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Two years as a vet student

In November, Glasgow descended on Liverpool as zombies for an alcohol-fuelled weekend of “sport”.

Having endured the wait for results, I can officially say I’ve passed my second year at vet school, and reflect on another crazy twelve months of life as a Glasgow vet student.

A vet is a unique type of student – despite having a crammed uni timetable we all manage to fill our “spare” time with a mountain of other activities. Not only that, but the close-knit circle of vet students at each individual school and the wider community across the schools in the UK and Ireland is something that is particularly characteristic to vet students.

In November, Glasgow descended on Liverpool as zombies for an alcohol-fuelled weekend of “sport”. Shortly after, however, the Glasgow vet sports teams focused their attention on the far more serious matter of “Dick Day”, the sports day against Edinburgh.

January brought my first experience of Association of Veterinary Students’ Congress, which was a great weekend of helpful practicals and talks. Here, the AVS elections opened, in which I was running for the editor position of JAVS (the vet student magazine).

Jordan gets her hands dirty during IVSA SpringBreak.

In March, I jumped on a plane to Germany to undertake foaling EMS at a thoroughbred stud yard, which was incredible and well worth the travel. Along with having an enthusiastic vet and yard manager (who were both keen for me to learn) I was also given the opportunity to return in the summer for yearling preparation.

After a year of meetings, emails and phone calls, the group of friends that had formed the Rodeo Committee finally pulled off a fantastic charity event for the public, despite battling the typical Scottish weather. It was a marathon effort for everyone involved, but worth it to see families having fun on the day, and succeeding in raising £16,000 for our chosen animal charities.

During the Rodeo aftermath, our exams hit, and the entire vet school population turned into library hermits. But after two weeks of red bull, little sleep and aching writing hands, we were free.

Shortly after, I ventured abroad once again, this time to Naples, Italy, as part of an IVSA (International Veterinary Student Association) trip. In addition to the interesting and unusual practicals and lectures, I met a variety of vet students from various countries and learned far more about veterinary in different cultures.

Having competed with the university riding team all year, I then found myself at the BUCS (British University and College Sport) Riding Championships with my teammates.

After three days of dressage and style jumping, our team was placed second in our league – a fantastic result for our club!

It’s been a busy year, and although exam results may suggest it’s now over, my summer has other ideas.

June 30, 2014
5 things NOT to do in an interview

Image ©iStockphoto.com/PashaIgnatov

The interview is your opportunity to show an employer you’re the right person for the job you applied for, so you need to make a good impression.

With that in mind, here are five mistakes you should definitely try to avoid making during that first meeting.

1. Over prepare or under prepare

It’s clearly essential to make sure that you do your homework before an interview – reading up on the company is important, as is making certain you are very clear in your mind about the job, what it entails, what the company is looking for and how you fit their needs.

It’s also vital you reread your own CV and application letter beforehand to make sure you aren’t caught out on anything you’ve forgotten to mention.

But just as it’s vital to prepare, it’s also important not to over prepare. Rehearsing answers to possible questions can sometimes mean you end up sounding fake, as though you’re reading from a script. It can also lead to you looking for ways to shoehorn in your rehearsed answers rather than responding to questions more directly.

2. Be a passive interviewee

Many people make the mistake of thinking that being interviewed is all about being asked questions. It’s not. An interview is very much about both sides finding out more about each other, and so it’s perfectly acceptable to ask your potential employer questions.

Often you’ll be given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the interview, so make sure you take the opportunity to ask a few relevant ones. If you do your homework you can use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the company and of the job, as well as finding out important things that could make a difference to you.

3. Be critical

It’s a mistake made too often – criticising your current or former employer and using this as an opportunity to demonstrate how much better your ideas are, how observant you are and how forward thinking you are. What it will actually do is make the potential employer nervous, seeing you as an awkward, critical outsider rather than someone who can work positively as part of a team.

4. Be personal, relaxed and chatty

It’s okay to be nervous at an interview. Nerves keep you on your toes, constantly judging how you’re doing. Being too relaxed can lead to you becoming too familiar or personal. Keep your private life out of the interview and be professional at all times.

5. Keep your phone handy in case you get another offer

It’s staggering how often we’ve heard of candidates glancing at their phone during an interview. We’ve also heard of several cases of people texting during an interview, and even answering the phone if it rings. Make sure that, well before you enter the interview room, your phone is switched off and out of sight.

June 16, 2014
IVSA SpringBreak in Naples

Jordan “attempts” pregnancy diagnosis in buffalo

A friend who had attended an International Veterinary Students’ Association trip told me I should definitely attend any of its future events if I had the opportunity. Hence, when an email arrived about the IVSA SpringBreak in Naples, I applied immediately.

In all honesty, by the time I received an email confirming I had a place, I’d forgotten about applying entirely and began to reconsider.

Luckily my “what’s the worst that can happen” and “I have an overdraft if it gets costly” attitude got the better of me, and shortly after my professional exams finished in May, I found myself on a plane to Naples at some ungodly hour of the morning.

After the total of 24 vet students from all over the world (Poland, Taiwan, Israel, Nigeria, Algeria, Grenada, USA, Greece, Ireland and Scotland) had arrived, our Italian hosts held a welcome party in our honour at their university’s veterinary faculty. Despite Naples living up to its dodgy reputation within hours (one of our group got mugged after the party), we were soon thrown headlong into a packed week of vet activities and sightseeing and began to enjoy ourselves.

