VT

1. Professional Career Development
Review

2. Professional Development
 Employment opportunities for technicians
 General practice
 Specialty practice
 Internal medicine, dermatology, dentistry, cardiology,
neurology, emergency, and critical care
 Emergency practice
 Research and development
 Veterinary manufacturer and distributor companies
 Teaching

3. Professional Development
 Sources for locating employment opportunities
 Websites
 Word of mouth
 School board postings and services
 National veterinary conferences
 National publications
 Veterinary Economics
 Veterinary Technician
 Vet Product News
 DVM

4. Professional Development
 Preparing employment data
 Cover letter
 Teach readers something they will not learn in resume
 Create interest
 Describe abilities
 Request an interview
 Resume
 Marketing tool tailored to specific job applicant is seeking

5. Professional Development
 Resumes
 List contact information at top
 Objective statement
 Education
 Employment history
 Keep job descriptions and duties short and to the point
 Volunteer experience
 Membership organizations
 References: separate sheet of paper

6. Professional Development
 Email and Internet resumes
 Many companies only accept resumes online
 Save resume in PDF file; allows uploading of resume as it
was created

7. Professional Development
 Preparing for interview
 Practice!
 “Where have I been in my life?”
 “Where am I now?”
 “Where am I going?”
 “How am I going to achieve my goals?”
 “What are my strengths and weaknesses?”
 “What type of salary and benefits am I willing to accept?”

8. 8
Interview Tips
 Be early
 Dress appropriately
 Make eye contact
 Smile
 Speak clearly
 Be positive
 Talk about your strengths
 Sit up straight
 Ask questions

9. Professional Development
 Learn about the business to which one is applying
 Mission statements
 Company philosophy
 Dress appropriately
 Prepare questions for interviewer

10. Professional Development
 Follow up after interview
 Follow-up letter/note/email
 Indicates interest in the position
 May set candidate apart from the rest

11. Career Choices
 Small Animal
 Companion animals
 Example: Dog or Cat
 Large Animal
 Livestock species
 Example: Equine, Bovine, Sheep and Goats
 Exotic Animal
 Examples: amphibians, birds, or reptiles
 Specialization Private Practice
 Only certain species treated
 Example: Equine only, Feline only, Reptile only
Practices

12. Career Choices
 Anesthesiology
 Additional study in anesthetizing animals for surgery
 Job: hired by vet clinics to assist with surgeries
 Surgery
 Additional training in surgical procedures
 Some specialization in species or types of surgeries
 Example: Colic surgery in horses
 Job: Hired by universities or large scale vet clinics for
specific surgeries
 Zoological Medicine
 Emphasis on “zoo” animal health
 Job: Work for Zoos

13. Career Choices
 Military
 Send veterinarians across seas to ensure the health of
military animals and low income community animals
 Food Safety
 Quality control of products
 Safety of products
 Job: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)
 Animal Importation
 Regulate animals going across state borders and into
new states
 Regulate animals leaving or coming into the country
 Job: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

14. Career Choices
 Research at a University
 Research different treatment options and methods
 Research for prevention against diseases
 Instructor at a University
 Educate young veterinary enthusiasts
 Teach classes that interest you and help students
accomplish their veterinary dreams

15. More Options
 Travel around the world and help third world
countries care for companion and livestock animals
 Help with natural disasters
 Donate time and energy to help families with sick or
injured pets during unexpected events
 Examples: Vet-I-Care Organization, ASPCA, AHA,
Rocky Mountain Conservation Center, International
Fund for Animal Welfare, Inc., The Wildcat
Sanctuary, Save A Forgotten Equine, Lost Dog and
Cat Rescue Foundation, FIXNATION INC, Oak Hill
Animal Rescue Inc. etc.

16. Expectations in the Workplace
 Depending on where you work will determine required
clothing and work habits.
 Scrubs and comfy, closed toed footwear is more common.
 The type of clinic (ex: large, exotic or small) will
determine the amount of physical work that will need to
be done.
 Be prepared to get messy and to be on your feet all
day.

17. Work Habits
 Arrive on time
 Be Responsible
 Have a good attitude
 Dress appropriately
 Respect others
 Handle criticism well
 Get along with co-workers
 Be self motivated
 Follow directions
 Be hard working

18. Communication Tips
 Be a good listener
 Don’t talk negatively about other co-workers or other
animal facilities
 Make eye contact
 Think about what you say before you say it
 Ask questions
 Give advice only when it’s asked for
 Be cheerful and attentive
 Respect others’ ideas
 Stop working when someone talks to you and give
them your full attention.