Where to get started? lost.

[Blackrosekat]

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I would love to transfer schools and attend Joliet Junior college for their vet programs but I don't know where to begin. I downloaded the applications and I am informed I would need to complete 100+ hours working with a veterinarian. I have no experiance with this so my question is where would I start to look for a place to do this? Some places seem to be volunteer and others are not.

I would like to get started as soon as possible. I'm kindof of slow at this but it's been a life-long dream to pursue a career with helping animails.

So any information on how you got started and where to look would be great and very helpful. Thanks for your time.

Kathy

 

[CookieBear]

"I have no experiance with this so my question is where would I start to look for a place to do this? Some places seem to be volunteer and others are not."

If you can't find an entry-level paid position in a veterinary hospital, volunteer.

"So any information on how you got started and where to look would be great and very helpful. Thanks for your time."

www.aavmc.org is the place to start to see requirements for veterinary schools in general (U.S. schools primarily).

You can try your local yellow pages and newspaper to see what vets are in your area, and the newspaper job list to see if anyone is hiring.

Be prepared to get your hands dirty, not be squeamish around blood, pee, poo and everything else, clean lots of cages, and be interested and willing to learn.

I would suggest going into the clinics in person, taking a resume and some references with you. If you don't have job experience, at least include your education information. Calling ahead is fine, saying, are you hiring for someone looking for veterinary experience, and if no, would I be able to volunteer? You'd either be speaking to a manager, tech supervisor or sometimes the doctor/owner, depending on the practice.

Good luck!

 

[ginkogirl]

I would love to transfer schools and attend Joliet Junior college for their vet programs but I don't know where to begin. I downloaded the applications and I am informed I would need to complete 100+ hours working with a veterinarian. I have no experiance with this so my question is where would I start to look for a place to do this? Some places seem to be volunteer and others are not.

I would like to get started as soon as possible. I'm kindof of slow at this but it's been a life-long dream to pursue a career with helping animails.

So any information on how you got started and where to look would be great and very helpful. Thanks for your time.

Kathy

I'll second everything CookieBear said, and add a little extra...

I would definitely call the vet clinics you are thinking of working/volunteering at and see if they accept volunteers or untrained/unexpierenced workers before you drive over there with your resume. Several years ago, when I was calling vet clinics from the yellow pages to find a place to volunteer, I was surprised at how many did not accept volunteers. It was a bit discouraging at first (although it worked out in the end) so be prepared for several places to say that they don't accept volunteers before you find one which does.

Another place to consider finding volunteer expierences may be your pre-health career office (pre-med office.) Even though the undergrad school I am at isn't a huge pre-vet school, there were still several opportunites for veterinary expierence listed in that office.

Working at a vet clinic is such a fabulous expierence for those thinking of going to vet school, you'll have a great time 😀

Lisa

 

[Ladydvm]

I also encourage you to be open to other animal experience opportunities as well- maybe try your hand at large animal or research? I've found a lot of schools really like students with diverse backgrounds- Myself; I did 2 years as a pet counselor in a local pet store, 1 year large animal research, and 1 year in a vet clinic. Last year when I applied, my vet school interviewers were particularly interested in my experiences with veterinarians outside the clinic setting- and what I learned from them.

Don't get me wrong, though... I definitely advise you to at least volunteer/work in a clinic. The experience is truly invaluable, and will really let you know if this is the career for you. Best of luck!

 

[kate_g]

Several years ago, when I was calling vet clinics from the yellow pages to find a place to volunteer, I was surprised at how many did not accept volunteers.

This is usually a liability issue (if you get hurt b/c you have no idea what you're doing, or if an owned animal gets hurt b/c you have no idea what you're doing...)

Kathy, if you run into this problem, try shelters. Just make sure you ask very directly whether you'll be able to work with their vets/technicians. (Some larger/more commercial shelters use volunteers only for socializing animals and slopping out kennels.)

It's a little sad to put it in these terms, but you'll get to do the most if you seek out the worst-funded shelter in your area. That will be the one with the most overworked medical staff, most desperate for whatever enthusiastic (and free) help they can get. Having now seen what volunteers are generally allowed to do in "real" animal hospitals (i.e. practically nothing), I'm amazed at all the stuff I was taught to do at the shelter right from the start - give meds by all conceivable routes, draw blood, place catheters, assist with surgery. Many nights I was the only hospital "staff" on the closing shift. Legal? Probably not. But who's watching? The fact is that shelter animals don't have owners to sue if you mess up, and from the shelter's perspective having me do something was better than having it not get done.

You might try a dual approach - get an entry-level job at a clinic or pet store or something if you need the money, but also leave some time to volunteer at a shelter or a research project where you might get to participate more from the get-go.

 

[CookieBear]

Very true, what Kate said, regarding volunteers, and what they aren't allowed to do in many settings.

For the sheer reason alone that you're not an actual employee, your coverage under Worker's Compensation Insurance is technically non-existent, since you're not a "worker". Hence, if you get bit, fall, or otherwise injured, the employer, in most cases, won't be able to send you to the doctor or hospital under that policy's benefits. It becomes a liability issue. Who is responsible if you get hurt? It's a risk many hospitals aren't willing to take, so they may not allow you to have direct hands-on with the animals.

Some vets may, at the very least, allow you to shadow them or tag along, even if it's just a few days. There are some people out there who come into a clinic thinking they want to be a vet, and after the first day seeing the job, at the vet's side, decide that it's not for them. NOT saying that it could be you; rather, that type of experience may, at the very least, encourage you to pursue an actual position, spend the time to call/interview/visit, etc.

 

[ginkogirl]

CookieBear and kate_g hit it rigt on the mark, it is a liability issue. Kate_g's advice about looking into shelters if vet clinics don't work out is great, I would just reiterate that you should find out if you would be working directly with a vet, because his/her letter of reference and the ability to call the volunteer time "veterinary experience" will be helpful once application time rolls around...

Also wanted to note on the limited duties avaliable to a volunteer at a vet clinic... Where I worked, volunteers were not permitted to directly interact with animals or clients (except in the most mundane circumstances) but there were lots of things I was permitted to do and being able to watch the procedures was also invaluable. When I eventually became a paid employee I was able to do so much more, but I never would have gotten there without my volunteer time first! So anyway, I wouldn't give up on working at a clinic, because it still is a valuable expierence and very different than working at a shelter (although my expierence working at the shelter was more in the cleaning cages, socializing animals rhelm😳 )

Lisa