Applying for jobs help please!

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Katie B — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:16:14 GMT

[quote user="Jessica Scaife"]

My CV is all human care background, thought I wanted to be a nurse, well I suppose I do, just nursing a different species.

My problem was I was never really sure what I actually wanted to do, at 16 I just did what my friends were doing so I ended up doing performing arts... yeah really relevent now lol. I just explain all of this though, some people are just focussed and know exactly what they want to do, it just took me a few years longer, so at least I can say that I have had plenty of time to think about it.

[/quote]

Oh my god same as me. I trained in Musical Theatre at Drama school but deep down I knew it wasn't for me, although I love singing and always will do. Vet Nursing is the dream career for me.

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:51:46 GMT

I bet you do have relevant references, practices will want to know if you are reliable, time keeping, sickness etc so any previous employment or educational reference will show this, the other referee could be a long term friend, if you have one that is a vet / works in a rescue etc that might look a little better but you at the interview says far more than a referee can really!

I have an interview on thursday for an animal care role, its temporary and part time so if i get it, it will help me ease back into getting used to going to work, organising childcare etc and I can still apply for placements while I am employed. Im off to buy interview shoes tomorrow!

I know what you mean about having too much time to think about things, you start to obsess dont you! a VN I spoke to today advised me to get the VN text book and start learning anatomy and things now, also keep looking for volunteer work they will love all your spare time!

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Elle Blake — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:31:41 GMT

I haven't thought about a covering letter yet, I need to get some pretty paper (hopefully tonight).

That sounds like a good layout...I've got the same type of thing, my qualifications, interests and previous roles, and the skills I have from working with children that are transferable.

I don't have relevant references, so I guess I'll put references on request and then explain I don't have relevant ones if anyone asks?

I think I have too much time on my hands and am overthinking this...I'm struggling with remembering the dog's skeleton, though, so I'm probably keeping myself busy on purpose!

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:55:21 GMT

For me, at the moment I think my covering letter is more important than my cv, but this is how i have done my cv...

centred, contact details including mobile and email

Relevant Work Experience: so far this only has what I have observed today, just a short paragraph, two lines i think

Qualifications: to show I am actually qualified to be considered

Interests: A short paragraph about myself including information on my pets

Previous Roles: details of my previous employment, ive kept it brief and just included my last 3 jobs as none are relevant to being a vn

Then finally I have put furhter career history and references available on request, at the bottom

Hope this helps a little :)

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Elle Blake — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:54:25 GMT

Oh wow, that sounds amazing! I'm glad you had such a great day. I hope I get some experience soon which is this good!

Tracy, thanks for the reply :) I worry alot, so I probably am overthinking it! I appreciate the insight into what you are looking for.

I'm still editing my CV...I've got no idea what else to put on it. I'm rubbish at job-seeking stuff!

Edit: If anyone would mind looking at my CV for me, I'd appreciate it :)

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:43:43 GMT

Thanks for the advice Tracy

I have had an amazing morning, this is 100% the right job for me. I got to observe two spays, two castrations (one cat one guinea pig) an xray (which had sad results) blood testing, some rabbit dental work and of course how much cleaning and prep goes into the VN role, I didnt assume it was an 'easy' job but they didnt stop, i thought they were wearing heelys!

I asked a bazillion questions and got some really good advice, I have been given some spare copies of the vn magazine to read and was shown some useful text books. I really wish this surgery took on trainees, I even told them i'd bake every morning if they got the boss to change his mind!

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Tracy Windler RVN — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:26:30 GMT

Hi Guys,

I'm a bit worried that you're all beating yourselves up about your lack of experience! Experience is great, but I wouldn't have thought anyone require you to have tonnes of experience when you're applying for voluntary jobs to GET experience! Enthusiasm, out-going personality, the ability to get on well with people and being happy to get stuck into anything, whether its an exciting op, or scrubbing the kennels. Also, any experience in any field shows that you havn't just sat around on your backside til now.

