I could really use some advice right now

[Two]

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Currently, I am working in an aftercare program in South Florida. Obviously, this isn't going to do anything for my plans of going to vet school. I sent out a resume to the Humane Society to see if I could get a job there so I could accumulate vet experience at the same time. (This is the only place I have applied at so far) I was offered an interview & the woman that was interviewing me said that as a kennel tech, I would have no contact with veterinarians or vet techs. I really need the veterinary experience hours since I am a sophomore.

My questions are: If I get the job, should I accept it? The economy is bad & I have no idea if a private clinic will hire me. Is animal experience better than no experience? Should I just decline the offer & look for a kennel position in a hospital?

 

[PearlDVM]

i would take the job if they offer it, and just continue to keep your feelers out for other jobs that will be more vet-related. Think of this as a stepping stone. All experience is good. That said - you will eventually need to get veterinary experience. But, if they are willing to pay you for this - that's great these days. And I bet that you could volunteer with the veterinarians on your day off 🙂.
Def keep looking for something with a veterinarian as you go along, but I wouldn't turn something like this down unless you a.) dont need the money or experience or b.) have something better lined up.

good luck

 

[twelvetigers]

A job like this is a foot-in-the-door for more relevant jobs in the future. Unless you're confident in finding something elsewhere, or you have some other reason... take it!

 

[jtom]

I would take it as well, you are a sophmore so you definetly have time to acquire vet hours. As already said, you are getting your foot in the door in the field; you could meet a vet or someone who knows someone at a clinic etc.

 

[VeganSoprano]

I would definitely take it. It's an entry level animal care job, and by definition it's tough to expect anything better than an entry level job until you have some relevant experience. At worst, it would be "animal experience" for VMCAS. More likely, it would be a stepping stone to a position of greater responsibity at the shelter or a kennel or even vet assistant position at a clinic or hospital. You'd be accepting a job, not a marriage proposal here! If you found something better next month, you could take that new opportunity next month. If the kennel gig would be an improvement over your current job, then take it. Progress is your objective here. If you hold out for perfect, you could easily find yourself two years from now with little relevant experience - which would be a disaster.

 

[EllieGirl89]

It sounds like you're discovering the same thing I discovered, except I discovered it a little too late-VERY few positions in a veterinary situation are going to want to/be able to pay you.

When I was your age (I make it sound like that was forever ago, haha really it was 2 years ago) I spent a lot of time trying to find a veterinary assistant position that would pay me. I applied to 4 vet clinics and came up with nothing (though to be fair, only 1 was actually "hiring"). None of them hired me but I couldn't work for free because I had horses to feed. I needed a paying job. So I did the best I could taking positions cleaning stalls, doing kennel work, etc. It wasn't veterinary experience but it was the best I could do.

Unfortunately, going to school full time, working part time, and taking care of my animals the rest of the time left very little time to do any slave labor/shadowing at vet clinics. So I didn't do a lot. Until last year, when I realized, oh SHOOT, I need to get going on my vet hours!

So now, here I am, about ready to submit my application and I have less than 500 hours of directly supervised vet experience. Mind you I have thousands upon thousands of hours of animal experience, but my vet experience is obviously lacking so I'm really going to have to make up for that during my interview, should I get one. If I could go back knowing what I know now, I would totally not have wasted my time looking for all those vet positions and just taken the stall cleaning/kennel jobs a lot sooner, and then saved a day or two a week to just shadow any vet that was willing to let me hang around.

That being said, I DID get about 100 hours of vet experience working at the dog kennel, because I got to help the vet with exams on the dogs that were staying with us. So as was previously mentioned, you might be able to get your foot in the door working at the kennel, so it definitely can't hurt.

My advice would be the following: take the kennel job. Do the best you can, think of every possible interaction with animals and fellow employees as another step towards vet school. Continue to do well in your classes, and if you have one or two days a week with a few free hours, find a clinic that will let you shadow there. Because honestly, you're going to have a pretty hard time finding a clinic to pay you with little experience, but every experience is valuable to you, whether you're paid with money or not, because every hour spent with a vet is another hour you can put on your VMCAS. Most vets are more than willing to let you hang out.

Good luck!

 

[DVMDream]

I would definitely take it. As everyone else said, this could be the step that gets your foot in the door. All it takes is meeting/getting to know someone who has that vet connection and you could be in. Just put your best foot forward, show your interested in vet experience and see what happens. Even if you do not get your experience from the shelter at least this kennel experience might get you into a private practice doing kennel work and from there you could end up getting vet experience much easier. Even if it does mean going in on days off to observe the vet. I started off doing kennel work in a vet clinic and now a little over 5 years later I have well into the thousands of hours of vet experience. It just takes that initial first step, be positive about it, and prove that you are interested. Good Luck to you!

 

[LMMS]

I say go for it! Like everyone said, you never know who you're going to meet and/or get to work with and/or shadow. And you may even find something else about shelter work other than vet med that you could end up loving!

Good luck!! 😀

 

[Cypress]

I had 0 vet experience when I graduate from undergrad - started working at a shelter in customer service and built my way up - animal experience is better than nothing - and if you keep working hard and show them you are interested the chances are you can move up in the company - shelters really can't afford to pay registered techs so promoting from within the company is always a good chance - after working at the shelter I was hired as a vet assitant because I then had the experience they were actually looking for.

Its a great opportunity so I say go for it! I'm really glad that I did....its made all the difference for my experience.

 

[Two]

Thanks for the help guys 🙂
I have not heard back from the Humane Society, but it's only been like 2 days.
I managed to put in another application at an emergency clinic & I plan on giving the office manager my VCA application this week. (I shadow at a VCA hospital)