Work experience
What, Why,
How?
Crufts
Supreme cat
show
Veterinary
practice
On a farm
Lambing
Horse shows
Dog
kennels
What?
Agricultural
shows
Cattery
Abattoir
Stables
Volunteer
work
Abroad
Laboratory
work
Pig farm
See the
environment
you may work in
Be keen
Interesting
Meet
vets
Get to work with
animals
Practical
experience
Actually see a
fully grown
pig/cow/
sheep/horse
etc.
Why?
Observe animal
behaviour
See what
people on
farms do
Animal
care
experience
Helps with my
application to
vet school
But most importantly……
• Decide if this is the right career for you!!!
– The vet degree……… is hard
– The job…….. is hard
– You have to really want it!!
• It’s about the quality, not the quantity.
• You need to be getting something out of the
experience:
– Are you learning anything?
– If so, what? E.g. what they vaccinating against?
what conditions/diseases are they treating?
• Keep a journal:
– Record interesting cases.
– Keep it brief!
Majority of
consultations
are basic
There's
more out
there
than
general
practice
work
Farm
work is
business
oriented
What you
learnt!
The basics
Harsh
reality of
farming
life
Small
animals and
horses are
individuals
Vets actually
don’t handle
animals….much
Good
communication is
essential!
Ask vet
at a
practice
Running theme
here is just to
ASK!!!
Go
abroad—
ask on
holiday
Ask each
other….use social
media. Swap
information!
How?
Look online
Ask
farmers
Ask family
members
Ask friends
What Imogen did…
• 2 x Vet practices - 2 weeks at each
• Went abroad
– South Africa
– Costa Rica
• Worked on dairy farm - 2 weeks
• Lambing - 2 weeks
• Volunteered for 2-3 months at a
monkey and ape sanctuary.
Work Experience requirements
for Bristol
• Minimum of 8 weeks
• 4 weeks of veterinary experience (in more than
one practice).
• Another 4 weeks at more than one animal
establishments e.g. kennels, stables, lambing etc.
• A maximum of one week planned experience will
count toward your total.
• Your application is scored on your Personal
Statement, as well as work experience.
Work Experience requirements
for Liverpool
• Minimum of 10 weeks.
• 6 weeks animal based.
• 4 weeks vet practice (minimum of two
practices).
• Preferably undertaken in last 3 years.
• Warns most students have done more!!
• Precise work experience questionnaire sent
out to applicants.
Work Experience requirements
for Nottingham
• At least 6 weeks prior to application.
• Experience at one or more veterinary
practices.
• Working with larger domestic animals on a
livestock farm.
• Other animal experience (for example, at
kennels,a riding school or a zoo).
• References may be considered.
Work Experience requirements
for Cambridge
• Work experience is not a requirement for
applicants, but some experience is useful to
understand the profession and what is
required of its members.
Work Experience requirements
for Glasgow
• Only vague information available.
• Mentions should show
– Shadowing
– Animal husbandry
– Laboratory/abattoir work
• Doesn’t indicate the number of weeks
• Should have some experience with a vet
practice, dairy farm and other animal
establishments.
Work Experience requirements
for Edinburgh
• Easy to use website, really clear information.
• Number of weeks not specified.
• Would like veterinary practices and husbandry
(farms, kennels etc).
• Abattoir experience “not essential”, but
useful.
• If possible, veterinary or medical laboratory
work is a good idea.
Work Experience requirements
for Surrey
• 4 weeks minimum.
• In vet practice and animal establishments.
• Only on second intake of vet students in 2015.
Work Experience requirements
for Royal Veterinary College, London
• Minimum 4 weeks.
• A total of two weeks in more than one veterinary
practice.
• A total of two weeks in a variety of different
animal environments (outside of your home
environment).
• Experience must be gained in the 18 months
prior to the application deadline.
• Applicants must complete an online work
experience questionnaire.
Useful information
• http://www.vetnetlln.ac.uk/
• http://www.avsukireland.co.uk/javs
• http://www.pdsa.org.uk/petprotectors/read/want-to-be-a-vet#becominga-vet
• The Student Room