Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

HERETIC — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:12:05 GMT

Um... not in your position,in fact the reverse. The last 3 times we have advertised for staff we have had no applications from graduates with experience and have always had to take on inexperienced staff. New grads are rewarding in one way but hard work for the rest of the staff -need back up on call, extra supervision with surgery etc. My plea would be where were you last time we were advertising? Are you too tied to one area by family or similar area or unwilling to do out of hours?

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

An On MRCVS — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:49:58 GMT

[quote user="Gareth C."]

[/quote]

Well said, that man. Couldn't agree more

Go with option b: you won't get this time of your life back, you know, and flogging yourself to death half way across the country from your loved one won't necessarily open any doors for you that couldn't be opened closer to home. I spent years first loving, and then hating, large animal practice. Small animal was an eye-opener in many of the best ways (and some of the worst). Be in the place you want to be, with the people you want to be with. Make work fit round that - even as vets, we don't have to be defined by what we do for a living!

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Gareth C. — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:55:11 GMT

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:43:40 GMT

Wrong time of year-but if you're still looking for equine work at the begining of the next stud season-might be worth "seeing practice" for a few months-but make sure you've got your own professional indemnty insurence

Equine work has been seen as a growth area for the last 15/20 years, but reading of falling horse prices and even of poor unwanted horses being dumped makes me think that the general economic climate is the root cause of your problems

Wynne

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

An On MRCVS — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:32:26 GMT

Hi again, and thank you for all your responses. Some very useful advice given.

Without giving too much away about myself, most of my experience has been with equines - and I've even found locum work hard to come by, despite having 2yrs experience and willing to work short or long-term anywhere in the country (lack of repro experience has been the main culprit here I suspect). Permanent job-wise I'm restricted geographically due to a mortgage and a partner with a (very hard to come by) permanent job. Partner on a similar salary to what I'd be on if I was earning and in quite a specialist (non-veterinary) role - which means relocation for him would be problematic. A blessing in terms of the fact that he's been able to support me (just), but it makes things difficult for me!!

I have options;

a/ I could try and find a permanent job elsewhere and come home at weekends. If my salary could support travelling from home to work and back once a week and also cover renting a room in a shared house during the week (in addition to paying off rather hefty student debts) this would be possible. Even if I had a dire quality of life for 2 - 3 years...I could do it. Might not find it that much fun, mind. BUT, it means finding a job which pays well enough to do this - with my current level of experience, it's an unlikely possibility. And I wouldn't like having to "stretch the truth" to a prospective new employer regarding long-term commitment. I cannot lie; I am hopeless at it!

b/ I try to make a sideways move into SA. Which is more palatable than the above and gives me more chance of finding a stable, permanent, long-term job somewhere close enough to home. The only thing is, I LOVE equine work and don't particularly enjoy the SA side - or haven't up to now. Maybe I need to man up and have more confidence in myself when it comes to surgery/SA medicine and dealing with exotics and see practice for a while locally to try to get back into it.

c/ I sit here and continue as I am ad infinitum in the hope that partner's premium bonds come up trumps.

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Thomas Johnson — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:10:57 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

Where spouses are concerned I would say that the lowest earner is the one who should be expected to move

[/quote]

Or the one who will find it easier to get a new job?

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:02:04 GMT

Unfortuneately you're probably right

Wynne

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Mark Holmes — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:59:57 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

Mark I would agree with responsibilities towards elderly infirm parents-I once had to move jobs to be near mine Where spouses are concerned I would say that the lowest earner is the one who should be expected to move

Wynne

[/quote]

We are Vets Wynne, its likely to be us!

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:56:55 GMT

Wynne

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:54:12 GMT

Plantaganet My views on the folly of the enormously expensive EU are well known

Wynne

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Mark Holmes — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:35:02 GMT

Alot of posts have advised that you need to be prepared to move or willing to move. Actually its really not that simple. I used to move about and to be fair new grads may well be more mobile, but some people JUST CANNOT.

Responsibilities towards infirm elderly parent or grand parents and spouse's careers are simple examples. Many people CANNOT just move. On a positive note if you employ somebody local, they CANNOT just move away either so you can pay them less, demean them and degrade them. Abuse them psycologically, physically and inseed sexually if necessary without having to worry about replacing them. Just don't ask them to do on call!

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

plantagenet — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 17:34:17 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]The swings between over and under supply happen alarmingly quickly [/quote]

It is not going to swing back with uncontrolled supply from Europe - presumably we have no say in numbers produced from vet schools outside GB. With many graduates from some countries who will be happy to have jobs at lower wages, it is not only going to be difficulty in finding jobs but the remuneration is going to go down too. I feel for new graduates with enormous loans.

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 15:01:16 GMT

[quote user="Cat Henstridge"]Your first job as a vet is an incredibly stressful experience, regardless of the supportiveness of the practice and so it is very sensible to have a decent support network around you while you get through it. I would always advise any new grad to try to have people close by, friends or family, during this time. This may restrict the choice available but if it can be managed it makes the whole experience much better. My first job was in Wolverhampton where I didn't know anyone and although the practice was lovely I spent every free weekend away and coming home to an empty flat after a difficult day was not a lot of fun![/quote]

Cripes, the last thing I would have wanted close by was family. And coming home every day to my "own" flat was wonderful. True, it wasn't in Wolverhampton.

