How did you get your experience? Where did you turn to?

[Backwoods Boy]

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Hey everyone. It seems like a lot of people are asking experience questions right now. I was wondering if everyone would mention how and where they got their experience.

I recently decided to become a vet (less than a year ago). This spring I realized how much experience I'd need so I began my search. After calling my vet, who subsequently turned me down, I wasn't sure where to go. Thankfully I found out my neighbor had an apprenticeship position open for her horse training and wild mustang program. I convinced her to give me a shot and I have been working there when the weather has been decent.

My other experience thus far has been with another vet. I emailed him asking if he needed help and he told me to give him a call. After calling him he asked me to come in so he and his receptionist could give me the tour. Now I have a job during the semester on days I don't have classes.

What did you all do? Maybe we can give some ideas to those who need it.

 

[OtakuVet]

I started pretty slow. Ive wanted to become a vet since I was about 16 years old. I wasn't given much of a chance by any of the vets that were around my area and I didn't have a car so I was forced to really not have a lot of experiences until I was 18 years old. I called a ton of people but no one really gave me a chance then. That is when I began working with many local shelters. I worked with my local spca for a year and finally landed my first veterinary job. But I left after a tech ridiculed me and told me that I would never be a vet. ( I was shook up for a few months after that, just a sophmore in college) Afterwards I found a vet who actually cared about who I was (most places didnt even want to know my name) and actually was pretty interested in my soon to be career. I found a nice young doctor to work with and been with her ever since. Im now 22 and she has been my inspiration forever. =D Now I'm applying to veterinary school Ive been involved with four different rescues two being LA and Two being Small. Two SA practices, One MA practice, worked at a Emergency Clinic, and shadowed at a LA. =D the Prevet club along with APO has helped me with networking. For those of us that dont have neighbors, family friends and such it can be a bit harder to find our first vet job. Anyway sorry this was so long, thats just my two cents for those of you starting out. Find someone who will love you and help you soar!

 

[bunnity]

I volunteered at a wildlife center and a shelter (which actually owned the wildlife center but they were fairly independent of each other). I had no luck with private practice vets in my area, but had a very easy time getting in the door with these nonprofits, because they actually needed an extra person to help out. I'm actually very glad the private practice vets I called first turned me down... otherwise I might not have discovered my love of shelter medicine.

 

[VetMedOrBust]

I landed a great job at a local humane society working in the vet clinic. I work with an awesome group of people who let me help out/look on while they do things. I am planning on doing some volunteer work at a wildlife center, as well as some volunteering at other vet offices. I haven't gained much experience yet, but I at least have a few places to start. Try looking around your area for any type of non-profit - they are almost always looking for volunteers!

 

[Kat0303]

I worked at a small animal clinic for a summer in high school.

I then worked for a 2 different vets in undergrad for a total of around 3 months.

So, I obviously didn't have much small animal vet experience. But I looked all over for large animal experience while in undergrad, and ended up working at our university's dairy farm for over a year. It was an interesting experience since I had not set foot on a farm of any kind before that, and I think it definitely helped make up some for my lack of small animal experience.

 

[aspiringDVM]

The opportunities in vet med really seem to grow exponentially. I started volunteering in a small animal clinic in junior high and eventually became employed there. I think this opened alot of doors-- rescue organizations were totally willing to take me on when they heard I worked in a clinic, and it even seemed to expedite matters when I went to find large animal experience. I worked in a rehab facility for a summer, and that gave me access to a nearby equine clinic where I worked the next summer, where I met the equine vet I'm riding with this summer.
Finding your first experience can be really difficult, but it gets easier from there on out (at least in my case) 👍. It also helps to be able to say "I worked ____, and Dr. ____ recommended I contact you..." rather than just "I'm a pre-vet student trying to gain experience..."

 

[canis13]

My first vet experience occurred before I realized I wanted to be a vet - I worked as a kennel person in a SA clinic during the summer after high school and the summer after freshman year. That experience made me realize that I wanted to pursue vet med. As some other people have reported, it's been difficult to find a place to hire me as a vet assistant/tech (and unfortunately I couldn't continue at the SA clinic where I was a kennel person, because I go to school across the country from where I'm from), so this past winter I finally started shadowing a SA vet, and have about 60 hours doing that so far. I was having trouble finding a vet to even shadow, but finally found a SA vet who is an alum of my school through career services and the alumni directory. I also started volunteering at a weekly spay/neuter clinic, which is where I got more hands on experience. This past May I did a RAVS trip, which was awesome, and I felt like I learned more there in a week than I did in 3 months of shadowing. I'll be a senior this fall (although I'm not planning to apply until Fall 2010), and am hoping that the vet I'm shadowing will have a position open up at her clinic. I still have LA vet experience (either shadowing or paid position) and shadowing the public health vet on the to-do list as well, and I have about a year and a half to get all of this done!

