Talking at Careers Evenings.

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

Dagmar Steele — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:54:55 GMT

Martin, I intended to give you five stars not four. It's just the fiddly telephone. Otherwise all they'll know about the profession comes from more or less well made but always too idealistic tv programs.

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

bob lehner — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:25:14 GMT

There's also quite a good little e- book targetted at potential vet students amongst others -' Quicklook@vets' - available via www.quicklookbooks.com, for the princely sum of £2 .99. Can't remember who wrote it.

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:21:14 GMT

Apart from them knowing what subjects and grades they'll need I think the most important thing is for them to get some work experience at the coal face which is far better than all the tales of wonder and woe. Unfortunately too many practices these days don't want school work experience students and put them of with rubbish about health and safety and insurance. We should remember that we needed to see practice way back when and it is our duty to reciprocate and help future generations of vets and nurses however much of a pain in the arse it is.

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

Claire Millington — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:48:11 GMT

Hi Jacquin

As Martin says, the RCVS has some careers materials which you're very welcome to use - we've a printed booklet and a DVD of short films which we put together with the vet schools (and sent out to UK schools).

These have info about different types of veterinary careers, routes into the veterinary schools, and entrance requirements.

There's also an online version of the booklet, with the short films embedded, at www.walksoflife.org.uk, and the short films are on YouTube too: http://www.youtube.com/vetcareers.

Anyone who wants some copies of the printed leaflets or a couple of the DVDs is very welcome to email the Education Department (education@rcvs.org.uk) - they are free.

There's also a careers leaflet on veterinary nursing which you can get from the VN Department (vetnursing@rcvs.org.uk)

Hope that helps - good luck with your talk

Claire Millington

(RCVS Coms)

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:47:38 GMT

Total agreement None of it would have put me off It really is the best job if it's what you want to do-but not for the half-hearted

Wynne

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

Jacquin Mitchell — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:28:23 GMT

Nope, I'll be up in front of a couple of groups of kids who have specifically selected to find out about working as a vet, for a 20 minute talk.

The evening is organised by their Connexions service, so they will be dealing with the subject choice part of it. Leaflets from the RCVS a good idea.

I think it is important to be honest with them about the negative things about the job, not trying to scare them but if they are wavering between vet and something else, then it's probably not a bad idea for them to concentrate on the 'something else'.

Anyone really keen probably won't be put off by huge debts, OOH and difficulty balancing work and family life.

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:47:18 GMT

I presume you mean at a careers evening where there will be individuals coming up to you asking advice on what qualifications are needed rather than what Mark implies which is standing in front of a class and giving a little chat. I've done done both and at the former it has just literally been telling what they need to do to gain entry to vet school, I don't think it's fair to influence them like plantagenet suggests but I'll answer questions honestly, and although I may be a bit judgemental, for those that don't look like they'll achieve the grades tell them about vet nursing as well. I think its important to stress that they must influence the school as to what subjects they should be taking and not be bullied by the school into taking subjects that just suit the school curriculum and impress on them that at 6th form level they can move schools, as there is open enrolment at that age if the school won't play ball as not all realise they can do this. I seem to recall I had some leaflets from the RCVS to hand out but at least tell them to go their website. For the chats to classes I would just give a 10-15 minute talk on 'a day in the life of a vet' with a few props and then tell them what qualifications are needed. For the younger ones I chickened out and sent a nurse with the surgery dog for them to pet.

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:42:42 GMT

Mark I'm not a reptile expert but I would diagnose acute indigestion for the snake-and the tortoise beyond veterinary aid

To get back to the initial question,I would start by pointing out the very high entrance requirements It's a golden opportunity to emphasise to the public that we really are the elite-hopefully they will be more prepared to value (and pay ) us properly afterwards-especially if you point out that over a 40 year career they will be (after tax ) £1.5 MILLION philanthropists by the time they retire compared with what they would have earned as doctors

Also point out that it's not all cuddling animals It can be smelly and dirty Also point out that animals get ill 24/7 so unless they're prepared for some OOH then it's better not too apply-as you're a mother you can point out the problems with child care from 1st hand experience

Point out the stress when patients die-and it's 5 times worse for us than medical GPs as their patients live on average 75 years, and ours only 15

After the doom and gloom -tell them that if curing sick animals is what you really want to do-then it's the best career in the world-I would never want to do anything else

Wynne

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

plantagenet — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:24:02 GMT

I do this every year for a big all day careers convention that does several schools.

I try to be honest about the difficulties and rewards of the job + the dreadful future financial burden they will carry that we didn't and the fact that vet numbers are going up faster than jobs.

Their parents are with them and they take on the financial bit but what 14-15 year old thinks about mortgages and student loans - and why should they.

Often after a chat they realise it is or not for them, then if it is many of them come and see practice at the surgery for a bit.

My own kids don't want to be vets.

Re: Talking at Careers Evenings.

Mark Rowland — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:20:30 GMT

Ive done this a couple of times.

Ive found this sort of age group can have quite a short attention span so lots of pictures are usually required (no surgery).

Generally there is a small group of beople wanting to undertake veterinary medicine so I generally stipulate the competition for places and recommend as much hands on as possible, stress that there is lots of hard work involved but (imo) it is a rewarding career. I think that should advise those wanting tio try that they have to work hard at school and get as much practice as possible before thay apply - a good general protocol for kiddies of that age really.

But thats just what I tell em. I suppose im in the fortunate position that I can put pictures like this one up to entertain them: