiver releasing them of any damages should I be injured while there and that I would be covered by my own health insurance. My health insurances said that while I am not being paid, I am covered, otherwise it is workman's comp. So next time you try to volunteer and they say it is because of insurance, ask to sign a waiver.

Waivers don't hold up in court in most states. Apparently you can't sign away your risk unless you are competent (ie a professional) to know all potential risks. I would say even as a vet student, I don't know all the risks yet, and I have had a 10yr+ career in animal fields. I have had to deal with this on both the employer and employee side of things. And some liability won't even let you shadow/volunteer without animal contact.

Another option for handling insurance may be to arrange an externship through your school. That is how big companies manage internships/externships while limiting liability.

 

[Hoxydude]

That is preposterous! I am currently volunteering with an exotics vet, but they had my sign a waiver releasing them of any damages should I be injured while there and that I would be covered by my own health insurance. My health insurances said that while I am not being paid, I am covered, otherwise it is workman's comp. So next time you try to volunteer and they say it is because of insurance, ask to sign a waiver.

Thanks for the idea, I'll definitely try that next time around!!!