 

[DreamDVM]

I work in three places: a parrot rescue center, which I heard about at the vet who was taking care of my cockatiel when she was sick, a wildlife clinic, which I heard about from a fellow pre-vet, and an animal hospital, which I heard about from Google Maps. The animal hospital only came after several weeks of calling, distributing my resume, and trying to be impressive and smart.

My two biggest pieces of advice are
1) don't give up! Keep pushing, calling, trying. You can only gain by doing this. Do NOT get discouraged if someone turns you down.
2) talk to EVERYONE you meet that is related to vet med and make connections. Learn about what they do and see if it would be good for you. If you have someone to mention you ahead of time you will be MUCH better off than if you show up out of nowhere.

And good luck to all!
LeAnne

 

[Backwoods Boy]

I think DreamDVM summed it up perfectly. To anyone who is looking for experience, don't give up! Once your foot is in the door you will have an advantage.

 

[168135]

Finding your first experience can be really difficult, but it gets easier from there on out (at least in my case)

Hehe, it's the opposite for me.

Anyway... I decided that I was interrested in becoming a vet tech when I was 17. I was in grade 11 at the time. In order to be sure that this is what I wanted to do, I knew I had to get experience. A classmate encouraged me to put in a resume at her clinic because they were currently looking for a volunteer. I had to put my resume in twice and make several phone calls, but they eventually gave me the volunteer position. Once I left for university, I contacted them, asking if I could job-shadow on my breaks, but they had too many people and couldn't take me on. I tried at the other vet clinic down home... they told me I could volunteer, but they never called me back... the week before I was due to volunteer, I called, and they said they would call me back and didn't... so I called when I finally got home, and the vet was out of town. Needless to say, that didn't happen 😛 I found out that my mom scrapbooked with a woman who was a tech at that clinic... she even talked to the vet, and got no where with it 😛

I also volunteered at the local animal shelter. I started off cleaning cat cages and moved to walking dogs the summer after my first year of university.

When I started university, I kept getting screwed over by the vet clincs in the area. I've sent five resumes to one clinic in paticular. I call them... they ask me to send in a resume... I call them again... they don't even read my cover letter and assume that I've applied for a position that had just been filled... then they say that they have to check with the owner and that they'll call me back... they don't call me back, so I call them... then they tell me they're not looking for anybody at the moment but to try back... wash, rinse, repeat for two years 😛

I got pretty desperate... my academic advisor in my first year told me about a prof who's wife was a vet. I ended up emailing him. His wife was no longer working, but he knew a woman who was opening a new clinic. I emailed her, and volunteered there when I could... now she has another volunteer and a tech student and has no room for me. So I've started calling around to all of the clinics that screwed me over, and after doing some research, I'm putting in an application at the SPCA because there is a bus near me that goes by there. Also, you'll be hearing from me once school starts... I'll be asking about internships, and next summer, I'll be applying for every animal-related internship that I can. I had applied for one this summer, and got turned down 😛 This summer will be the last summer before I apply... I plan on re-taking organic chem and I need to find something that will keep me in the competition.

To make a long story short, shelters are always looking for somebody... and spending time with animals in need makes a person feel pretty good about themselves. Also, don't get discouraged if a clinic turns you down... just keep trying... and talk to people... they could have connections that you don't know about that can help you get your foot in the door 😛

 

[StillDreaming]

I went to various small animal clinics in search of volunteer positions. I followed up continuosly until they 'hired' me as a volunteer. I also volunteer in the ICU at a local equine hospital with the neonatal foals. After 3 years of volunteering at the ICU I got hired (again following up on the tech in charge of hiring).

My animal experience ranges from personal pets to volunteering at a couple barns and race tracks. I just applied at the places and FOLLOWED UP... so my advice here, is apply, then follow up because following up reminds them that you are interested and shows that you are committed (but be careful about following up too much!)

 

[cyn11]

When I started university, I kept getting screwed over by the vet clincs in the area. I've sent five resumes to one clinic in paticular. I call them... they ask me to send in a resume... I call them again... they don't even read my cover letter and assume that I've applied for a position that had just been filled... then they say that they have to check with the owner and that they'll call me back... they don't call me back, so I call them... then they tell me they're not looking for anybody at the moment but to try back... wash, rinse, repeat for two years 😛
😛

I didn't realize people send in resumes and cover letters for volunteer positions. Is that pretty common for animal clinics?

