finding it hard to secure work!

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Anonymous — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:57:37 GMT

Good luck guys. Just stick with it. It took me a couple of years and I completely understand what you're going through. It is very upsetting but just keep sending those letters.

Got my fingers crossed for you.

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Shelley French — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:02:45 GMT

I've been phoning, mailing and e-mailing EVERY veterinary practice in my area and slightly further affield asking for them to squeeze me in as a SVN... even offering to work volountarily, and so far: nothing. It's really upsetting me because I REALLY want this, I've bought so many books related to veterinary nursing and have been reading up in detail about it. I just wish I had chosen the right subjects when I had the chance, it was free, and I was still living at home.. but I'm not now and I need to get an apprenticeship so I have some money coming through so I'm able to pay for my rent, food and bills. I guess being out of college the past few years has made me really think about what I want to do (which was what I wanted to do when I was little).. I just wish I could be given the chance.

I have managed to get one interview so far for a Veterinary Assistant where I would be cleaning, doing laundry, and such, and the interview they told me I would have the opportunity to train to become a registered Veterinary Nurse... I was so excited because by her telling me that I assumed I had got the job, despite the fact in the interview I was really nervous (I am very very shy which means I have even less of a chance of securing a job anywhere).... but no: rejection.

I have worked in dog kennels and catteries, and have also worked as a trainee dog groomer and learnt pretty everything except for the scissored styles.. I moved back to Milton Keynes (where I grew up) because I couldn't afford to live in London any longer.. and am now currently working in an animal rescue centre volountarily - and am signing on to attempt to support myself... I have tried looking for work to do just for the time being such as cleaning, or waitressing, but I'm finding it difficult to get an interview even for that because all I've done really is work with animals!! But I can't even find a job in a kennels, or paid work in a rescue centre, grrrr!!!! Which makes me not take it all so personally and think that maybe it is because of the recession that I'm finding it hard to find somewhere to work.

Sorry for the sob story lol!!! Just hope you know you're not the only one, so don't take any rejections and such personally... there are so many people wanting to do animal care which sucks in a way because it makes the work available become gold dust.

Goodluck xxx

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

lara archer — Sat, 16 May 2009 09:33:23 GMT

Hi Deborah,

My advice would be to take any job you can get in a practice- reception/kennel assistant and stick with it for a year. Most clinics (like mine) who are not TPs will have a trainee position that will give you lots of hands on experience and even a chance to do the ANA. This will give you an advantage when applying for a TP.

Good luck!

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Anonymous — Sat, 16 May 2009 08:32:08 GMT

Thank you all for your responses and sorry for the delay in replying! I did apply to Zasman's (thank you Spud!!!) and low and behold recieved another rejection!

Have been attempting to secure experience for a while now, and did a short stint at a vets near me but that is all. Hardly anyone has replied and those who have have declined.

I'm just getting fed up because I don't want to be in this position three years from now! I know there is the degree option but I am just finishing a BA Hons at uni and really don't want to enter another 4 years of that! Plus I would rather learn on the job.

As long as you all think I'm doing as much as I can, I'm reassured. My friend is a Senior VN and tells me not to take it personally; describing these positions as 'gold dust' which I'm beginning to believe. It's just frustrating because I've just finished a degree and I know I have the brains to do it!!!

Anway, thank you all for taking the time to reply to me. I really appreciate it. Oh and yes, I am only looking in the South, but all over the SOuth.

xxx

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Anonymous — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:50:06 GMT

i would still apply as they are also asking for kennel assistant. and you may just get taken on as a student instead.

they are a tp so it has to be worth a go dosent it? x

is it only in the south you are looking x x x

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

albatross — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:11:58 GMT

yes but it's a preferably qualified nurse... not a trainee position.Shame.

JUst also spoken to another recruitment agency and argued with their definition of EXPERIENCED. They mean must have at least NVQ2, and then qualified means just that. Most other websites take experienced to mean you are already working (and for say a year or much more) in a practice as an unqualfied nurse rather than had no practice work or very little.

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Anonymous — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:40:52 GMT

Deborah are you still looking for a job in the south.

there is one going at zasman vets, think it london way. x x

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Fleabee99 — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:46:31 GMT

im just as bad with them too! we took my brother to edinburgh barracks once and stayed the next day and i was in heaven listening to people walking past

!!!

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Saskia Quinn — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:41:59 GMT

[quote user="sarah parrott"]

oh and paula there was an irish vet wandering around today and i thought of you, i felt the need to follow her for a few mins just to hear her speak!!

loved it!!!

speshly the accent

(that made me sound creepy)

[/quote]

aw how nice!!

