Recent Graduates - Overview
A Tough Transition
The first years after graduation can prove very stressful. Leaving vet school and getting your first job can be an incredibly demanding transition. You are in a new area, separated from your family and from the support structures that you developed as a student.
All of a sudden, you are working long hours, it's very tiring, your confidence in your clinical judgement may take more than the occasional knock and your ability to relate easily to clients disappears like the morning mist.
On top of this, you are not sure you like the accommodation you are in and your mates are miles away and just as busy as you are.
All of a sudden, life may not look so rosy.
Ten Tips to Ease the Transition from Student to Veterinary Surgeon
Abridged from an article by Trevor Heath, School of Veterinary Science, the University of Queensland
Aust Vet J/Vol 78 No 5 May 2000
In Advance of Graduation:
1. Get experience of dealing with the public face to face in holiday jobs
- either veterinary related - practices, shows, horse racing
- or not - bars, shops, restaurants
2. Develop competence with
- interpersonal skills - decide on the words you will use to introduce yourself, welcome clients, terminate consultations, deal with fees, breaking bad news etc
- basic technical skills - especially animal handling, clinical examinations, surgical basics (for example, suturing, handling tissue, instruments), and
- common conditions - learn protocols and drugs and prepare an indexed record of them while you have time, even though later you may need to modify these to suit practice protocols. After getting a job, check any special local veterinary features such as unusual plant and animal species, parasites, toxins and so on.
3. Arrange to keep personal readjustments to a minimum - try not to make any big changes to your life outside work, like breaking up a relationship, in the first few months of starting a job.
4. Make contacts that may lead to a good job through work experience and visits to practices.
The Job Itself:
5. Select your boss with great care as he will be the main determinant of your stress level in the job. Check who is really in charge - it can sometimes be the principal's spouse or other practice manager.
- Who to look for? Someone who will be supportive and fair and encourage learning with progressive independence; maintain high standards of professional work, ethics and interpersonal interactions, and someone with whom you could develop a good (synergistic or, at least, symbiotic) working relationship. It is preferable to seek a practice with more than one other veterinary surgeon because there are less 'after hours' and more people to learn from.
- How to know you've found a good boss? Be critical in your evaluation; ask previous associates; use university networks.
- Should I take the first job offered? Only if you are confident that the job and the boss are right for you. But do not delay in reaching a decision, because this can cause problems for the employer.
6. Get it in writing - ensure you get a contract stating the precise conditions of your employment.
After Starting Work:
7. Make clear that you are prepared to learn. Look, ask, listen, think, take advice and learn.
8. Consider the feelings of others, including the boss, who must maintain the practice while helping you settle in; and also those of nurses, colleagues and clients, all of whom may have much to offer. Clean up after yourself; imagine yourself in their place. Never underestimate the importance of an animal to its owner.
9. Take steps to maintain mental and physical health:
- Get enough rest, especially at the beginning when it will be particularly tiring.
- Get enough exercise, both for health and as an escape from work. Sporting clubs can also help acceptance into the community and help overcome loneliness and homesickness.
- Retain old friendships; they too can help overcome loneliness and provide reassurance that you are not the only one in that situation.
- Make new friendships; may be difficult in a new town but social, sporting and church activities may be helpful.
- Discuss problems, do not internalise them. Discussions with the boss, other practice colleagues or classmates can provide reassurance, reduce stress and encourage learning. Seek help from support groups or Vet Helpline and seek professional counselling before problems become acute.
10. Think and act as a professional person:
- Veterinary practice is a business so be aware that to have a future in practice you will need to work timely and econonomically. Don't be wasteful, especially of your time, EMS is the idea time to develop such skills.
- Dress, speak and generally comport yourself in a professional way; this will help you feel, and be accepted as, a professional person.
- Mentally rehearse professional interactions in advance, concentrating on a successful technical and interpersonal performance.
- Have confidence in yourself; this will be detected by clients, especially if warranted. This should help acceptance by clients and foster growing confidence.
- Avoid appearing tentative and uncertain (even if you feel that way) as this will also be detected by clients and their reaction may further undermine confidence
- Avoid appearing over-confident or worse, arrogant; these may result from feelings of inadequacy but they can lead to alienation, and, in turn, to decreased self-esteem.
Further on This Site
The services below are targeted specifically at recent graduates to offer support and social contact.
As well as the resources listed below, don't forget to look at the pages on this site related to Stress, Anxiety and Depression, Employment, Relationships, Vets and Debt and Addiction and Eating Disorders.
"I think there are few jobs as demanding on your spare time or as unpredictable."
Quote from BVA New Graduate Guide
Get Some Immediate Help
Vet Helpline – 07659 811 118
The Vet Helpline is there for you to speak to someone with personal experience of the veterinary profession about whatever is troubling you. Volunteers who are vets or spouses of vets provide an empathetic listening service. They can also tell you how to get more specialist help if necessary. Local call rates apply, 24hr rapid response answer phone.
The Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support Programme – 07946 634220
The Veterinary Surgeons’ Health Support Programme is availabe for you if you have (or suspect you have) problems with addiction or depression. The service is professional, supportive, and completely confidential.
Rural Stress Helpline – 0845 094 8286
The Rural Stress Helpline offers a confidential, non judgemental listening service to anyone in a rural area feeling troubled, anxious, worried, stressed or needing information. They can also provide ongoing support, if necessary, until the difficulty is resolved or other help is in place.
The Samaritans – 08457 90 90 90
The Samaritans provide confidential non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.
Write: Chris, PO Box 90 90 , Stirling, FK8 2SA
Email: jo@samaritans.org
"Make sure that you find your boss easy to talk to, and seek advice from. Don't worry - it does get gradually less stressful as time goes on! Talk to your fellow graduates - it often made me feel better to know that other people were having the same problems."
Quote from BVA New Graduate Guide
Do Some Reading
There are some excellent articles here which will reassure you that you are not alone, that there are things you can do to alleviate the stress and that things will get better.
Overcoming Loneliness in Your First Job (Veterinary Record)
Isolation in the Workplace (In-Practice Article)
Advice from Recent Graduates (from BVA)
A Guide to the Early Years in Practice – this is a really great article and should be required reading for all new graduates – and their bosses!
"Remember that you know a lot more than the owners and that you have ethical guidelines that you must follow. Don't be bullied or pressured into decisions you don't want to make or feel to be wrong. Never lose your temper with a client, stay calm and stand strong."
Quote from BVA New Graduate Guide
Join a Graduate Support Scheme
SPVS Recent Graduate Services (Members Only)
Telephone Support - 01926 410454
The Recent Graduate Support Officer (RGSO) team are experienced practitioners who are sympathetic to the needs of the young veterinary surgeon but have the knowledge to advise them on all sorts of issues to do with, for example, employment contracts, and professional matters or just to give support at difficult times.
The RGSO is always available to discuss any problems that recent graduates may be having, and can be contacted on the number above or on email office@spvs.org.uk
CV Reading Service
A team of experienced employers are available to review your CV free of charge to SPVS members and completely confidentially. Email your CV to the Recent Graduate Support Officer at rgso@spvs.org.uk. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it. A report full of constructive criticism will be returned to you, generally within fourteen days. Be sure to include your name and address so they can check that you are member of the Society.
New Graduates' Pack
This booklet summarises much of the information provided at the SPVS Educational Trust Students' Seminar held in Lancaster each year. It covers such important issues as CV writing, applying for jobs and interview technique as well as practice structure and economics and sources of support.
Information Leaflets
A series of personal accounts covering everything from applying for jobs, interview skills, working abroad, the structure of the profession and much more. Available to SPVS members only, from their website or on request from the Recent Graduate Liaison Team office@spvs.org.uk – Don't forget to include your name and postal address so that they can check that you are a member.
BVA Graduate Support Scheme
BVA Graduate Support Scheme Website (Open to non-members)
This is a BVA-led scheme for recent graduates up to five years qualified, aimed at supporting them in their first years outside university and providing a forum where they can share their concerns and collectively seek solutions.
The meetings are organised and hosted by the BVA territorial divisions and run by trained veterinary facilitators. Recent graduates who have already attended the meetings have found them to be a sociable forum to discuss their different experiences of life in practice and meet other recent graduates in the local area.
The scheme is open to members and non-members alike, and the RCVS has confirmed that attendance at the meetings can go towards the annual CPD allowance.
Recent graduates who are interested in attending the meetings should contact Amelia Findon at the BVA on 020 7908 6355 or email ameliaf@bva.co.uk to find the location of their nearest meeting.
BVA Young Vet Network
BVA Young Vet Network Website (Members Only). The BVA has set up the Young Vet Network (YVN) in order to provide additional support and services to BVA members in their final year of study and up to the end of their eighth year qualified.
As well as the standard benefits of BVA membership, YVN members also receive:
- Free personal accident insurance
- 50% off selected RVC CPD courses
- 30% off Improve International's one-day UK CPD courses
- Free equine CPD at the Animal Health Trust
- A copy of the BVA new graduate guide
- Access to an online secure discussion forum for final year student and recent graduate members
- A dedicated section of the BVA website containng useful tips and advice on how to deal with the first years in professional life
- Discounts on membership rates, BVA Congress and Vetstream
- Graduate representation on the BVA Council
For more information email yvn@bva.co.uk
British Veterinary Nursing Association – 01279 408644
Provides support to recently graduated veterinary nurses who are members.
Email: bvna@bvna.co.uk
See also:-
Stress, Anxiety & Depression
Employment Issues
Isolation & Loneliness
Vets & Debt
Addiction & Eating Disorders