Also, maybe this is a small matter, but do you guys think it's okay to just call up clinics and ask if they have anything available, or is it better to show up in person?

 

[168135]

I didn't realize people send in resumes and cover letters for volunteer positions. Is that pretty common for animal clinics?

Also, maybe this is a small matter, but do you guys think it's okay to just call up clinics and ask if they have anything available, or is it better to show up in person?

If I was interrested in volunteering at a specific clinic, I would drop my resume off and cover letter in person and explain to the receptionist what I was looking for, and they would either bring me someone to talk to, or say they'll be in touch... if they don't get in touch, I'll follow up. I don't know if that's the *right* way to do things... I've called a couple of places because they were pretty far out of the way, and they always asked me to bring in a resume.

 

[aspiringDVM]

I didn't realize people send in resumes and cover letters for volunteer positions. Is that pretty common for animal clinics?

Also, maybe this is a small matter, but do you guys think it's okay to just call up clinics and ask if they have anything available, or is it better to show up in person?

You'll be taken much more seriously if you bring in a resume, though I agree that it's acceptable to call places you're interested in that are far away. I've also had some success with emailing the person I knew was in charge of hiring with a brief message and resume (with references) attached.
And a pet peeve, especially with the plethora of teenaged girls near my clinic looking for summer employment, for heaven's sake, if you go in person don't trot through the front door in cheer shorts and a bathing suit or something equally heinous .

 

[crittergal]

for heaven's sake, if you go in person don't trot through the front door in cheer shorts and a bathing suit or something equally heinous .

Aspiring DVM makes a very good point. If you leave anything other than a professional, mature, and completely together impression with whomever you speak, I can almost guarantee you'll never get a call. As catty as many clinics and rescue organizations can be, the negative first impression will have circulated around the building before you've even left the parking lot.

 

[twelvetigers]

...if you go in person don't trot through the front door in cheer shorts and a bathing suit or something equally heinous .

YES. No ridiculous short-shorts, no handkerchief tops (for realz) and no sweatpants.

 

[168135]

YES. No ridiculous short-shorts, no handkerchief tops (for realz) and no sweatpants.

Ha! Usually I'm just coming from school 😛 I don't dress up like I'm going for a job interview, I just dress casually. I ask the receptionist how he/she is doing, explain why I'm here, ask if there is anyone around that I can speak to, then ask if I can leave my resume.

I really don't understand why I'm having all of this bad luck when it comes to getting experience. I try so hard 🙁

 

[cyn11]

Wow, reading about all of this makes me kind of nervous! I had no idea it was so hard (at least for some) to offer oneself up for unpaid employment. But I guess volunteers have to be trained and supervised, and nobody wants to waste time looking after someone who is just going to be unreliable and in everybody's way.

I was just gonna call around, but I think I may have just been persuaded to start polishing up my resume.

By the way, what do you guys think about volunteer positions that do not directly involve handling animals, but rather working for some kind of pet/animal welfare organization. Perhaps something along the lines of making phone calls, doing paperwork, maybe walking a dog or two..? I know eventually I'll have to do some real clinical work, but would this be an okay place to start? I'm kind of thinking of it as 'pre-experience'. This is, of course, if I absolutely can't find anything in a clinic.

 

[crittergal]

By the way, what do you guys think about volunteer positions that do not directly involve handling animals, but rather working for some kind of pet/animal welfare organization. Perhaps something along the lines of making phone calls, doing paperwork, maybe walking a dog or two..? I know eventually I'll have to do some real clinical work, but would this be an okay place to start? I'm kind of thinking of it as 'pre-experience'. This is, of course, if I absolutely can't find anything in a clinic.

Any volunteer service is good. It shows community service and involvement, an important area often overlooked by applicants. I think that would be a great option. It might also be a way to open some doors for you. Maybe after working with the organization for a few months and proving yourself as a reliable volunteer, you could then contact the veterinarian that the organization uses. Right or wrong, often knowing the right names can be very beneficial.

 

[HandD42]

Here is what I did as an under grad (now I work in lab animal vet work and have 1000s of hours.)

I opened my local phone book and called every single vet clinic that was within driving range and asked if they took interns. I went down the list in alphabetical order and just so you know I had to get to the S's before someone said they would interview me (and I offered to do a summer internship unpaid). And I live in a large metro area so I probably called 30-40 different clinics.

Yes, it is super hard to get experience but don't give up. Be persistent!

