Interview tomorrow!

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:10:52 GMT

[quote user="hissycat"]

oh my.. you have to be 21 in america though right? i suppose its their job to be strict have you thought about doing a distance cert or course in behaviour or something? COAPE do some good ones. the only downside would be the cost, but that kind of thing would prob give you an edge over other applicants. when I was in practice the 'behaviour nurse' was always in demand!

[/quote]

Yeah you do have to be 21 in America. The funny thing was that we didn't get asked for ID once until we were with my husbands parents, so we blame it on them for making us look young!

I have looked into distance learning courses but always been a bit dubious about them as I've heard bad things about some of them with poorly prepared course materials and not much feedback. I haven't heard of COAPE before though and having had a quick look at their website I can see they're accredited with the BVNA so I shall have a bit more of a look into that. I don't want to commit to any courses just yet though until I know what's happening with the nursing qualification. I was going to college in September anyway if I couldn't get a placement at a vets to do some sort of animal related course so it's just a case of waiting and seeing which course I can do, and saving as much as possible which is the hard part! Especailly as I've just got a temp job at the moment, I'm just hoping the temp job lasts until September.

Re: Interview tomorrow!

hissycat — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:42:38 GMT

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:49:08 GMT

There's not much in the way of dogs trust or RSPCA round by me. I live fairly close to Woodgreen but they're quite strict on volunteers. I have been on the look out for reception jobs but nothing has come up yet. I'm going to give it a break for a few weeks and then start looking again. Gets so dishearting keep being turned down I have to have a break or it just gets a bit too much.

I was embarressed recently about how young I look as I got married in November in Las Vegas. After the wedding we stopped off at the hotel casino to do a bit of gambling and get some free drinks. Me and my husband were sitting there in our wedding clothes and got asked for ID 3 times! My husband had to run back to the room to get the ID as we didn't have it on us but he got off at the wrong floor so took him a while to get back to us, by which time the security guard was telling me that if he took much longer I'd have to be escorted out! It was sooo embarrsing

Re: Interview tomorrow!

Vicky RVN — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:17:12 GMT

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job Kirsty. How about applying for receptionist jobs? Will get your foot in the door in practice.

Re the age thing, my mum was outside her house when she'd not long been married, someone came and asked her if her mummy or daddy were in...her reply "no, but my husband is"!

Re: Interview tomorrow!

hissycat — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:16:36 GMT

[quote user="Kirsty Baker"]I've also had people knock on my door and ask if my parents are in, I tell them I own the house and they just look shocked.[/quote]

I'm living back at home at the mo and whenever a random calls at the door they kinda look me up and down and go 'eer... is the home owner in?' teehee. Its good though cos I just say ' ah, shes at work till 6pm i'm afraid' in a cutesy voice and then they go away! works great with people who wanna stop you in the street with clipboards too.. just give them a wide eyed look, when they ask if you're over 18 just say 'ah, no sorry' works every time. not so great when you get chatted up by 17 yr olds though! but as we are told, we will be grateful when we are older! just hope i don't suddenly wake up one day and look my age.. it would be quite a shock

Are you anywhere near a cats protection, dogs trust or rspca? I know its not always fun doing stuff on a weekend but what about seeing if you could do a few hours on a saturday or something? just shows to a practice you are dedicated and serious.. i've seen loads of cvs and things like that always stand out..

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:59:31 GMT

[quote user="hissycat"]

[quote user="Kirsty Baker"]I know looking young for your age should be good but in some cases it's just irritating![/quote]

I know that feeling I don't think its ever been an issue in work really, but I was told last year by a airline worker that I was too young to travel alone... i'm 26!! don't think they believed it when i showed my passport!

Good luck with college, hopefully that will give you a way in. have you tried to get a work experience place other than in a vets? kennels etc? not the same but good for animal handling, basic care etc.

[/quote]

No one ever believes my age, and they always look at my ID like it's fake! I went to New York last year and when I went through security they asked me if my parents knew where I was! I've also had people knock on my door and ask if my parents are in, I tell them I own the house and they just look shocked.

I have spent a bit of time volunteering at a dogs home but I haven't been for a while as they wanted me to ring everytime I wanted to go and help out and everytime I rang they didn't seem to want the help. It's difficult when you work full time trying to find the time. I'm too tired after being at work all day to go out in the evenings and then at the weekends my time seems to get filled up really quickly.

Re: Interview tomorrow!

hissycat — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:49:15 GMT

[quote user="Kirsty Baker"]I know looking young for your age should be good but in some cases it's just irritating![/quote]

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:34:19 GMT

[quote user="Rapunzel"]

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job, Kirsty.

Have you considered asking the practice if they will take you on for voluntary work? Potential employers value people who show determination and commitment. This way you could gain more experience to hold you in good stead for future interviews and have a foot in the door if Mrs. More Life Experience doesn't last the distance!

Good Luck.

[/quote]

When I spent the day there they did say about work experience but when she rang yesterday she didn't mention it and I was a bit too upset to ask to be honest. At the moment I'm just waiting for the new qualifications to be finalised and hoping I can go to college full time, I'm saving every penny I've got at the moment so I can afford to be off work for a year and am just hoping I can get into nursing that way. If that's not the case I don't know what I'm going to do!

It is so frustrating as I try to get work experience but nowhere wants to know, however I cant get a job without experience and placements seem to hardly come up as if people get a training place they tend to stay there after qualifying.

I'm 23 and most places tend to class that as 'too old' as they seem to think if you're changing careers into vet nursing you're not serious about it, yet this time I was thought to be too young! The problem I have is that I look a lot younger than I am and people just make this assumption that I'm young and immature. I know looking young for your age should be good but in some cases it's just irritating!

