vet

[BobbyBobBob]

wondered wether anybody can help!! i am 22 years old and trapped in a dead end job!! the trouble is i dont have a clue of what i want to do!(sounds lazy i know) i did my years at college but decided against the idea of university,as i find it quite difficult to knuckle down and study!i recently stumbled across the idea of becoming a vet, or doing something involved with animals.I've loved animals all my life although never actually had one to look after, myself!Basically, does anybody know if there are any on the job training courses you can do, or do you definately need to study at university?thanx

[Eels]

There's more detail on becoming a vet here: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals_and_Nature/Question200385.html

You'll have to go to Uni if you want to become a vet, I'm afraid. There are more flexible opportunities for those who want to enter the veterinary nursing profession - many practices employ unqualified nursing assistants who then go on to train by enrolling on college courses.

It's the sort of vocation where you have to have real motivation to do the job though, so I'd suggest you try and arrange some work experience or at least trawl through some careers sites to get an idea of the scope of your job description (this can be very variable depending on whether you want to become a qualified VN or are just looking for assistant work in a practice).

Often places like kennels, stables and city farms or animal sanctuaries are willing to take people on a volunteer basis for experience. Worth looking into.

[BobbyBobBob]

yeah, thanx this does help and i'll look into it!

[Buenchico]

Vetinerary training courses are the hardest courses of all to get onto at university. (Even harder than medicine). Even 4 A-grades at A-level wouldn't necessarily get you a course place. You MUST have a good grade in A-level Chemistry plus equally good grades in at least one (preferably two) of these subjects: Maths, Physics, Biology.
Details are here:
http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/j obprofiles/profiles/profile436/

If that sounds rather daunting, you might like to look through details of other careers working with animals, here:
http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/j obprofiles/category10/

Chris

[gammaray]

The upside is that I believe there is a shortage of Vets, so getting a job once qualified (five or six years later) shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[Eels]

What gammaray says is currently correct, but with a new vet school just opened in the UK, and the boom in small animal practice starting to level out, it's predicted that there will be an excess of vets in the next few years. Thus by the time you qualify finding employment might not be quite as straightforward as it is right now.

[Androcles]

Bob,

It sounds like as well as looking at the animals option, you may need to get some decent careers advice. There are a number of websites that try to help, so try:

http://content.monster.co.uk/903_EN-GB_p2.asp

That may help to get you started.

Best of luck!

[BobbyBobBob]

THANKS for all the answers!!!

[Solarjunkie]

The organisation CSV (community service volunteers) places young people in residential voluntary work in a whole variety of situations. You get bed & board and pocket money, and a life-changing experience!

I would think it is quite likely that they have animal-related placements, and it would certainly help you to get a better idea of what you'd like to do in the future. Good luck.