Importance of Relevant Summer Jobs

[thnythe]

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As summer draws nearer, the search for a summer job continues. I'm finding it difficult to find a clinic that will even consider hiring a first year student. I suspect that even if I do land a clinic job, my limited skill set will leave me cleaning kennels, walking dogs, and shadowing the occasional surgery all for a low rate of pay.

So how important is it really to get a relevant summer job? At this point, I am seriously considering just looking for a job that is unrelated, making more money to pay off my student debt, and foregoing the experience factor. If the job allows, I will make time to schedule/volunteer during time off.

I feel like it is basically a trade-off between money and potential experience. Given that I am going to be working as a vet for the next ~40 years of my life, is it unwise to do something else for a summer or two? When does it become crucial to get that clinic experience?

 

[Pandacinny]

Here, they reccomend that if you can't find anything related, to get an unrelated job (retail, waitressing, etc) to cover bills, then to shadow/ride along with vets at the college or whatever. Maybe you could do something like that?

 

[aretoo]

OVC has a TON of summer jobs available for vet students either in the clinics or working with researchers etc - have you looked around your school at all?

 

[fargeese]

Usually you can find someone at school doing research if you look hard enough, especially if you are on work-study because then you are a "steal" in terms of the money that the lab has to pay you, which is a factor when they only have so much grant money.

That being said, while I did a prestigious research program last year, I am going on a fun trip to India to work at a veterinary hospital (unpaid) and sitting around my pool the rest of this summer. Future be damned, I need some recharge time! You might ask upstairs (dean's office) who the liasion for externships etc. is and go talk to them. I went to mine and she gave me some good ideas before I decided to give up eating this summer and go on a cool trip.

If you are going into straight up food or small animal practice (no specialties etc.) I would think you could just do whatever with your summer. If you are wildlife oriented I would try to find a position somewhere in your field, since there are about 10000 applicants for any open wildlife position after school and the extra experience might help. I don't know about horses because I personally have zero interest in them - perhaps an equine person can tell you better on whether you need the summer experience for horse jobs after school.

 

[Pandacinny]

OMG, you have a pool - I'd forgotten!!

If I can use your pool this summer, that might make my Illinois vs Blacksburg decision much easier. Not that you're required to do so, of course 😛

 

[thnythe]

Thanks for the suggestions! Unfortunately, I'm not from the city my school is in and I won't be staying here this summer for personal reasons. Perhaps I will check out the university at home, though!