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The big and shiny work experience bible

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Original post by alizasauras
South London, urm Sutton


Sorry saw your reply, unfortunately all the yards I have links to are in North London so probably too far...
Original post by MediterraneanX
Sorry saw your reply, unfortunately all the yards I have links to are in North London so probably too far...


Where in North London? I'm looking for a place that does riding lessons but all seem to be too far.
Heyy guyz,
i dont have much work experience either, i have 2 days at an abattoir, 2 weeks at a vet, 2 weeks at a horse stable, and been volunteering at a nature centre (zoo) for about 2-3 months now, and will hopefulli get a farm for october for one week. is that enough? :/
I've just got a quick question which I hope you guys can help with. If I get experience at http://www.nawt.org.uk/somerset/index.asp would I be able to count it as kennels and cattery work experience? They do take on dogs and cats, but also take other animals such as rabbits/guinea pigs and farm animals.
Original post by Stripes23
I've just got a quick question which I hope you guys can help with. If I get experience at http://www.nawt.org.uk/somerset/index.asp would I be able to count it as kennels and cattery work experience? They do take on dogs and cats, but also take other animals such as rabbits/guinea pigs and farm animals.



Yep :smile:
Could a Grooming Course be considered as a work experience??
Nope.
Original post by Nessie162
Could a Grooming Course be considered as a work experience??


Volunteering at a groomers would be good though :smile:
Original post by spooksthehorse
Volunteering at a groomers would be good though :smile:


Yep I know :smile:

But I'm doing a grooming course anyway, as I want to be both, Vet and a groomer... :smile: Will see how it goes :tongue: But it's a real shame that it doesn't count as work experience :smile:
Original post by Lostwithoutyou
Where in North London? I'm looking for a place that does riding lessons but all seem to be too far.


All my contacts are within livery yards in/around Enfield/Crews Hill/Cuffley but I do know some riding schools around that area too if that's not too far from you?
Hi everyone, I've been trying to no avail to get some dairy farm work experience. I've got hold of a massive dairy farm that offers what they call voluntary work instead of work experience (basically they don't want to deal with the paperwork side of things). Would this make any difference? I'm only applying to the RVC and possibly Notts and as far as I know they aren't too strict on references? I don't really want to turn this down as it's the only minor success I've had regarding dairy experience! Any advice?
Original post by MediterraneanX
Hi everyone, I've been trying to no avail to get some dairy farm work experience. I've got hold of a massive dairy farm that offers what they call voluntary work instead of work experience (basically they don't want to deal with the paperwork side of things). Would this make any difference? I'm only applying to the RVC and possibly Notts and as far as I know they aren't too strict on references? I don't really want to turn this down as it's the only minor success I've had regarding dairy experience! Any advice?


Yeh, I would def go for it. Whilst references are very useful, not everyone gets them from everywhere anyway, so I wouldn't let that stop you. Both Nottm and RVC look at references, but don't state that they need them.

When you are there, maybe ask one of the people you work with if they would be happy to write a quick note to confirm you were there? Rather than worrying them in advance that you want something. I needed a reference off my sheep farmer for Liverpool, and he scribbled me a quick hand written note on a half sheet of A4 one lunch time, but it did the job - confirmed I had been there and not been a complete waste of time!
A couple of questions, first do I need to have both equine and farm animal vet experience? I figured that since they're both large I could just have one or the other but I just wanted to check. Also, would I be alright with 1 week of lambing, or should I try to get 2 if I can?
Reply 1193
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Original post by Stripes23
A couple of questions, first do I need to have both equine and farm animal vet experience? I figured that since they're both large I could just have one or the other but I just wanted to check. Also, would I be alright with 1 week of lambing, or should I try to get 2 if I can?


