Inquiries about government jobs for vets

[DrinkWater95]

Hello! I’m a year 2 vet student and am just exploring my options post vet school. Getting a government job (in the USA) has always been an interest of mine, but I wanted to get some more insight if possible. I’m particularly interested in working for the CDC dealing with zoonotic diseases/public health.

I have a few questions for those with government job experience:

1. Were you able to get a job with the government right out of vet school, or did you need to have additional experience/schooling to be competitive enough?

2. If you worked during any government shutdowns, did this influence your work/pay?

3. Has your position in the government changed much since you started? I.e. have you had promotion opportunities or have you opted out of this job completely?

4. Having worked for the government, would you go this route again or explore other avenues the degree has to offer?

Thank you so much for your time!

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[MixedAnimals77]

@Teepster87 might be able to sort of answer some of these questions-I know they're fairly familiar with USDA like work, but not yet graduated.

 

[JaynaAli]

I can’t answer most of your questions but I do think that many governmental vets are affected by governmental shutdowns. There was a gofundme posted in my class Facebook page a year or two ago for a classmate who works for the USDA and was struggling because of the shutdown/lack of paycheck. I think they get backpay in time but it’s not like bills can wait.

 

[britzen]

You can PM me - I'm also a second year but I am on internship #3 with USDA at the moment and will be converted from intern to permanent employee after I graduate.

As for shutdowns, if you are in a critical position, you will have to continue to work. If you are not considered critical you will be furloughed. Both employees reporting to work and those in furlough get back pay eventually when the government re-opens. (Technically they don't have to approve back pay for furloughed workers, but I think it has always been approved in the past.)

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[DVMDream]

During the last government shut down so many vets were struggling. There was also a lot of resistance in the government on paying back the furloughed employees...it almost didn't happen. I knew many vets that were panicked because they almost didn't get paid.

With how frequent these shut downs are occurring it is something to keep in mind when thinking about a government position.

 

[that redhead]

Hello! I’m a year 2 vet student and am just exploring my options post vet school. Getting a government job (in the USA) has always been an interest of mine, but I wanted to get some more insight if possible. I’m particularly interested in working for the CDC dealing with zoonotic diseases/public health.

I have a few questions for those with government job experience:

1. Were you able to get a job with the government right out of vet school, or did you need to have additional experience/schooling to be competitive enough?

2. If you worked during any government shutdowns, did this influence your work/pay?

3. Has your position in the government changed much since you started? I.e. have you had promotion opportunities or have you opted out of this job completely?

4. Having worked for the government, would you go this route again or explore other avenues the degree has to offer?

Thank you so much for your time!

I'm just outside DC and two of my previous coworkers work for USDA. They both joined after a couple years in clinical practice, but like Britzen said there are opportunities to transition directly after graduation.

They both had to work during the shut downs but were only paid on time for a certain portion of it. The rest was eventually back-paid but like others have said, it was very stressful for them with bills. I know some larger companies were allowing people to request deferring of payments, but even then it's stressful not know when/if you'll be paid.

Neither has had promotions, and one is a little disappointed that she's kind of locked into her GS level (and salary/benefits ceiling).

One is very happy with her work; the other regrets leaving clinical medicine but also works a few hours in clinical stuff with her current job. She does like the flexibility and benefits that come with it.

 

[DrinkWater95]

Thank you for everyone’s responses. I figured red tape and government shutdowns would be a big source of stress with a government job. Just another thing to consider when debating what route to take!

 

[Teepster87]

Finally something about stuff that I can answer!

1. Thanks to the scholarship program I was a part of, I'll be able to convert directly into a position with USDA-APHIS. There's skmily scholarships with FSIS and AC (Animal Care) as well. I know 2 people who graduated and then went on to jobs with FSIS and AC. Of all federal veterinary jobs, FSIS is probably the easiest to get directly into. They employ the largest number of vets and usually have openings if you're willing to move. There's potential for openings with the USPHS as well as a veterinarian. They've offered a few over the last few years, but mostly through FSIS. I don't personally know anyone who's graduated and went to work at CDC immediately, but I'm sure it can happen.

2. Within my area (APHIS) there was a few different categories that people fell into. Vital to operations, non-vital/furloughed, and some have positions that were funded by different sources, that weren't affected by the unfunded portion of the government. A lot of those folks got stuck doing not only their work, but also the work of the people who were furloughed.

3. There is opportunity to move and grow within the government. Sometimes it does involve moving to a different location, and I know people that have been deterred from that. I think it's a good time to get in now, as there's a huge portion of the workforce that's eligible to retire but hasn't yet.

4. This is probably a good route for me. I never really planned to do clinical medicine. I'm prior military and have a pretty good feel for how the bureaucracy works, and there's alot of other prior military folks that make it easy to transition into federal service.

 

[that redhead]

Finally something about stuff that I can answer!

1. Thanks to the scholarship program I was a part of, I'll be able to convert directly into a position with USDA-APHIS. There's skmily scholarships with FSIS and AC (Animal Care) as well. I know 2 people who graduated and then went on to jobs with FSIS and AC. Of all federal veterinary jobs, FSIS is probably the easiest to get directly into. They employ the largest number of vets and usually have openings if you're willing to move. There's potential for openings with the USPHS as well as a veterinarian. They've offered a few over the last few years, but mostly through FSIS. I don't personally know anyone who's graduated and went to work at CDC immediately, but I'm sure it can happen.

2. Within my area (APHIS) there was a few different categories that people fell into. Vital to operations, non-vital/furloughed, and some have positions that were funded by different sources, that weren't affected by the unfunded portion of the government. A lot of those folks got stuck doing not only their work, but also the work of the people who were furloughed.

3. There is opportunity to move and grow within the government. Sometimes it does involve moving to a different location, and I know people that have been deterred from that. I think it's a good time to get in now, as there's a huge portion of the workforce that's eligible to retire but hasn't yet.

4. This is probably a good route for me. I never really planned to do clinical medicine. I'm prior military and have a pretty good feel for how the bureaucracy works, and there's alot of other prior military folks that make it easy to transition into federal service.

The one vet I know working for CDC never did clinical practice but has like, a masters and PhD and works in a super niche field.

@JiuJitsuGirl95 depending on what appeals to you about government work, there may be other non clinical fields that you would like 🙂