What is appropriate?

[168135]

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I am currently trying to get into three clinics to get experience.

During Christmas break, I talked to a vet at one clinic and gave him my resume. He said that he could set something up for my February break and during the summer. I also dropped a letter off to the clinic that I used to volunteer at. On both the letter and the resume, I gave them my home address, home phone number, university address, university phone number, and email address. I came back to university on the 5th. I have gotten no emails, letters or phone calls. I called both clinics Monday morning and left them messages. I don't want to be annoying... is calling again on Monday appropriate?

Tuesday night, I dropped off my resume to the vet clinic in my area, and was told to call the office manager Wednesday morning. She said that she was going to try and get back to me sometime this week. It is now Friday, and nothing yet. When is it appropriate to call them back?

I hate waiting... and I am starting to get frusterated. I'm trying very hard... being persistant... urgh... I hate waiting. If all three clinics won't have nothing to do with me, what do I do... move?!?!

*sigh*

Basically... how often should I be contacting these clinics without sounding needy/annoying.

 

[RaptorRehaber]

I am honestly, very surprised how many clinics are snubbing kids. Maybe it's all those isoflurine fumes but you'd think these people would sympathize with those interested in pursuing the same field. Maybe they feel threatened by younger generations and newer technology.

I would continue to politely contact the hospital or stop by in person. No offense to your case, but the clinic has more important things to concentrate on, so I think it would be in your best interest to remind them that you'd like to become involved.

 

[168135]

You'd think that they would say "Yes, you can come in" or "No, you can't come in" so they don't have to deal with it any further. But it's like pulling teeth and you have to keep at them until they say yes or no.

 

[sofficat]

I would continue to try once weekly and go in person (if that's not too much of a pain). Some clinics would love your help but become unorganized and too busy to call you back. Just keep trying

 

[Kylana]

You'd think that they would say "Yes, you can come in" or "No, you can't come in" so they don't have to deal with it any further. But it's like pulling teeth and you have to keep at them until they say yes or no.

No kidding! I know exactly what you mean! The first two clinics I applied at gave me a flat out "no" and I was a little disappointed, but I just moved on. But then I ran into clinics who wouldn't say either, they just kept telling me that they'd phone me back. I dropped my resume off at one clinic at the end of September and phoned them pretty much every week until Decemeber (some of the receptionists knew my name after a while...), but the receptionist kept saying she was really sorry, but the person that looked after volunteers wasn't in and that she'd get her to phone me back on Wednesday...ugghh!!! So frustrating!! I never did get a volunteer job at that clinic. But it is definitely very difficult to get a volunteer position at a vet clinic! I envy everyone who got a job with the first vet they approached.

But I'd keep phoning them back every week or so (or when you do phone them, you can ask when a good time to call back would be). I really wish you good luck in finding a vet to volunteer at - it was such a relief when I finally found a clinic that would let me come in! (and the clinic that I got a volunteer job at -- well I gave my resume to the recptionist and she told me she'd get the lady who organized the volunteer schedule to call me back later that day. I didn't get a phone call so I called the clinic the very next day, left a message with the receptionist and got a call back that evening from the tech, saying I could volunteer!)

 

[lailanni]

If you can, I'd personally visit once a week and ask to talk to the practice manager. If you can't make it, then call.

Life gets busy and it's easy to forget stuff, so a semi-frequent in person visit would get their attention. If you get to talk to the practice manager, tell them about FREE work for many hours, your previous experience, and recommendations if you have them.

And keep bringing resumes. Leave one every time, tell them it's in case they misplaced the other one.

Soon enough, they'll have a few of your resumes and see you often enough that they'll have to make up their mind one way or another.

BTW - good job being presistent! 👍 It will pay off eventually!

One day, when I'm a Dr, some kid is going to want to help at my clinic. And you know what? I'm going to let them!

 

[168135]

If you can, I'd personally visit once a week and ask to talk to the practice manager. If you can't make it, then call.

And keep bringing resumes. Leave one every time, tell them it's in case they misplaced the other one.

I'm out there once every two weeks... but the office manager is in during the day... and I have classes during the day... but I can see what I can do.

