Should i be worrying?

Re: Should i be worrying?

Negasius — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:16:23 GMT

Thank you for the advice, Katy :) I shall keep it all in mind and hopefully won't have to resort to too much use of biscuit bribing ;) but hey, always an option... :P Really hope it goes good, still have a whole week to wait and i'm already nervous and excited! Just really hope i can make a good impression, i want the job so badly :( if i got it would be my dream job! I know there's one other person been interviewed for it too so fingers crossed.
Also got a bunch more replies too, on last count i think there's only 5 or so i haven't heard from now but the only positive reply i've had is this one (which is aln vets, Miss :) ). I had a couple of really nice letters and a head nurse called me on mon to tell me they had no places but also gave me some advice and asked how i was getting on that i thought was really nice of her :)

Re: Should i be worrying?

Claire Cameron — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:39:44 GMT

Good luck! I am originally from the North East, which practice are your trial days at?

Keep us posted!!

Re: Should i be worrying?

katy coleman — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:22:13 GMT

things that impress me with trainees/work experience are;

been able to think a little for yourself and be pro active ie look for things to do or ask rather than stand waiting to be told,

don't be over familiar,

don't attempt things you are unsure on how to do and put yourself in danger ie handling animals that may be aggresive,

learn quickly i hate having to explain the same things over and over again if you are unsure then obviously ask but i would not expect to explain more than twice.

lastly if in doubt, make tea, in our practice you would have a job for life on that skill alone and if you brought biscuits well that would open endless doors!!

Good luck keep us informed on your trial days

Re: Should i be worrying?

Negasius — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:44:17 GMT

Wow :) that sounds amazing, Beth and i'm glad you ended up where you wanted to! (with some nice additions on the way!) I don't intend to stop trying even if it does take a long time and i love reading all your stories, like yours and Maria's, it's great to see a happy ending and it's really motivating :)
Really hoping the trial days'll go well tho, it'd be a dream come true if i got the job! Any ideas on how to make a super good impression other than the obvious, work as hard as i can and be really friendly to everyone? :)

Sam :)

Re: Should i be worrying?

Bethany Leonard - Williams RVN — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:32:30 GMT

Well i have always wanted to work with animals but never had the concentration to study hard enough to become a vet so when i was 16 I applied to every vet surgery in the county (cornwall so not that many vets compared to some areas) and had several interviews but was never quite right for the job - i did my GCSE's, also went and did A-levels (failed as not really that comitted) then i went onto my local college and did a BSc Foundation Science and then onto an HND in Animal Management and applied science - all the while still applying to every surgery badgering them for a job - but with no luck, so feeling that i was never going to get a training position i gave up looking and took a break. I went to work abroad for 2 years which turned out to be the best move i ever made, for one thing i met my now husband which in turn led me to move to Leeds and that ended up with me getting my training position (aged 24) and now i am an RVN working in a practice with lovely, clients, collegues and a job i love.

Ok so the route i took is a bit of a round about kinda way of doing it but my advice is if you really want to do it then keep trying even if you take time out to find your focus again you never know what may happen.

Good luck and all the best finding yourself a TP.

Beth

Re: Should i be worrying?

Negasius — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:39:58 GMT

I'm glad everything's working out for you, Maria and that you had a good time at college! :) I hope i didn't give the wrong impression to you all tho :( i am CERTAIN i want to begin vet nursing and i know i can do it and succeed at it :) I was just looking for advice and any knowledge that could be helpful from all of you with far more experience!

Also, i have another update! Was called last week by head nurse at a vets nearby and was offered an interview! Went today and seemed to go well :) she showed me around the (amazing and gynormus) hospital and then talked to me about how everything worked with the training etc and spoke to one of the partners too :) Going back in two weeks for a few trial days and then we'll see from there! Apparently there's one other person after the place too but i'm just going to work my very hardest on those trial days and until then fingers crossed!

(BTW is anyone else freezing? I think my blood is turning to ice. Heating's on full blast and i'm still cold!)

Samantha :)

Re: Should i be worrying?

Shane — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:15:15 GMT

That is a real nice story and hopefully should give some hope to others looking for a career in nursing. Lets face it, if you not 150% sure thats the career you want (remember: mostly the pay is crap, hours are long and stressful) then dont waste years to try and get in when you suddenly realise its not for you.

But if you ARE sure its for you, keep on trying!!

Re: Should i be worrying?

Maria Mahon — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:59:55 GMT

Hi, I was in a similar boat once. Thought I'd found my dream job as a Dispensary Assistant (worked in a Chemist at the time and was still unsure what I wanted to do in life) and so left Sixth Form..against everyone's advice. Needless to say it was hardly a dream and I managed to get back into school.

When I realised Vet Nursing was my career choice, I was working in a supermarket and very depressed due to it being a dead-end job and working with miserable people putting me down every day and generally making my life a misery. Anyway I wrote/emailed a few local Vets in the area and got lucky one day when, what is now 'my' practice, called and asked me to come down for a chat.

I went on to volunteer for any free evening/day off etc. I had in-between my day job and after 3-4 months I had an 'un-official' interview and they had decided to offer me the job of a Nurse Auxiliary (Nurse Assistant). I'm now starting college this monday as a SVN!

I guess I'm basically saying all this to give you some hope and if Vet Nursing is the career you really want to pursue, it is worth the perseverance and patience and please don't give up!

