The big and shiny work experience bible

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If you're applying to liverpool you could possibly try to squeeze in another week of vet work exp as generally they like 4 weeks and i think you have 3. You have plenty of other work experience so dont panic about it, I applied with 3 weeks vet exp instead of 4 and still got an offer! You really do have an amazing amount so if you are applying to liv, possibly squeeze in another week at a vets but if you cant, dont worry! For anywhere else you've got plenty!!

Reply 241

city_chic

Evenstar

Uh oh...you didn't smuggle one home with you, did you? :p:

Haha, no. I was tempted to though :p:

Reply 242

tiny_tiger

Oooh my apologies, didnt read that bit! You have plenty then without a doubt!! :biggrin:

Reply 243

paint-paradise

Thanks for the replies! Much more confident now! :biggrin:

xxxxx

Reply 244

city_chic

Went to the vets this evening; observed 9 consultations. Loved it :biggrin:

Was good to be back at a vets again.

Reply 245

Shockley

I'd like to know, why is it sometimes so difficult to be taken on as a volunteer in a lot of places. For example there is a wildlife rescue centre local to me, and on their website it says "We are always in desperate need of volunteers." Yet when I phoned up, the woman said I had to go all the way there just to get an application form, and post it off to someone who "decides whether or not you get a place."

Of course I will go and get an application, but if they're so "desperate" for volunteers surely the paperwork and "applying for a place" would put a lot of people off? What does everyone think?

Reply 246

J_E_N_N_Y

i often find places just dont have insurance esp when i was under 16.

Reply 247

Shockley

Yeah, insurance is another big problem. In the RVC prospectus it says that you must include some scientific experience, e.g research lab or in industry.

I've tried contacting quite a lot of places I was interested in but most of them say insurance/security is a problem. Either that or they don't bother to reply at all :frown:

Reply 248

Annaconda

yeah before i was 16 i found a tonne of places that only had insurance for 16 plus, but now i am 16 all the ones i find within travelling distance you have to be 18, or 17 for the rpsca!

Reply 249

Shockley

Annaconda

yeah before i was 16 i found a tonne of places that only had insurance for 16 plus, but now i am 16 all the ones i find within travelling distance you have to be 18, or 17 for the rpsca!

I'm 19 and I still have problems. The most annoying thing is when you find the perfect place, with excellent facilities and a wide range of cases, and you get excited when you realise its only up the road. And you realise how lucky you are because there isn't a place like it for miles. Then you ring up and they give you a big fat NO. :mad:

For now I've got some very good placements on the go, so Im going to study for my biovet exams and wait till the xmas holidays to spend some time at the vet centre near home, where they actually look forward to seeing me :p:

Reply 250

Annaconda

yay i just found a brilliant vet near me
it does birds, fish, reptiles, unusual mammals (eg pygmy hedgehogs) and is a special rabbit and chincilla dental place as well!
no mentions of large animals though
i HOPE they can give me work exp. i will keep trying untill they do im so desparate to go there!

just wondering, would this be classed as a mixed practice or an exotics specialist?

Reply 251

earedien

I'd say small animal practice specialising in exotics as mixed makes everyone think of farm animals and horses.

Congrats on the find! :biggrin:

Reply 252

Shockley

Annaconda

Exotics, since they deal with reptiles, chinchillas and pygmy hedgehogs which are definately unusual for most practices :smile:

ok thanks

I don't work at my vets regularly. It's mostly weekends, sometimes 5 hours, sometimes 12.

I know a week is 5 days, but how much is a day? 8 hours?

Reply 255

lucy!!

I'm struggling to find any lambing placements. Has anyone else had difficulty? I'm willing to get up all hours and work loads, but I can't find somewhere to take me!

Reply 256

Annaconda

have you tried city farms and farm parks as well. you could mention that you dont mind just observing cos there might be problems with insurance or something.

im soo happy i just got exp at a mixed vets fro february half term. bit of a treck but its the only one reachable

Reply 257

surfait

Just a general question- when did everyone start actively seeking out WE? I'm only 15 but I've already done/organised a few placements. Think it matters? :smile:

Ta.

Reply 258

Annaconda

i didnt actually think to do work exp to get in to uni untill year 11
but my that time id already done 2 years in a stable, 2 weeks at a vet and 3 months saturdays in a city farm !

Reply 259

ashefbjhsdab

surfait

Just a general question- when did everyone start actively seeking out WE? I'm only 15 but I've already done/organised a few placements. Think it matters? :smile:

Ta.

I'd say as early as possible, but not so it impacts any of your studies.

Personally I did my first week at practise in the summer after GCSEs and then have done more throught my lower 6th year. But I've always lived in rural areas and kept horses etc so I don't think I needed to start activly seeking it as early as say if you lived in a city. The earlier you can get the required amout out of the way the less pressure you will have, as I garantee your A level years will go far quicker than you expect :smile:

You live on a farm right? So as long as you can get good contacts that you ask at short notice or get them to invite you up whenever there is something interesting going on you should be fine. Like the sheep farm I work at, my mum has always been friends with the owner as she passes her when out riding, so I did an initial weekend there helping with the pre lambing vaccinations and then they invited me back for the lambing period, and now just invite me up when they need help (free labour :biggrin:

) or they have something interesting such as yesterday and the day before when the flock needed vaccinating against bluetongue.