Re: Interview tomorrow!

Rapunzel — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:32:18 GMT

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job, Kirsty.

Good Luck.

Re: Interview tomorrow!

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:01:17 GMT

Sorry to hear that Kirsty!

Re: Interview tomorrow!

albatross — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:45:39 GMT

so sorry you didn't get the job Kirsty, I know how demoralising it is - at 47 I'm usually too old for the job, or with 3 1/2 years experience as an unqualified nurse I've not got enough experience..........

there really needs to be a shake up of places, pre-requisites etc etc....and I'm not ignoring the new planned proposals but I personally do think they won't work for us oldies...

Re: Interview tomorrow!

lisajane — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:38:26 GMT

Aww Kirsty, very sorry to hear that.

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:25:53 GMT

I didn't get the job They gave it some one older with more life experience... I think I'm plenty old enough and have plenty of life experience so to be told that I didn't get the job because of that is a bit upsetting. If it was to do with experience I could understand but to be told they don't think I'm old enough or have enough 'life experience' is upsetting as I don't know how they can judge that with someone they only saw for a few hours.

Now I just have to hope the Vet Nurse qualification will become full time in the first year so I can go to college and don't have to try and find a placement. At the moment stuck doing a temp admin job and now feeling very fed up. Luckily I go home in 20 minutes as don't think I'm much use at the moment.

Re: Interview tomorrow!

xXx Cat xXx — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:58:45 GMT

Hi,

It was very nice of them to contact you. Try and relax over the weekend and enjoy yourself.

Take care

Tracy

xXx

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:51:33 GMT

Ahhh! The vets were due to ring me today, been on tenterhooks all day. Just had a phone call from them to say they haven't had time to sit down and discuss it yet and so haven't made a decision, someone will call me monday! This waiting is killing me, I am so stressed :( I'm glad they rang me and let me know though as last time I had an interview I didn't hear back for three weeks until I rang them and was told 'oh, someone else was given that job'. So now I just have to make it through another weekend of waiting!

Re: Interview tomorrow!

paula morgan — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:40:06 GMT

Good luck x

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:06:09 GMT

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Well I've had my morning at the vets today. Think it went well, just a case of waiting now! They have someone else tomorrow and the last person on Monday. They said they should let me know by the end of next week. They said the next two people have more experience than me but it's not necessarily experience they are looking for, more trying to find the right person for the job. I just kept saying how determined I am (I handed in my notice at the end of last year to dedicate more time to my search for a vet nurse position and as I knew I was in the wrong career). I also kept saying that I'm hard working, pick things up quickly and low pay and long hours doesn't bother me. She said I seemed really keen and seem nice and came across really well so that's good. Not getting my hopes up too high though.

Feel all anxious now as I know it's totally out of my hands and there's nothing I can do! I tried to sell myself as much as possible so just hope that was enough...

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:22:46 GMT

[quote user="lisajane"]

That's great news. Glad you're getting somewhere.

How did you get on or do you know yet?

There's hope for me yet then, if you sent your cv last may.

Can i ask you something Kirsty? Did you receive letters last may saying your cv was kept on file or did they just contact you out of nowhere and asked you to an interview.

Sent my cv last oct and nothing (yet). Im losing hope. I didn't even get anything back saying cv is on file.

[/quote]

I'm there 9-1 on Thursday to get the chance to meet everyone and help out. It's between me and four others at the moment so just waiting to see how it goes on Thursday.

I received letters from some of the practices I sent CVs to but not all of them. I sent out my CV and if I hadn't heard back in about a week I would give the practice a call just to check they had my CV and if they had anything available. They all said they would keep it on file and I've had two other practices back to me regarding my CV so they do keep hold of them.

So if you haven't heard anything back I'd give them a call. Give it about 6 months and if you still haven't got anywhere send your CV out again. I've sent my CV out about 3 times so far! It does help as they can see you're persistant and serious.

Re: Interview tomorrow!

lisajane — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:06:41 GMT

That's great news. Glad you're getting somewhere.

How did you get on or do you know yet?

There's hope for me yet then, if you sent your cv last may.

Can i ask you something Kirsty? Did you receive letters last may saying your cv was kept on file or did they just contact you out of nowhere and asked you to an interview.

Sent my cv last oct and nothing (yet). Im losing hope. I didn't even get anything back saying cv is on file.

Re: Interview tomorrow!

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:29:51 GMT

congratulations and good luck for the next one!

Re: Interview tomorrow!

paula morgan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:31:51 GMT

Congratulations Kirsty, well done x

Re: Interview tomorrow!

Susannah Carrigan SVN — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:24:14 GMT

That's great well done!! and good luck!!

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:15:50 GMT

Just has a call back from the vets. They said they've narrowed it down to five people and they want me to go in and spend half a day with them next Thursday! Can't wait, just have to think of the best way to impress them all next Thursday!

Re: Interview tomorrow!

A Little TLC — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:39:39 GMT

Shows you are keen :)

Re: Interview tomorrow!

KirstyFord86 — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:26:29 GMT

Well I've had my interview... think it went well but trying not to think about it too much as you can never tell. Interview was at a different practice to the one the position is at so the purpose of the interview was just to find out who was totally unsuitable, hopefully I'm not one of them! Then next interview would be with practice owner and head nurse at the practice the postion is at.

Just a case of waiting now! Women that interviewed me said she thinks she has about three CVS from me and I'm saying 'please give me a job!' I hope that's a good thing....