You can also volunteer at shelters and try to get to know the vets who work there as well. Or maybe try to find a job at a kennel at a clinic. Great way to get a foot in the door even if it is not 'vet work' (it might turn into that someday).

Although once I had a small amount of experience it was much easier to get the doors to open at other facilities and vets.

 

[pawprints]

In grade 10, I asked my local SA veterinary clinic if I could job shadow there for a day, and they agreed. They were impressed with my maturity at that age and my interest in veterinary medicine that they offered me a job there as a kennel attendent. I then was offered the position of receptionist/animal assistant after working there for a couple of months. Luckily, the owner of the clinic is an equine vet, so I go on call with him as often as I can. One of the techs that I work with lives on a large scale dairy farm, and after going there and milking cows for just general animal experience, I asked the LA vet if I could go to farm calls with him for a couple of days. Also, a client at the SA has a friend who is a holistic vet, and is going to mention my vet aspirations, so hopefully I can spend some time with her, as she practices LA and SA holistic medicine. Once you get your foot in the door, it seems (in my experience at least) that everyone tries to help you out and opportunities just spring up out of nowhere...😛

 

[bunnity]

Something I forgot to mention before...
A really cool opportunity in a lot of cities is to work with a feral cat trap-neuter-release program. The two programs I'm familiar with (but never actually worked for) let you get a lot of hands-on experience with surgical prep / post-op work. They are also always looking for volunteers. And of course there are vets there doing the surgery, so it would be a great way to get to know them and get shadowing opportunities. If you just google "feral cat" or "TNR" with a city name you can find local programs.

 

[168135]

Something I forgot to mention before...
A really cool opportunity in a lot of cities is to work with a feral cat trap-neuter-release program. The two programs I'm familiar with (but never actually worked for) let you get a lot of hands-on experience with surgical prep / post-op work. They are also always looking for volunteers. And of course there are vets there doing the surgery, so it would be a great way to get to know them and get shadowing opportunities. If you just google "feral cat" or "TNR" with a city name you can find local programs.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Never thought of checking there... where I live has so little to offer, I just assumed that we didn't have one. I just sent them an email. Their website is pretty vague... they didn't give a location and their name suggests that they could be located anywhere this end of the province.... so wish me luck 😛

 

[DVMDream]

One of my friends in high school was working for a vet and she told me there was an open kennel position. Unfortunately, one of my other friends happened to be sitting there and overheard the conversation. She had decided just recently that she wanted to be a vet. I had wanted to be a vet since I was 7 and I talked about trying to get experience forever. I was very mad when she decided to apply for the job too and she actually got it. Luckily though somebody else quit and another position reopened. So I started working at this as a kennel in June 2005. After 9 months as kennel I was moved up to vet assistant. I have been working there ever since and I continue to work there. One of the vets just finished and evaluation for me! YAY! So, I guess I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. 😀

 

[DVMDream]

YES. No ridiculous short-shorts, no handkerchief tops (for realz) and no sweatpants.

Don't put your cellphone in your bra if you are wearing a tanktop and are so flat-chested that everyone can see the front screen of your phone. Especially if you are going to sit in the lobby of the clinic while filling out the application because by the time you will have left EVERYONE in the clinic will have made their way to the lobby to get a good laugh. 😳

 

[BrumleyVet]

The local spay/neuter clinic loved my willingness to "do whatever they needed me to do" so they started me as a volunteer and about a month later I was hired on. With my increasing class load and wanting to get varied experience, I started calling clinics in the area looking for a volunteer internship or at least a chance to come in and get some observation hours. Whenever a clinic said they "accept resumes" but had no openings, I got in my suit (yup that dreaded "interview" one), grabbed a cardstock copy of my resume and stopped by. Imagine my surprise when I got a call (a few weeks later) from the clinic that I really wanted to get in (late hours and weekends) asking me if I was interested in a paid position. Again I showed up in my suit. I started that next week. Since starting, I have heard a couple of coworkers comment on the fact that I was "dressed up" for my interview and that management figured that I was serious about wanting the job, and mature enough to be a good employee so got the position.

Just something to think about.

 

[DVMDream]

BrumleyVet that is funny that the suit got you noticed. I drove around to various vet clinics in the town I attend undergrad school and walked in with my resume wearing jeans and t-shirt. Handed them my resume and asked if they were hiring (most weren't) and then decided I would follow up in a week. I was about to give up and not go to the last clinic but decided to go anyway. I handed them my resume and then as I was about to leave the girl asked if I would fill out an application so I did. I got an interview with the vet within two minutes and I got the job before I finished filling out the application while in jeans and a t-shirt. LOL!! 😀