derekpara

[elerrina]

thanks for your advice but i still havent been able to find anything and i feel angry towards the school because they told us not to arrange anything untill they had handed the forms out whereas others where told to get in the quick as places go i am going to go and arrange some work experience hopefully in the easter holidays but do you have any more ideas as to where i could go for experiance with animals i tried some of the local sancturies and they were all full too and i cant think of anywhere else to go :(

[lankeela]

Try local boarding kennels/catteries. They will be glad of help particularly during school holidays. But be prepared to start at the bottom - I once had an irate mother complain that her daughter had not come to learn to 'shovel sh*t'.

If the kennels also breed dogs, you may also get some experience with bitches and puppies.

[JessieLei]

I don't know if you are interested in small animals or large animals, but if you are interested in large animals you might try stopping by a farm to see how they run things. I'm a dairy farmer and we have vet students come out all the time. We like having the company, it's hard to get away from the farm so it's nice to have a little contact with the outside world. :) Just an idea.

[Eels]

Even if you're not interested in farm animals, if you want to train to be a vet then you will be expected to have experience of handling them.

To give yourself a chance of getting onto the course I'd suggest you have a go - you might even enjoy it! As JessieLei says, most farmers are happy to let you come and learn how it all works.

[gessoo]

Like Eels I also think that JessieLei's suggestion is great. Think how much experience this would give you when applying to University, Vet College, etc. They must have loads of applicants who have had experience looking after dogs, cats and small animals and someone who has worked with farm animals and tackled more heavy work would be seen as being a very worthwhile applicant.

[clair3934]

I worked on a sheep farm in lambing season for my work experience in school they even put me up for the week so that I could get a reall feel for it, it was great I loved every minute of it!

[Noweia]

As a vet student myself, I agree with what the others are saying about getting experience with large animals! There are so many applicants per place to get onto a vet course that if you are missing experience in once key area you might be turned down.

Are there any vet research labs near you? They probably won't have a high demand for people seeking work experience and you may be able to get into one quick quickly!

[derekpara]

Hello, Elerrina

Can't really add to the excellent advice given by Jessie and Co. I am only familiar with placements in and around my own area of Bexley so probably can't suggest anything where you live.

If working with animals is really what you want to do as a career and you can't find anything during the Work Experience fortnight allocated by your school, then try to find something during your holidays. If you live in a rural area then farm should be able to assist you, as has already been recommended, but remember that farms are High Risk placements, and working with large heavy animals can be dangerous because of their unpredictability. I go and visit placements all the time, including farms, and can tell you that this is the area where most fatal accidents have occured on Work Experience - due mainly to lack of supervision. So whatever you do, make sure the place is visited by someone like me from your local authority who will check the place out, write up a Risk Assessment for you and provide a job description listing the tasks you will, and will not, be expected to undertake.

You will also need to get confirmation that whoever you go to for your placement has Employers Liability Insurance which will cover you in case of accident. You will be classified as an employee during your work experience and whatever you do do not go unless the employer has this insurance. Try to get a copy of the insurance certificate, which will give you the name of the insurer, policy number and date of expiry. Public Liability insurance is not enough to cover you. The Health and Safety visitor (like me ! ) would get all this information during their visit. More to come......

[derekpara]

Me again !

If you do go during the holidays make sure that the employer writes an assessment of you before you leave. It will make a good start to your CV. The school should be able to give the appropriate form or there should be one in your Work Experience diary. Sorry I've been a bit long-winded, but I've been a Work Experience Officer for over 20 years and know a little about it ! If I can be of further help, just get back to me in the same way. Good luck.