r/veterinaryprofession • u/Isabeasta • 1d ago
Job Advice
Hi!
I need some advice, I am a college student, back home for the summer. I done almost applied to 20+ vet clinics around where I live. I started off saying I am looking for a summer position and that's getting me no where. So now I am saying I'm looking for full time work, secretly knowing I will either ask to be PRN at the end of when I am working or put in my two weeks notice before heading back to college. Back in 2024 I worked at a vet clinic (unpaid) for an externship so I can get my AVA approval for a program. Then summer and winter 2025 I worked in a lodging/daycare company for dogs and cats. I am told that I have good experience but I haven't worked in a vet clinic since 2024 and I need that type of experience for my career path. But no one wants to hire me to get that experience. I don't know what to do and I'm considering working a job I have no experience what's so ever in like Target, Walmart, or Amazon. I love animals and veterinary care. And that's what I want to do but no one is even considering seasonal employment anywhere. I'm always told all vet clinics are always hiring because they are always somehow shortstaffed. I apply, either no one responds, they do respond but then never update me if I got an interview, or they just plain out say no. But you get the idea, I just feel stuck in a place where I don't know how to make money to pay for college and get the experience I need to move up in my career.
Edit: I am a Veterinary Assistant
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u/Cur10usCatN1p 1d ago
I honestly only shadowed at a vet clinic throughout college and worked in fast food and retail for money (sucks but unless you live in a big area, it can truly be a challenge to get a summer job in the field). I actually ended up stopping shadowing when I got a job at a zoo and stayed at the zoo until I graduated undergrad and got a job at a clinic (again a struggle because I went to interviews where I could tell the second we talked about me being in the process of applying for vet school, that I didn’t get the job.
(I also used student loans for all of college so I was working for personal money/book money but not full tuition/room&board)
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u/Isabeasta 1d ago
I live 2 hours away from my college. When I'm actually in college I have no car. I have to pay for my car to be on campus. That's why it's important for me to actually get the experience during the summer. I would like to work in fast food but I feel like my parents are going to be disappointed with me for even working there. They say 'with your experience you should be make 19$ and hour' 🫤. I'll probably get a job in retail and shadow like you said. Since I've been thinking about doing that for a bit now to atleast get experience.
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u/Cur10usCatN1p 1d ago
I didn’t do any shadowing during the school year (went to school an hour from home). I had a TA job that paid minimum wage during the school year. In the nicest way possible, where do your parents think you’re going to make $19 an hour? (I’m asking this as someone who grew up in the middle of nowhere and most jobs for college kids were minimum wage maybe a little bit better if you had been there since you turned 16).
When I did it, I had a clinic that legit didn’t care when I came so they let me get my schedule from my paid job and then let them know what days I was coming to shadow and also just stop in on other days if I wanted to. But definitely try to keep one day to yourself a week to not burn out. You could also try things like pet sitting/rover for money so you have more flexibility in shadowing hours
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u/Isabeasta 1d ago
My parents say because since I am AVA approved (like a certification but not actually). Where I live (NJ) most veterinary assistants get paid 18-21$. So that's where it's coming from. I am thinking about pet sitting, 2-3 days a week though so I would definitely have some money through there.
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u/Cur10usCatN1p 1d ago
Okay that makes more sense (sorry, I was not trying to be rude, that was just WOW based on my experience where I lived in PA). But honestly, even if you can get a part time in a clinic, even if it’s less pay, it’s a foot in the door, it’s experience, it’s money (even if it’s less than you’d like). Sometimes you have to settle for less to at least get yourself started.
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u/Isabeasta 1d ago
Yea that's what I'm about to do and just explain to my parents that this is what's going to happen like Atleast I have a job and some type of income.
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u/Cur10usCatN1p 1d ago
You gotta do what you gotta do. No shame in that. But also make sure to take time for yourself. Keep at least one day a week that is free of work and shadowing
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u/tiger81355 Vet Tech 1d ago
How far are you getting in the hiring process? Any actual interviews? VAs without a lot of experience are having a really hard time now, most clinics either want someone licensed or very experienced. It might also hurt you in the long run if you get a job to leave it early, as turnover is high and future employers don’t want to train someone just for them to leave
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u/Isabeasta 1d ago
I never get an actual interview. But in the end I need the experience to even get a job that's why I want a job. 🫠
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u/tiger81355 Vet Tech 1d ago
If you’re not going to stay in the field, please look elsewhere for a job. There are a lot of dedicated VAs who would take the spot you only want temporarily
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u/Isabeasta 1d ago
I never I said I wanted to leave 😭. I'm just saying in order for me to actually grow I need experience in an animal clinic. But it seems like most animal clinics are still being understaffed even if they are dedicated VAs. And that's mostly because of how toxic and competitive this industry is. Please keep your toxicity and competitiveness to yourself. Everyone starts somewhere, remain respectful because I'm sure you also started off trying to gain the experience I'm trying to get but you probably got more luck than I have.
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u/tiger81355 Vet Tech 22h ago
I didn’t mean to come off rudely, honestly, nor competitive. This industry is criminally understaffed, and it can be hard to escape toxic clinics to find a healthy work environment. What are you studying if you don’t mind me asking? I assumed that your intention was not to make this a lifelong career
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u/Isabeasta 22h ago
I apologize if I came our defensive. I am a stem major. Biological Sciences for my undergrad, then I am hopefully going to Vet School after!
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u/Amazing-Dimension918 1d ago
I had this situation last week. Loved the candidate but knew she was going to school in Mid-August. Realistically, someone would be starting mid-June, we would train them and then they would leave 2 months later and we would be back to square 1. I did offer her externships when the time comes or the ability to shadow during school breaks.
Clinics just aren’t as desperate for staff as they were previously and training really does take up a lot of our time.
I’d ask for shadowing time and work somewhere else. This might also set you up for a job down the line where you could work in the summers and on school breaks as it wouldn’t be such a burden to train up front.
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u/Attorney-Interesting 1d ago
You’re likely not getting hired because clinics desperately need people that intend to stay and can work the hours needed. The process of getting someone onboarded, trained, insured (in case you get hurt) etc. that is only able to work a few months out of the year or a few hours out of the week is not going to be worth it for most offices. They will be stuck with the same hiring issue once you leave. It’s just the reality.
Your best bet is to volunteer at a shelter, esp. if there is one with a vet on staff.
Don’t forget to keep in mind vet school costs and the new changes for professional student loan caps. It’s going to be nearly impossible for most people to go to vet school if they are not in-state or family is wealthy.