I left a resume at this clinic and when I called the office manager the next day, the receptionist told me that "I'm sorry, but the job position has been filled." All I could say was, "Job? I didn't apply for a job..." and then she put me on hold and I was able to speak to the office manager 😛 Leaving my resume probably isn't a good idea there... I left one in June with a letter explaining my situation and got nothing... maybe they assumed that I was applying for a job, I don't know, lol.

I can do weekly 🙂 Thanks for the advice and reassurance. I miss volunteering and job-shadowing... I don't feel whole when I'm not out getting experience... I love it.

 

[david594]

Have you tried asking around at school? Either professors or other students. Professors might know of vets they could recommend you contact. Or you might come across students who had positive volunteering experiences somewhere and that could be a good lead to follow.

 

[thereservoirdog]

It might be a better idea to phone in and get the vet's email address from the receptionist. They are probably very busy and it might be easier for the vet to answer an email on his/her own time. Plus people tend to be more straight forward in emails.

 

[168135]

Have you tried asking around at school? Either professors or other students. Professors might know of vets they could recommend you contact. Or you might come across students who had positive volunteering experiences somewhere and that could be a good lead to follow.

When I went to my course advising sestion back in June, the guy who advised me told me the name of a professor who's wife is a vet. But the clinic is 15 minutes away and transportation is an issue. Also, I was talking to one of the vets in my hometown, and he said that I am mostly likely to get on at this other clinic here. But this clinic is a few buildings down the street from the other, so, again, transportation is an issue. I'm looking at the bus schedule now... there are several buses that go there during the day, but that doesn't help me because I'm in class. I'd have to rely on a cab to get from the clinic to a bus stop that will pick me up, and cabs = $$$. But if I have to... I guess I have to... I have friends that live out that way, so I guess next time I go to hang out with them, I'll stop by. *sigh*

 

[lailanni]

I'm out there once every two weeks... but the office manager is in during the day... and I have classes during the day... but I can see what I can do.

I left a resume at this clinic and when I called the office manager the next day, the receptionist told me that "I'm sorry, but the job position has been filled." All I could say was, "Job? I didn't apply for a job..." and then she put me on hold and I was able to speak to the office manager 😛 Leaving my resume probably isn't a good idea there... I left one in June with a letter explaining my situation and got nothing... maybe they assumed that I was applying for a job, I don't know, lol.

I can do weekly 🙂 Thanks for the advice and reassurance. I miss volunteering and job-shadowing... I don't feel whole when I'm not out getting experience... I love it.

Hmm...maybe not a resume then, but a short letter of interest, like a cover letter?

Just something typed up and nice looking that says who you are, you're pre-vet in college, what you're wanting to do (work for free for vet experience!), your previous experience, and some contact info for recommendations if you have them. And of course your contact info.

Just don't make it too long, because they don't have time to read much. Then maybe staple a resume on (if you like your resume) for the back page.

That could help from giving them the wrong idea that you're applying for a position.

Stuff we get in like that, I know we pay attention to. Let's the clinic know you're not just some random person trying to volunteer, but an actual student with real interest.

Let us know when you hear back! We're rooting for you : )

 

[VAgirl]

When I went to my course advising sestion back in June, the guy who advised me told me the name of a professor who's wife is a vet. But the clinic is 15 minutes away and transportation is an issue. Also, I was talking to one of the vets in my hometown, and he said that I am mostly likely to get on at this other clinic here. But this clinic is a few buildings down the street from the other, so, again, transportation is an issue. I'm looking at the bus schedule now... there are several buses that go there during the day, but that doesn't help me because I'm in class. I'd have to rely on a cab to get from the clinic to a bus stop that will pick me up, and cabs = $$$. But if I have to... I guess I have to... I have friends that live out that way, so I guess next time I go to hang out with them, I'll stop by. *sigh*

There have to be other transportation options. Get creative (in fact, if you get creative enough, you could use it as an answer to a vet school interview question of "tell us about a time when you had to be creative or think outside the box to solve a problem.") Do you have friends with cars? Would they let you borrow their car once or twice a week if you paid for a tank of their gas on some regular interval (depending on how much you were using it). Or maybe if you just took them out to dinner every so often. Or maybe someone at one of the vet clinics (once you get in the door) lives near you and you could carpool there once a week. Maybe the city/town has a transportation website that lists other bus services/shuttle services that run around town that you could find out about and use. Or maybe you could get a bike (I know some people who've bought them off of craigslist or from someone who didn't want the bike anymore for as little as $25) and bike to the clinic. A 15 minute drive could easily translate into a bikeable distance. Or do you have roller blades or a scooter or something? Those might be able to get you there faster than on foot (though maybe not super safe, depending on your skill and the roads you'd have to use).