From my point of view, if we have the time, I would accept most people (within reason!) for wk experience, but I keep hold of the ones who show initiative (eg.if you get asked to wipe the prep table the first few days, its a good bet that you can do that every day; if a dog has gone home and they ask you to clean out the kennel- do it without being asked next time-although double check that the dog has gone home and not just gone for a wee!). Finding a placement is part luck and part determination and personality. So Good luck-but the rest is up to you!

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Elle Blake — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:49:47 GMT

Wow, those operations sound good. Have fun!

I'm trying to do my CV still...for some background, I'm 20, and I've been studying for most of my life, so I don't know what to put down?

I've had pets, but I guess they don't count, and my only work experience is with young children in nurseries.

I'm sending it around looking for voluntary placements, and I'll handwrite the letter enquiring about this on pretty paper...

Any advice on my CV, though? I feel really stuck!

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Jessica Scaife — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:03:25 GMT

My CV is all human care background, thought I wanted to be a nurse, well I suppose I do, just nursing a different species.

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:17:56 GMT

a spay and a castration! I am super excited!

my CV has not much relevence on it at all, but I explain this in my covering letter, that until now ive had to do jobs that fitted around my children's nursery but now they are in full time school I can commit fully to my chosen career blah blah....

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Elle Blake — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:27:39 GMT

Ahh, I hadn't thought of Facebook :) I'll have a look on there, and buy myself some nice writing paper too. The spreadsheet is a great idea :)

I think I'll make a new CV today, mine isn't very up to date. I'm not sure what to put on it, though? I'm really stuck. Should I focus it more on my course and experience there, as I don't have relevant work experience?

The operations sound amazing, I can't wait to watch things like that. Do you know what ops you are watching? I don't think I'd be able to sleep either :)

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:17:48 GMT

with smaller rescues id phone them, or see if they have a facebook page (i hate how useful facebook is sometimes grrrrr lo) for practices Id write a proper letter with CV, dont forget to update your CV every time you do some volunteering or work experience.

I have just set up a spreadsheet so I know who I have written to / emailed and when so im not perstering too often!

The local vets, although they dont take trainees are having me tomorrow to watch two ops and observe basic practice. I am so excited i dont know how ill sleep tonight!

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Katie B — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:54:25 GMT

[quote user="Elle Blake"]

I'm making a list of these now :)

Am I better off phoning these places, or sending my CV? I haven't done much relevant experience, so my CV might be shockingly bare of relevant work.

Thanks again :)

[/quote]

I called first and I had a lot of people say send a letter in regards to what you want and also said send a cv. However I got lucky as one of the practices, said come in for the day to see if it's the right career for me. I did, and then they said I could volunteer one day a week and then they offered me my placement to coincide with my VCA. One thing, when you send your letters, get some really lovely paper, it makes a difference, silly I know but when applying for any jobs I always send with posh paper and it seems. to work.

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Katie B — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:50:38 GMT

[quote user="Tracy Windler RVN"]

Where abouts in West Mids? Its pretty big! You're pretty lucky being close to brum, wolves or stafford etc, as you coud try the pdsa for vet care assistant jobs and work exp. They're usually pretty busy. I'm not sure if they take wk exp, though?

[/quote]

I think they do take work experience. If you click on their site then their is a form that you have to fill out in order to get work experience with them.

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Elle Blake — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:39:47 GMT

I'm making a list of these now :)

Am I better off phoning these places, or sending my CV? I haven't done much relevant experience, so my CV might be shockingly bare of relevant work.

Thanks again :)

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:05:44 GMT

are you looking for rescue volunteer work too? there are usually small rescues dotted about dont just lookf or teh big ones likes rspca, dogs trust etc

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Elle Blake — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:30:03 GMT

Thanks for the replies :)

Oops :P I'm in Warwickshire. I've applied for a PDSA work experience but I haven't heard anything back yet. I'll definately have to follow that up :)

I've been looking at volunteer positions but the only ones I've found so far are about an hours drive away, and I'm not sure I could afford to do that :(

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Tracy Windler RVN — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:21:24 GMT

Re: Applying for jobs help please!

Katie B — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:44:44 GMT

Voluntary work helped me get my placement, as your showing your dedicated and willing to do anything it takes.