Help me decide what to do for my gap year!

[nessie5876]

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Hi everyone,

So I just applied this most recent cycle, but graduated this past June so I need to figure out what to do with my life lol. My current job ends next week (research assistant). I have a lot of hours in research experience (through this job only though) and animal experience (with small animal and equine). Vet experience was only minimal equine hours. I think to improve my application I need more typical clinical work and maybe wildlife/exotic.

I recently applied for a kennel assistant job, got a job offer but told them I want to think about it. It looks like 90% of it is caring for the boarded dogs (just cleaning and maintenance) and helping with grooming. The rest is restraining animals after 5:30 pm if i happen to get a PM shift, since that's when the tech leaves. Would this be a good position to accept or should I decline?

I do already have an internship which is way more hands on but its only 4 hours a week. It's assisting with a spay/neuter clinic. We prep animals for surgery, help with recovery, vaccinate etc. I know I'm going to be bored though as soon as my next job is over so I need something else to do!

Thanks for the advice!

There are also other factors at play here but I'll leave it at this for now.

 

[wildlifer]

If you are at all interested in getting some wildlife/exotic type work, check out Texas A&M job board. There are many positions on there that are seasonal and great for students/recent graduates to gain experience in that field. The jobs are more wildlife management/conservation type work as opposed to veterinary work, but the experiences, in my opinion, are definitely worth it.

As far as the kennel job goes, I don't see it as a bad position. Sounds like between that and your internship you'll gain some more clinical work. Obviously if you could land an opportunity in a small animal practice that would help you gain more clinical hours.

You should also just enjoy yourself with this time out of school 🙂.