You need work experience at a stables regardless of any other work experience at a large animal vets [if that's what you mean] but as for an equine vets specifically, no it's not necessary providing you have a large animal vet practice. [Hope that made sense?!]
1 week of lambing would be satisfactory, but of course go for 2 weeks if you can! You will benefit more and be able to get more involved by the second week, the more the better :smile:
Original post by Amy7
You need work experience at a stables regardless of any other work experience at a large animal vets [if that's what you mean] but as for an equine vets specifically, no it's not necessary providing you have a large animal vet practice. [Hope that made sense?!]
1 week of lambing would be satisfactory, but of course go for 2 weeks if you can! You will benefit more and be able to get more involved by the second week, the more the better :smile:


That's not quite what I meant, I probably should have made myself clearer. I meant equine vets and farm vets, is it necessary to have both or just one. I've got stables experience down, been riding since I was 9 and helping every weekend or two at the stables since I was 13. As for the lambing, I do still need to find some but if it's in the easter holidays I'll see if I can do both weeks then.
Reply 1195
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Original post by Stripes23
That's not quite what I meant, I probably should have made myself clearer. I meant equine vets and farm vets, is it necessary to have both or just one. I've got stables experience down, been riding since I was 9 and helping every weekend or two at the stables since I was 13. As for the lambing, I do still need to find some but if it's in the easter holidays I'll see if I can do both weeks then.


Some places lamb really early- I know a farm which does it in february/march, so you could do some in half term?
And you don't necessarily need both equine vets and farm/large animal vets, just one or the other.
I'd probably say the farm/large animal vets is the better bet. However, someone more experienced and who knows better should probably tell you as I'm just basing this upon experience from what others have said here and the specific universities work experience requirements.
As I'm going to send my first work experience e-mail soon, can you please tell me if there's anything I have to change??


Dear [sir/madam/name]

My name is [name] and I am 15 years old. I am extremely interested in the Veterinary Medicine as a career path, and therefore I need to gain a lot of animal related work experience, before applying to the university. I was wondering if I could undertake some work experience at your [farm/kennels/catteries/etc]. I am available to complete this from [date] to [date].

Please Let me know if that is possible,
Your Sincerely,
[name]


Should I change or add something?? :biggrin:
Original post by Nessie162
As I'm going to send my first work experience e-mail soon, can you please tell me if there's anything I have to change??

Should I change or add something?? :biggrin:


you don't need to start by telling them your name because you've signed off with your name. add in your education status and try and include something positive about yourself, and you should definitely say thank you at the end!
Reply 1198
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Original post by Nessie162
As I'm going to send my first work experience e-mail soon, can you please tell me if there's anything I have to change??

Should I change or add something?? :biggrin:


I guess it's a personal thing of what you think is important and if you were the employer what you would like to know.
So, this is what I usually put in that you haven't [just some suggestions.]
It's always good to include what school you attend and what stage you're at at school, some employers may not be familiar with the current schooling system.
Any previous work experience if you have any [or if you have a lot select the key ones]. If not then choose some personal qualities that are relevant and say why i.e. I have just completed my Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award, during which undertook 6 months of voluntary work at *wherever*. This shows commitment and I imagine that this is a very valuable quality when working as a vet... e.t.c. e.t.c. yadda yadda yadda.

If you want to impress them you could write specifically about their establishment/or wherever you're going, so... I understand that your practice specialises in *yadda yadda* and I am particularly interested in this field, so gaining a greater understanding at your practice would be particularly valuable.

Remember you're trying to 'sell yourself' so emphasise your qualities :smile:
Finally, say that you've enclosed your CV which has details of your interests, grades/predicted grades[etc] and achievements. I'm guessing you've written a CV at school?
Also, thank them at the end [as mentioned by the person above me].

As I said earlier this is all personal, and once you have a good template you can just alter it everytime you apply for another placement. It's always a good idea to get someone to proof read it before you send it off [someone with experience in sending off letters of application, elder relative, teacher, friend], to check for any errors/typos/punctuation etc.
Good luck!
Hey guys, just wondering if you could look over a provisional list of work experience and see if there's anything I'm missing.
2 weeks SA vet at 2 different practices
2 weeks LA vet
1 week lambing
1 week dairy
1 week at some sort of kennels/cattery/animal sanctuary
1 week at Horseworld (horse rescue centre)
5 years of 1 or 2 days a week at my local riding school.

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