Here, that didnt sound creepy at all - you should ask STRVN what I am like with the scottish accent lol!!

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Fleabee99 — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:40:42 GMT

the only way is up

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Saskia Quinn — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:37:44 GMT

Aye, I know Sarah, but now you know that the only way is up and what a way to go, eh?!!

The good thing about you now is that you will be able to advise other people in similar situations as you have been through the same!

Again, CONGRATULATIONS!!

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Fleabee99 — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:36:57 GMT

oh and paula there was an irish vet wandering around today and i thought of you, i felt the need to follow her for a few mins just to hear her speak!!

loved it!!!

speshly the accent

(that made me sound creepy)

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Fleabee99 — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:35:13 GMT

now ive been blessed with a job i really feel for people still looking, speshly if they have to go to a crappy job everyday while looking, as you know paula my search really got me down at times, but it was definately worth it in the end

(all this and ive only been for a day lol!)

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Saskia Quinn — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:22:16 GMT

off the topic but I apologise....

I just wanted to say...........

Sarah, it is so lovely to see you post in such a way!!

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Fleabee99 — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:05:38 GMT

i had to drop my hours down to 2 nights a week for 6 months so i could work voluntarily work at vet practices when possible and i still think i was lucky to get the place ive got now and its a non-tp, have you tried looking at non-tps, they will give you in-house training i.e. the basics and this makes some tps more likely to take you on

most people ive talked to started out in a non-tp

keep trying, i got very low at times in that six months i spent looking with getting through to the last two in interviews or spending days at places then the job being withdrawn for money reasons, its a hard time economically to be looking but keep trying, and some practices do reply months later with job interviews, three of mine did, one of which i got my current job out of

try for the exp its the one thing they look at first, i ended up going to 6 practices for exp even if it was for a few days i still put it on my CV, it all helps

good luck xx

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

albatross — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:58:50 GMT

often it's a case of who you know rather than what you know. For instance a trainee I was talking to was surprised it has taken me 3 years to try and find a place (and still unsuccessful). Her mum was a friend of a local vet and so she walked into the SVN place before it was even advertised.
Most of my local TP's never advertise. Only 5 adverts have I seen in Kent in the last 3 years, and only two replied to my application (no interviews!).
I can now get interviews outside of Kent but relocating in this climate is silly until a job is secure so I now have to be prepared to leave home and work/study at least until I pass my first year exams - that's if I ever get the chance!
I have been offered 4 interviews and almost got the job on one (but the job actually didn't exist and they employed a 2nd year instead), one other place I wouldn't have gone there if they'd offered it!
I will keep trying until the end of this year but my age and the economic climate are against me and I see less and less places becoming available (for instance I work nights in a TP but instead of taking on around 6 students, they have now stopped taking any other than the current students part way through the course, due to costs and the amount of paperwork and time needed by other staff to help the student).
What we need is some BVNA, BVA or RCVS help in getting TP's to be able to afford to train us. They obviously can't shell out thousands where they are struggling due to people being unable to afford treatment for their pets, or with extra paperwork now demanded by the coursework. But seeing the amount of QVN jobs advertised every day, there must be a shortage (my own vet put an advert out last year for a QVN and got ONE application from a qualified person, all the rest were on-spec applications in case he would take trainees or unqualifieds).
Keep sending your CV, talk to your local vnac in case they can find out any vacancies, keep trawling websites.
Doing a degree course is also an option, but I know of a couple of people that may get the degree but can't qualify as a VN as they are still unable to get that TP placement.
Try and volunteer, get a place as a receptionist/kennel maid first etc (I try this but they keep rejecting my applications as they say I'm TOO qualified and they think I will leave/or be bored - but then surely that's down to me if I want to drop back a step in order to get a chance in for the next SVN place?)
Good luck with the trying, I may see you at an interview one day as I'm now looking anywhere from Kent to the Midlands....

And perhaps let's all get together and lobby the authorities to try and come up with something to help us and TP's get our training under way.
Or perhaps TP's would work with us to suggest ways we can help them so that they can afford to employ us - I know being over 25 is a disadvantage for me, but I even offer to pay college course fees, or enrolment etc to help offset this as I know TP's must also be struggling financially - come on TP practice managers or head nurses - how can we make ourselves so attractive to your place that you will help us to get the qualification of our dreams????

Re: finding it hard to secure work!

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Mon, 11 May 2009 08:01:01 GMT

Hi Deborah, and welcome

I think what you have been doing is pretty much all you can do.The elusive SVN position is very hard to come by.A lot of the girls on here who are in the same position as you have been looking for a long time as well.

Have you thought of doing some volutary work for practices? I know at least one girl on here who has done this and she starts her new job today.

Good luck