Re: Should i be worrying?

Claire Cameron — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:21:36 GMT

Hey

I wrote to heaps of TPs when I first started and included stamped addressed envelopes and over half didnt reply and the rest of the other half said they'd keep me on file

I did an ND in animal care, then went on to study pet bereavement, veterinary reception, animal behaviour and nutrition all distance learning, cost me a fortune but i thought it would stand me in better chance of getting a position, i also working evenings, weekends and school holidays (when i was at school) at a vets and a groomers when i could, all to get the vital experience that employers are looking for.

I got disheartened and considered uni to study animal science and got accepted, a week after i got accepted to uni i decided to post a final round of letters and got a reply (YEY!) and started my first nursing job at a TP i completed my training and here i am.

I know its difficult to start out in nursing but personally i think the most important thing is experience, your more employable than someone else if you have experience in the trade and you are willing to work unpaid to gain this!

There are also distance learning courses like I did that I recommend, Compass education and training or the animal care college are both brilliant!

Good luck and dont give up your lucky break will come!

PS where are you located?

Re: Should i be worrying?

Charlotte says smile — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:59:43 GMT

your doing everything right. It did take me over 3yrs from when I first started to apply for jobs to when I got my placement. It was 100% worth the wait! I left school at GCSE stage as I was completely uninterested in doing Alevels. I already had a saturday job at a vets. After my 1st round of applications had no luck I applied for any job in a vets just more foot in the door type thing. however I did get a job in retail in the mean time waiting for a VN job but throughout that time I never settled or stopped looking. I took a massive pay cut when I started as aSVN but it was well worth it! I suppose what Im trying to say is yeas it can take bloody ages you will get annoyed frustrated upset but dont stop trying if its what you want to do, try to get a saturday cleaning job in a vets I found it so useful!! GOOD LUCK!

Re: Should i be worrying?

Negasius — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:16:55 GMT

Just checked the medivet website and theres a couple of "floating" positions available as you described. Obviously applying for these is a challenge as i live in the north east but shall send an email to enquire anyway :)

I think i will pop over to ask within my local vets both for asking about volunteering and to steal their copies! I'll take a look at animal care courses too in a little while and see whats out there. Still have to hear from alot of practices so you never know, might get lucky!

Samantha :)

Re: Should i be worrying?

Donna France — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:05:43 GMT

I had the same problems when i was looking 11 years ago, Many letters saying we are keeping you letter on file etc. I ended up doing a national diploma in animal care, the course usually has one day a week work experience so it may work out that you can get 'your foot in the door' somewhere. I ended up moving to London (my one day a week vet placement found the job for me, they were not a TP back then) to work for the one of the charities, I did my training there and have been in private practice since 2004.

Pop into your local vets and ask them too pass you their copies of the veterinary times and vet record, most jobs will be advertised in there.

Please dont give up!

Good luck.

Re: Should i be worrying?

Jessica Kew — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:58:26 GMT

try with medivet, they often have trainee nurses needed. they aren't the best as they are a large company and they cannot guarantee that you will start studying in your first year so you really have to stick it out but if you can they will definitely take you. You don't get paid much either and have to float in the beginning so it is tough. But keep going, it's tough out there but don't get disillusioned, once you're qualified you can basically take your pic of where you want to work as we are so needed!!

Re: Should i be worrying?

Negasius — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:43:05 GMT

Another update: Just unearthed a letter for me in the mail whilst feeding the dogs. Another no places available but will keep you on file.

Eeeek... :P

Re: Should i be worrying?

Negasius — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:23:50 GMT

I think i haven't been clear with that then! I did leave school with a set plan and goals, that being to gain a position within a training practice and become a vet nurse in the long run whilst in the meantime finding some other animal related position if needs be. Also, i didn't mention that i have left school with some qualifications (3 AS levels) and of course my gcses (12 at B and above) and have done several weeks work experience in the past at vet practices :) and have other animal experience too ( owning dogs/horses, horse riding and helping out with the horses at the stables etc) :)

As for beginning a college/degree course that's sort of going against what i left my a levels for. I suppose i'll write to more practices in a wider range but i'm wondering whether or not they're even less likely to take a "not near you but will move" candidate!

Samantha :)

Re: Should i be worrying?

Fiona Leathers — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:15:59 GMT

I admire your effort but I wouldn't have given up school without having a set plan & goals. Have you thought about studying full time at either an NVQ college or degree course? Keep trying for volunteer work, keep phoning the practices, keep writing to everywhere (even those that are not TPs, as it is easier to get a job from a job)

Re: Should i be worrying?

Teresa Horspool — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:12:12 GMT

Keep trying - but also get some animal experience under your belt such as petshops/kennels/catteries etc - you could also volunteer for a couple of hours at local vets as a freebie - worth keeping your profile up with the nurses as they often know of placements from their network of friends before they get advertised. The other way is just to get a job at a vets (if possible) to gain valuable experience before applying to TP's - often gives you a head start in the interview stakes. But it is hard to get started I must admit too few positions with too many applicants

Re: Should i be worrying?

Shane — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:50:34 GMT

Sorry to disillusion you, but yes it is difficult. I remember sending my CV to approximately 70 places before being accepted to work in a Hospital. and the horrible thing was, that I was actually sort of over-qualified for the job. so yes, it is difficult to get student placements. But keep on trying!