Newbie.. job hunting advice

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

Kelly 26uk — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:21:59 GMT

Bless you.. it sounds like you've not had any luck unfortunately I understand what you're saying about knowing the right people or being in the right place at the right time.. hopefully it'll happen like you say..

Thanks for your reply.. good luck too

Kelly

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

albatross — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:19:17 GMT

I'll give you an example of how elusive these positions are:

our local companion care in Pets@Home has had my cv by letter and by email twice in the last year or so. Never had any acknowledgements.
Last night while at a college meeting I met someone who's ex girlfriend last September walked into the store to buy something from the vet clinic, and by chance asked if there were any jobs going. She was offered interiew and taken on just like that. One member of staff wants her to do the SVN training this September, the other thinks she isn't the person for the job. If she leaves then the guy I met is going to let me know immediately, plus I will put my CV in yet again just in case.
However this job was never advertised last September, and also they had my (and proably countless other) CV's.
It used to be the case that ALL jobs by law had to be advertised but I know for sure that SVN ones tend to often be who you know or just being in the right place at the right time rather than spotting the advert.

Good luck, you will get there in the end.

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

Kelly 26uk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:01:16 GMT

Thanks for your reply - Three years sounds very scary though lol!

I am continuing to look online like you say, I haven't even seen one in my area though - which is a bit frustrating, but not unusual by the sounds of things.

Thanks again, Kelly

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

albatross — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:53:44 GMT

keep plugging away there Kelly, I did exactly the same thing for the last three years.
And my returns for CV acknowledgement were similar to yours as well.
Keep checking online, and especially the job adverts on this site - this is where I've found my TP place, rather than keep applying locally.
If you can relocate even for the first year it might be an advantage.

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

Kelly 26uk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:35:58 GMT

Hi

Just a quick update: I've sent out about 25 or so CVs over a 3 week period. I've had 3 responses so far, 2 by letter saying sorry - no vacancies, 1 by email basically saying the same. I'm taking all the advice I can get at the moment, researching everything I can, worked really hard on a well constructed letter and CV etc, keeping my eye out for any advertised vacancies (haven't seen 1 though - in my area) I just hope something comes up soon :)

Kelly

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

Kelly 26uk — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:01:32 GMT

Aw thanks :) I live in Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol.. it's on the North side of Bristol. I'm 25 so I am a bit older and it is something I've carefully considered and would be willing to take a drop in salary etc.. I have good communication and loads of experience in customer service, IT, reception etc.. it's just getting a placement and experience with animals! Haha..

Thanks so much, Kelly x

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

johannapage — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:56:16 GMT

Just another thought Kelly,

lots of places will be taking on work ex over the summer so get in quick if you want to work at a vets. Not sure of your age etc but being older is an advantage as it shows more maturity and determination to get the placement!

Where in Bristol are you as I have a few friends in various practices I may be able to put a good word in!!

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

Kelly 26uk — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:11:13 GMT

Really?! I hadn't realised that. There is a local cats home in Bristol that I was looking at to volunteer with. x

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

humanenurse — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:48:10 GMT

Try get a volenteer job in a vets if you can. Working at a cattery is not enough for some vets I've found. Even though I adminster insulin to our diabetic resident

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

Kelly 26uk — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:09:59 GMT

Thanks so much for your replies. I will try the places you suggested :) I am looking into volunteering at the moment and I have looked up all the Training Practices in my area and started to work through send out my CV.

Many thanks again :) x

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

xxserahxx — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:30:49 GMT

Just get ur CV out to everything in ur area and up 2 where ur willing to travel 2.. it took me 3 years to get into a practice to train and i wouldnt give it up for anything..just get some volenteering in and anything u can..

its worth it :) good luck x

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

Claire Cameron — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:21:35 GMT

Depending on what area you are in, you could try:

Pet Doctors http://www.petdoctors.co.uk/join-our-team/
Medivet http://medivet.co.uk/employment_nurses.asp
Village Vets http://www.villagevet.co.uk/content/group/join-us/job-vacancies/38
CVS

Or as someone has already said Vets4Pets, http://www.vets4pets.com/index.asp Companion Care, http://www.companioncare.co.uk/

Here's a link to RCVS list of training practices (TP)http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/InternalVNAward.asp?NodeID=89968&int2ndParentNodeID=89649&int1stParentNodeID=96117

You could try all the non-TP's for a job to gain experience or do your ANA (animal nursing assistant)

Good luck x

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

johannapage — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:29:03 GMT

Hi Kelly!!!!

Your a local girl to me then, im in Somerset!

Have you looked in the Vet Times and VN times, few of the big practices are looking at the moment,

Feel free to shout as I can look for you!!

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

humanenurse — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:05:18 GMT

I've been doing this on and off for 3 years now. But apparently were close to student VN's finishing so there should be a few vacancies soon :)

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

Kelly 26uk — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:51:48 GMT

Haha.. good point ;) Will try that too. I feel like all ive done recently is such job websites lol.. thank you for the new ideas.

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

humanenurse — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:23:43 GMT

Np's, we gotta help each other, unless you live in South Manchester ;) Just kidding, forgot to say try TP times as well.

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

Kelly 26uk — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:33:39 GMT

Thank you so much for your reply :) I will try the other places as you suggest. x

Re: Newbie.. job hunting advice

humanenurse — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:08:47 GMT

Hi Kelly, yeah it seems to be, I always see vacancies down south so I doubt you'll be hunting for too long. Make sure you sign up to caw recruitment, and regulary check all the charities. (That's what I do!)

I also check chain vets like vets4pets and companion care, as they update their vacancies almost every day and you can apply online.