Honestly, it seems like there are obstacles, but you need to start thinking of solutions rather than taking the road blocks at face value. When I wanted to work in a pathology lab, I had to convince them to hire me by calling many times and persuading them that the pay cut I would be taking to work there was fine with me. Sounds stupid, but it wasn't easy. I did it, though, worked out a budget to handle the reduced pay, and got that awesome experience. Where there is a will, there is a way!

 

[168135]

There have to be other transportation options. Get creative (in fact, if you get creative enough, you could use it as an answer to a vet school interview question of "tell us about a time when you had to be creative or think outside the box to solve a problem.") Do you have friends with cars? Would they let you borrow their car once or twice a week if you paid for a tank of their gas on some regular interval (depending on how much you were using it). Or maybe if you just took them out to dinner every so often. Or maybe someone at one of the vet clinics (once you get in the door) lives near you and you could carpool there once a week. Maybe the city/town has a transportation website that lists other bus services/shuttle services that run around town that you could find out about and use. Or maybe you could get a bike (I know some people who've bought them off of craigslist or from someone who didn't want the bike anymore for as little as $25) and bike to the clinic. A 15 minute drive could easily translate into a bikeable distance. Or do you have roller blades or a scooter or something? Those might be able to get you there faster than on foot (though maybe not super safe, depending on your skill and the roads you'd have to use).

I've already started thinking outside of the box... if I wasn't, I would have just said "Screw those clinics. They are too far away!", but now I have no choice but to consider them. I can't borrow a car because I don't have my lisence. I live in Nova Scotia where we have snow from November-March. I had to walk from the vet clinic to the mall one night with no sidewalk when the ground was covered in ice and snow... I had to cross a frozen ditch and climb up a bank in order to get to the road and it was -15 degrees C too. I could bike... but biking 45 minutes on a 4-lane highway in cold temperatures... I could do it, but I would be a mess... September, Octorber and April are not that bad though 🙂 I have a friend... he works part-time and we would have to look at each others class schedules, but he lives down that way and would be more than happy to give me a ride down to that point, and maybe back if he has nothing better to do. Next time I'm going up that way, I'll drop off my resumes and go from there.

I have some time before next class... I'm going to call the three clinics that were supposed to get back to me and haven't 😛

 

[168135]

Just called the clinic here... office manger was off sick... the vet she is going to talk to is in surgery and she is going to talk to him now and get back to me. I butted in and said that I'm not expecting to get paid (they origionally thought that I was applying for a job) and that I am willing to work for free or job-shadow and I told her that I miss doing this (I really do! I feel empty without my weekly dose of volunteering!) ... now I just have to wait 😛

Called the clinic that I put my resume into... vet is going to be in at 10:30 and will probably call me back.

I'm going to hold off calling my old clinic until the other clinic calls me back.

*sigh* Making all these phone calls has really gotten me further out of my shell 🙂

 

[InfiniVet]

You may have more success at a smaller clinic, that way you skip all the B.S. of middle management and secretaries who have no idea how the office is doing.

 

[168135]

You may have more success at a smaller clinic, that way you skip all the B.S. of middle management and secretaries who have no idea how the office is doing.

The two clinics that I am currently dealing with are 1-2 doctor clinics. The one that I volunteered at previously is a 6 doctor clinic. I'm beginning to think that it is a Nova Scotia thing 😛

I had my phone on me all day and nobody called me back... but we had very very bad weather yesterday so I'll give it until the weather clears up... the roads are aweful and iced covered today... a friend of mine went off the road last night and I heard of a transit bus hydroplaning. All of the school are cancelled except for the college... figures 😛 I have a biology midterm and I want to get it over with anyway. When I woke up, the eons, eras and periods were flying though my head, so I'm ready to go.

 

[168135]

Well, the vet clinics haven't called me, but I have some good news...

I was looking at doing an internship at Farm Sanctuary in New York... I wasn't sure if they took Canadians so I asked, and they do! I'm going to apply and do that in the summer of 2009. Basically you are there for a month minimum, housing is free, you live vegan while you are there, and you spend 40 hours a week volunteering. I'm eligible for the "Animal Care" one. They also have an "Animal Health Care" internship, but you have to have a certain amount of veterinary experience and be able to certain tasks. I'm excited.

