Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 17:21:34 GMT

[quote user="Melinda Yendle"]

The practice I work at isnt a training practice. Its a referral practice.

[/quote]

sounds about right- the referral places by and large dont train - but they do get to decide how nurses are trained through their representation and influence within various RCVS groups. So it is left to the training practices to train staff to a level that is more in keeping with the requirements of referral practices than what they are wanting or requiring . Its no wonder training practices are in decline, they get most of the hard work and expense and little return on training.

I know a lot of people think they are hard done by whilst training (and it is true that some of them are) and that referral practices are always the ones to be aiming at but never forget the amount of time, patience and money that the training practices invest.

Maybe its time to introduce a 'training tax' on practices that dont train - it might encourage a few more to participate or at least help subsidise those that do - thats always assuming we can sort out the dogs breakfast that is vet nurse training these days

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Melinda Yendle — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 16:54:49 GMT

The practice I work at isnt a training practice. Its a referral practice.

Ask I'll just keep trying. Surly someone out their will hire me.

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

FINNIGAN — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 15:55:51 GMT

Ur not too old, I started as a trainee at 42!! I'm now Head nurse !!

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 15:22:22 GMT

Age shouldn't really be taken into account as many people decide to train later on in life. I've just completed a foundation degree and there was a broad range of ages on the course from 20-50 year olds. Employers shouldn't really being using age as an excuse. Any chance your current employer would think about training you?? Try mentioning it in your yearly appraisal at least then your employer will be aware of your aspiration

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Melinda Yendle — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 08:34:03 GMT

I've been having the exact same problem. I'm 32 and I've been to 4 interviews so far but its seems that they pick up on my age!!! Not sure why I am a qualified ana with experience in first opinion and referral practices. After my interviews I don't seem to get any feedback just that I'm unsuccessful. I have great references, im hard work, passionate, and dedicated. I'm not sure what I am doing wrong! Could it be my age?

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Bekki2511 — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:44:35 GMT

Where are you based? A job has just been posted my mole valley vets in Newton abbot, they would consider a student!!

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

kkkathykk — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 11:52:17 GMT

I echo the comments about you not being too old. I received the letter telling me that I'd qualified as a VN on my 40th birthday! It was tough finding a practice that would train me. I worked for a while as a receptionist at a practice, and used to go in on my spare time to help the nurses. Eventually they gave me a job as a student nurse, but it took a while finding a practice that would actually train me.

I got there in the end. Good luck, and try not to be discouraged.

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Heather Bacon — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 22:34:47 GMT

Agree with above you are certainly not too old!

I started training in September and am on the day release. At 25 I was worried I would be the oldest one, however it seems most people on the course are my age or quite a bit older. I do think most places would like quite a bit of work experience, or to take you on as a nursing assistant/kennel staff for a few months to a year before they sign you up for training. I was a nursing assistant for just over a year before I started college.

I must admit I also found very little opportunities in the south west, I moved to the south east and suddenly had lots of interviews and job offers, is moving/traveling and option?

Good luck and don't give up, with your previous experience any practice would be lucky to have you!

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 22:22:11 GMT

I can categorically state that you're not too old. In fact age is often a bonus, because vet nursing does need a certain maturity that 16 year olds don't always have. So an older candidate (and 34 is in fact nearly two decades *younger* than our oldest student on record) is not at a disadvantage, I feel.

Good luck!

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

laceylp1990 — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:02:18 GMT

Don't give up hope . I returned to training recently and have found oooodles of opportunities in the Surrey area .Would this be an option?

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Ficam — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 21:13:06 GMT

Thank you for all your replies! Really great of you to take time to suggest things. I'm going to keep trying and also take the advice and see if I can get any work experience. Just have to fit it in around current job but if that's what it takes.

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

monkeybrains13 — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:03:34 GMT

Bridgwater college is where I did my training. I know quite a few vets in the area I'll keep an ear out. I do know that the second years who failed should be getting their results from their retakes soon so therefore training positions will start coming up. Good luck!!

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Honeybadger — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:19:57 GMT

Hi,

I decided to start nursing after I had finished my Buisness Degree at the age of 23. Like you I sent my CV to all the local practices asking for work experience or a job and only 1 got back to me and offered me a Saturday job as an animal nursing assistant. I did that for a few months before getting offered a full time job at their main branch. I used to go in for free during the week to watch ops/clean and was basically just super keen to show how much I wanted it! Most practices want their trainees to work for at least a year before sending them to college. I had to wait 3 years before I got to start!

Before that I got a job working for Pet Pals walkign dogs and house sitting cats to get the experience working with animals.

Now I work in practice and deal with all the CVs that arrive - we get soooooo many! So a well worded covering letter and CV is essential.

Have you considerd doing the degree? My boss has decided that we wont be taking on any more diploma day release students but has allowed me to take a degree student on.

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Bekki2511 — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:03:57 GMT

Hi,

I've just managed to get myself a training position and start college in September, it's very much a case of who you know not what you know! I did lots of work experience there over a few years and became friendly with the staff - it was through them that I found out about the training position and then managed to get the job because I knew the practice and had impressed them in my work experience.

Try and get work experience with a few local training practices and then show them what you can do!

Keep us updated & good luck!

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

The Pikachu_Collector — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 12:37:41 GMT

Hey,

I work at a college finding placements for our students and it is nearly impossible!

One area I have found that would like trainees is Surrey - appears to be a black hole for vns.

One thing that all practices like is work experience. Try seeing if you can get work experience at a local practice, most colleges require 2-4 weeks before you start the course anyway.

Keep trying - trainee positions do come up, but they are rare.

We have even had some of degree students take a year out, due to the lack of training placements.

Re: Getting a trainee position - any advice please?

Selena Carnell — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 20:08:37 GMT

this might sound awful, but you almost sound over qualified for a trainee position. all you cash do is keep contacting or ask for voluntary work.