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Cat Henstridge — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 12:03:06 GMT

Your first job as a vet is an incredibly stressful experience, regardless of the supportiveness of the practice and so it is very sensible to have a decent support network around you while you get through it. I would always advise any new grad to try to have people close by, friends or family, during this time. This may restrict the choice available but if it can be managed it makes the whole experience much better. My first job was in Wolverhampton where I didn't know anyone and although the practice was lovely I spent every free weekend away and coming home to an empty flat after a difficult day was not a lot of fun!

My answer to the OP would be, with 2 years of experience you shouldn't have any trouble finding locum work, especially if you are English and UK graduated and doing this to earn while you look for the perfect job would be a much better option than doing nothing.

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Bob Russell — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:22:45 GMT

It used to be standard that with every assistants job there was a flat/house and this was often owned as part of the property portfolio by the partners.

This meant the jobs market was almost totally mobile. With property prices rising and changes in business models away from the 'traditional' ones, more and more vets are expected to find accommodation for themselves. The cheapest is mum and dads!

Mobility is not as simple as it once was!

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Neal Palk — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 08:57:06 GMT

As many have said - mobility is key. I've seen a few 'situations wanted' on here where young grads seem to want/need to be 5 mins from Mummy & Daddy yet wonder why they haven't got a job.............whilst there do seem to be roles elsewhere in the country??!!

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:19:31 GMT

The swings between over and under supply happen alarmingly quickly We had 20 years of under supply -now it seems tobe heading back to the way it was in the early 80s-when Glasgow and Cambridge were nearly closed because of the over supply problem

Wynne

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

plantagenet — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:55:06 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]It's not as bad as it was 30 years ago, but there's definitely less work around now,so as Mariette and Martin have said you may have to be adaptable, prepared to move area etc[/quote]

It's definitely a hell of a lot worse than 20 years ago though, there are many times the number of vets, probably less farm work (farmers lay-scanners etc doing more) and no more pets. The thickness of the register now is frightening.

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:28:20 GMT

The other question, of course, is where you are meeting the lack of success - are you interviewing without success, or are you not even getting the interview? If you're not getting invited to interview, you need to look at your cover letter and CV.

A really good cover letter introduces you and explains what about you (over your CV) is particularly special. Very useful tool.

Cheers,
Mark

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Mark Rowland — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:27:37 GMT

Walking through doors is always a good idea if you can.

Many vets will be after locum cover for hols etc and wont want to pay agencies and accomodation so If you are local, experienced and available there may well be some good take up which will get your foot in the door.

One of my best vets just strolled in 1 day and now is a permanant part time member and a great asset

Goodluck

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:27:15 GMT

It's not as bad as it was 30 years ago, but there's definitely less work around now,so as Mariette and Martin have said you may have tobe adaptable, prepared to move area etc

Wynne

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Bob Russell — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:56:27 GMT

Sorry to hear the situation you are in. When I was two years qualified there was so much choice and practices almost bit your hand off to employ anyone with any experience. The veterinary world has changed beyond recognition and I am sure you are not alone.

It is a bit of a disgrace that qualified vets should be 'seeing practice' but I would agree this will raise your profile and it is always a good thing to have links to the grapevine! One thing often leads to another.

If you are motivated there will be a job for you!

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:34:10 GMT

Of course there is the factor that some people are just more employable than others. No suggestion that the OP is any less employable than anyone else but as hard as it may be sometimes it pays to have a good hard look at ourselves and see if there is anything we can change ranging from things as simple as personal hygiene and appearance to general attitude. A few white lies don't do us any harm - it may show a willingness to adapt. A leopard can't change his spots but those same spots can give him a good disguise in the right habitat and sometimes we have to be what other people want us to be not what we want to be. I confess that I was not very good at this (personal hygiene apart - I think anyway!) which is why I had 6 jobs in 18 months but the fact I got those jobs in the first place showed that I was good at selling myself and although I got the sack twice because ultimately I didn't fit in, I maintain that it was as much the practices' fault as mine and when I found a soul-mate in an employer we got on famously for four years before I bought the practice. The point is, before red star man presses his keypad, that you may need to change/adapt as well as be prepared to take a job that is not ideal. Sadly, that all said, I do feel that some graduates may have to accept that the profession is not for them at least in the current climate and have to think of another line of employment.

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

Alan Tevendale — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:40:18 GMT

I'm sure the job section here will work better soon. At the moment most people are still using the vet record/times for jobs. I do think this will change with time however. The last position we advertised for we placed the ad on the Friday on the vet record website and withdrew it on the Monday. Yes it did also go to print but we certainly had enough applicants by that stage. I think in the near future there will be no need for printed job vaccancies.

Re: Are there any other vets out there struggling to find work atm

mariette asselbergs — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:52:52 GMT

When I first qualified more than three decades ago job,s were very scarce specially for women who wanted to do rural or mixed practice. I was also a bit limited in the sort of practices I would want to work in or not (like no factory farming). I placed an advert stating clearly what sort of work I was looking for and what I was prepared to offer. It got me my first and perfect job. I never see adverts here in the journals from people who are looking for a job, but it might work. Of course vet surgeon has a section for locums, but I am not sure it works very well. I think too few people know about it or look at it.

Good luck!

Mariette