Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Katie B — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:24:52 GMT

Yeah that's what I think. Hopefully after my Vca I will start getting taken seriously. Good luck with your job hunt. Gives me comfort that other people are in the same situation.

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Tracy Thompson — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:06:18 GMT

I've applied to the PDSA many times as well as Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and never hear anything back but I did get an interview with the Mayhew Animal Home. I also had an interview with a local private practice. Although these interviews came to nothing it just shows you've got to keep trying. I have some experience of working in a Cattery on weekend mornings so you probably have more experience than me.

PDSA are a well known company so there are probably much more applications than to small practices and although some of these jobs say no experience needed, there are probably people applying with a lot of experience.

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Katie B — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:51:21 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

I wasnt criticising you just pointing out that you are not alone and there are so many people in the same boat - not only in this line of work. I was unemployed after leaving my previous job and I would have been grateful of even a dead end job that didnt entail me working in another vet practice but right now they arent easy to come by, it took me 9 months and in that time I applied for nearly 300 jobs and heard back from less than 50 of them. I would have done just about anything to pay the bills and not have to work back in practice. Luckily I have now found a decent practice with a very decent boss who has gone some way to restore my faith in veterinary practice

[/quote]

Thanks Sal, I know you wasn't criticising me. I am very lucky to have a job and I know the employment climate is terrible at the moment. I just hope that I get some where and make something of my life. Hopefully in 4 years I will be an RVN and feel a lot more fullfilled with my life. It's good that this career is so sought after as it makes me more determined to work my backside off and gain the career all you lovely people do so well at. I just hope its me giving advice on here in years to come when I am qualifed and proud to call myself an RVN. This is a hard job and VN's are so important in any practice. It's exciting to think eventually I will be one of them making a difference.

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:21:56 GMT

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Katie B — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:14:21 GMT

Yeah will take it on board. I can take criticisim, thats what I trained to hear in my last career field. It's the lack of criticism I don't like. I am going for the charity type jobs as it is the dream to work for that organisation but even local practices aren't hiring. Suppose I am just worried that I will finish this course and still won't be able to get a VCA position. I just want to get on and do it and yet it is so hard as sooooo many people want to do this. That in house nurse training was a prime example, about 50 people turned up to free labour and a £12,000 debt for doing a course that wouldn't even get you trained in Vet Nursing, it's crazy. I know I will get there because I am determined but just worried about the fact my applications are getting overlooked. As I'm sure a lot of trainee people feel the same but it feels like I am just treading water at the moment instead of living my life, going round in circles. Although I am very excited about my VCA and do think the course will help me get seen for these type jobs.

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:58:38 GMT

I agree with Nick sometimes jobs are advertised because the employer is obliged to but they already have somebody in mind to fill the vacancy. Another thing to remember is that there are so many people unemployed and chasing jobs at the moment - and not just in the veterinary field its an employers market they have so many people to choose from and they will always go for the best that they can possibly get. Dead end jobs - there are plenty of people doing them at the moment ANY job is better than nothing.( its nothing new - I worked in fish factorieson the dockside, cleaning toilets, 'picking' potatoes and sprouts in fields, in a crisp and biscuit factory as a fryer cleaner) the thing is if you can show that you can stick it out even at a dead end job it shows the employer you are prepared to do what is needed however dead end or mundane it might seem. Sometimes we just cant have what we want when we want it. The best you can do is just keep applying for jobs until you strike it lucky.

If you are really worried about your cv try getting it done professionally

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Dippy — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:47:09 GMT

A lot of the charities say "if you haven't heard within 6wks..." so that they don't have the cost of postage of writing to unsuccessful applicants as they get literally hundreds of them. I've applied for several charity jobs this year and not got anywhere and when I've phoned for feedback, they say it's their policy not to give it as they have had hundreds of forms for each position. I totally understand their situation but no feedback is extremely frustrating as, like you, I have no idea what on earth they are looking for sometimes as I've had numerous people look over my applications and tell me I've laid it out well, got all the skills and experience they have specified plus a load more etc. I've now given up on charity jobs as I've wasted hours of my life completing damn application forms!!!

I'd certainly ask any private practices if they can give feedback though, as they may be more inclined to do so?

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:45:24 GMT

Any perspective employer shouldn't contact your current employer for a reference without checking with you first. Yes people should be able to retrain without been penalised, but it does happens. It has happened to me in my yearning to retrain. I got told 'although you have radiography experience, its all with animals, so its irrelevant' yes it annoyed me, now I have a job and training paid for and 6mths into my course and loving the change so far.

You need to take it on board and dust yourself off and get on with it. Your doing the right thing by getting voluntary work least it looks good on your CV.

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Katie B — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:31:05 GMT

Thats the thing, I have had quite a few jobs due to the fact I trained as an Actress, so I would often get a job then go off to do a performing job and then get another job. I know it is off putting but I have put that this is the reason as to why I have worked in so many places and that I no longer work in this field. This could put people off but surely people are allowed to retrain in something else and not get penolised. I also put don't contact my current employer for a reference before offering me the job on the PDSA application question as my boss is a horrid person and he would make my life hell. All other refernces I was happy with them to contact and my current emplyer after I would have got the job, just not before as if I didn't get it he would be vile. Just disheartned, doing a waitress job at the age of 29 and although I am starting my course in September, it still gets to me that I am in these dead end jobs and the jobs I want I can't get an interview. Sorry for ranting but just would love to get an interview, also the job but getting an interview means they are excepting of my choice to go after a career in animal care/nursing.

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:15:25 GMT

Its all about being in the right place at the right time. You just gotta make your CV more enticing than anyone else's. and you can only do this on getting feedback on your application

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Katie B — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:13:17 GMT

I never thought about that Nick, thank you for bringing that to light. I suppose just so many people want this type of a career. Just disheartning when I know I would be good at the job and go above and beyond as I have wanted it for so long. I may contact them and ask for some feedback, thank you.

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:10:44 GMT

you could always contact them for feed back on your application and where you weaknesses lie and this might give you an idea of where you may be going wrong. Don't forget that animal related positions are very highly sought after and unfortunately it sometimes is a case of not what you know, but who you know. It could always be the case of internal promotion. but legally they maybe required to advertise externally too. So even when they placed the add they may of already had someone in mind for the position.

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Katie B — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:06:25 GMT

It was 2 months ago now, they said if you don't hear after 6 weeks you have been unsuccesful.

Re: Applying for loads of jobs and not hearing, why?

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 18:48:36 GMT

Just how long ago did you apply? Some of the larger employers take time to get back to applicants. Some can take up to two months to shortlist (I have had this happen in the past)