 

[168135]

I have a question!

I got no calls all week. I called one clinic today, and it is the office manager who I have been speaking to when I call. Anyway, she sounded super stressed over the phone. She couldn't remember who I was and what I wanted, so I politely reminded her. She apologized and said that she had just finished looking at over 150 resumes for a position they were trying to fill. She asked if I would be around in a half hour, I said yes, and she said that she would call me back. She never did! I took my phone with me to class and everything and nothing. So when do I call her back?

There are two clinics opening up soon in my area. One is way too far away, and the other one, I was given the email of the vet who is opening it. I sent her an email and I am waiting for a reply. I am hoping that she will set something up for me to volunteer next year. She doesn't open until sometime in April, and I go home at the end of April.

 

[lailanni]

I'd say call the manager back today as soon as you can.

She probably just got busy and forgot to call you.

 

[168135]

I'd say call the manager back today as soon as you can.

She probably just got busy and forgot to call you.

It was too late to call when I posted the message... I'll call back tomorrow I guess. I'm scared of being too obnoxious.

 

[168135]

I called... they don't have any room for me... one person turned into three... she told me to try someplace else... oh gosh, I am starting to get very very frusterated.

I just called another clinic, one that is a bit too far out of the way, but I don't have a choice right now, and left a message.

I'm going to turn this thread into my "ranting" thread. I felt like I taking all of my textbooks off of my desk and throwing them up against the wall when I found out that the other clinic is "full".

 

[168135]

My February break is coming up. My old clinic offered to let me come in one evening because they don't have to room for me to do anything else. One evening is better than nothing. It is with my favorite vet. It will be nice to see him.

I scored a volunteer position starting in September. A new clinic is being built here in May and the vet emailed me and gave me a position.

I dropped of my resume to a clinic that is out of the way. I have to give them a call on Monday. Wish me luck 🙂

My biggest priority now is finding something for the summer. Clinic #1 will be too busy. Clinic #2 lied to my face that one time. I can't get a hold of the doctor at Clinic #3.

I don't care if I jinx myself, but I am totally going scrub shopping on Sunday. I have no scrubs with me up here. If I get nothing after the break, I'm going to call up the transit place and see if there is a bus that will drop me off at the SPCA.

 

[carrbear21]

My February break is coming up. My old clinic offered to let me come in one evening because they don't have to room for me to do anything else. One evening is better than nothing. It is with my favorite vet. It will be nice to see him.

I scored a volunteer position starting in September. A new clinic is being built here in May and the vet emailed me and gave me a position.

I dropped of my resume to a clinic that is out of the way. I have to give them a call on Monday. Wish me luck 🙂

My biggest priority now is finding something for the summer. Clinic #1 will be too busy. Clinic #2 lied to my face that one time. I can't get a hold of the doctor at Clinic #3.

I don't care if I jinx myself, but I am totally going scrub shopping on Sunday. I have no scrubs with me up here. If I get nothing after the break, I'm going to call up the transit place and see if there is a bus that will drop me off at the SPCA.

Sounds like things are going well! Thank you for the update!

 

[lailanni]

My February break is coming up. My old clinic offered to let me come in one evening because they don't have to room for me to do anything else. One evening is better than nothing. It is with my favorite vet. It will be nice to see him.

I scored a volunteer position starting in September. A new clinic is being built here in May and the vet emailed me and gave me a position.

I dropped of my resume to a clinic that is out of the way. I have to give them a call on Monday. Wish me luck 🙂

My biggest priority now is finding something for the summer. Clinic #1 will be too busy. Clinic #2 lied to my face that one time. I can't get a hold of the doctor at Clinic #3.

I don't care if I jinx myself, but I am totally going scrub shopping on Sunday. I have no scrubs with me up here. If I get nothing after the break, I'm going to call up the transit place and see if there is a bus that will drop me off at the SPCA.

All right!! 👍 I knew something would come along for you!! Yay!

 

[168135]

Guess what! The vet who I am going to volunteer under in September... her clinic is going to be located right next to the city's first dog park and she participated in a Global Vets trip to Peru. She wants to meet me for coffee. I'm excited!