Re: Becoming a Veterinary Nurse - Talk to 30+ school students

Sal the 1st — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:02:29 GMT

print off as many leaflets as you think you will need - make your own if you can and that way you plug the practice at the same time. provide all the contact numbers you think they might need. Start by asking them what they think the job is about and then probably lose a good 3/4 of them when they realise it isnt all puppies and kittens and then lose another half or more of what is left when they find out they dont have and will never have the relevant GCSEs to train, and what you are left with after all this (after you lose another bunch who dont think much of the wages) these are the 'keepers' to spend some time on. The ones that arent really interested identify themselves pretty quickly from experience.

How long is your talk? I have started these by getting them into groups of around 4 or 5 and giving them 5 0r 10 mins to come up with questions within their groups. You will find that the ones that are really interested ( not just the ones that have come along because they cant think of anything else to do) will have done some background reading already and you can get more info out to them just by answering questions. I usually ask each group to ask a question in turn (without repeating the same questions over an over again) - that way you are giving them the information they want rather than the information you think they need.

If you get people who are genuinely interested but dont have the quals then I will offer to come in and spend a bit of time with them on another day or point them in the direction of the college for the animal care courses

must admit I prefer groups to 1 to 1 for these. I miss these talks - havnt done one for a couple of years now

PS if I ever got any disruptive bods in the group I wasnt averse to asking them to leave (yes it does happen!)

Re: Becoming a Veterinary Nurse - Talk to 30+ school students

Gemma Burden RVN — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:48:54 GMT

I've possibly got to do the same thing as well and can't say the ideal particularly thrills me. I've gone to several careers evenings with him, but talking to someone one on one isn't the same as talking to a group.