Over the course of the week, we had a few activities relating to the buffalo that are milked in Italy to produce mozzarella. In addition to sampling fresh mozzarella, we were shown around a buffalo farm and dairy parlour, were able to (attempt to) pregnancy diagnose some buffalo ourselves, dissected pregnant uteri and performed a postmortem on calves.

Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop – Wikipedia

The racecourse at which we had equine activities held some flat races on turf, but its main use was for harness racing of Standardbred trotters – not a common occurrence at home, but very popular in Italy. We took part in lameness assessment of Standardbreds, were shown the procedure for pre-race documentation checking and doping testing, and watched an endoscopy of a horse with suspected laryngeal problems. We did also, of course, get to watch a few harness races, which were quite the novelty.

An important aspect of the veterinary course in Naples involves the role of the vet at the fish market. For us, this meant waking up at 3am (thankfully supported by beautiful Italian espresso) in order to witness the process from fish arriving from the boats to being sent off to other markets, and the ways in which the vet ensures quality and maintains health and safety standards throughout.

Among all the exciting vet stuff, we managed to squeeze in a little sightseeing, including the breathtaking Cemetery of Fontanelle and the Pompeii ruins, after navigating (and getting in a complete mess with) the Italian public transport system.

After an impressive send off in the form of another party in the veterinary faculty, it was quite sad to say goodbye to some of the friends we’d made in a short space of time and, of course, to our fantastic Italian hosts – however, having being at least two hours late for most activities all week (after all, the Italian way is to not rush), I was relieved to be safely seated on my plane home.

IVSA SpringBreak in Naples: 24 international veterinary students and their Italian hosts

Aside from the experience I gained from the structured activities, I learned even more from the different types of people I encountered and their tales of how veterinary differs in their respective countries, which I think can be even more important than the specific veterinary knowledge acquired.

Sharing experiences with people from different backgrounds and cultures can be truly eye opening, and never ceases to amaze me.

June 16, 2014
The key to your new career
vetsonlinejobs – the key to your new career
Image © iStockphoto.com/scyther

Regular vetsonline users (or at least those with an interest in changing their career path) may have noticed a change to the site in the past couple of months – specifically our recruitment section.

What was initially a fairly basic affair with a handful of job listings has been transformed into an all-singing, all-dancing recruitment platform that is set to revolutionise the veterinary recruitment process for both employers and job seekers.

For those looking to hire new staff, vetsonlinejobs makes it simpler, easier, faster and cheaper to find the right person for the role. For job seekers, the site – which can be found at www.vetsonlinejobs.com – offers the ability to upload your CV and search the very latest job ads from around the country.

More than that, however, we’ve tried to make sure vetsonlinejobs is a site that suits ALL the needs of the employment seeker. As such, we also offer a growing selection of articles to help you win the job of your dreams – from basic CV writing tips through to advice on what to wear to your interview (not a clown outfit, apparently – but then, you probably already realised that!).

Some of our latest articles include:
- Interview nerves? How to calm yourself before an interview – If sweating and nerves can cause a politician to lose a presidential election, then they can surely hurt your job interview. Simple techniques to control your nervousness in interviews are available.
- Creating an alluring covering letter – The main aim of a covering letter is to encourage recruiters to read your CV. However, it needs to do a lot more than say, “here is my CV!”. In short, it is the biggest chance you have to sell yourself.
- Jobseekers: be prepared for the tough questions – Interview jitters can make it difficult to come up with great responses on the spot, so try to anticipate the questions your interviewers will ask you and have the perfect answers ready in advance.
- Creative approaches to bagging that perfect job – The weird and wonderful methods potential employees have used in an attempt to help them get noticed… but not always for the best!
More articles are being added on a weekly basis, so be sure to visit vetsonlinejobs regularly. Alternatively, get them posted straight to your social media streams by following @vetsonlinejobs on Twitter, or “liking” www.facebook.com/vetsonlinejobs, which both also feature the latest job listings.
June 13, 2014
Creative approaches to bagging that perfect job

Image ©iStockphoto.com/hjalmeida

Though unemployment figures are falling, any jobseekers out there will know that bagging that perfect position can still be tough and competition for the best jobs remains fierce.

In recent years, many potential employees have turned to weird and wonderful methods to help them get noticed – some of which have proved to be incredibly successful and others… well, let’s just say they haven’t yet found the right outlet for their unique talents.

To avoid making any attention grabbing mistakes of your own, why not learn from the successes and failures of other job candidates with a quick look at the dos and don’ts of creative interview techniques.

Do be thoughtful

The candidate that presented their potential employer with a CV printed on a chocolate bar not only bagged themselves a job, they also provided a tasty treat for the tired and hungry interviewer.

Don’t be over familiar

Bringing a treat or two along to an interview can be great, but the candidate who purchased gifts from their potential employer’s online wish list came across as a little creepy.

Do put yourself out there

One jobseeker found a new position by wearing a homemade billboard outside their soon-to-be employer’s office. The company was so impressed with their initiative they promptly gave them a job.

Don’t put yourself too far out there

This is a tricky one to get right. Just the right amount of self-confidence can bag you a job whereas too much can quickly put a potential employer off. Just ask the candidate who backflipped into the interview room or the candidate who turned up dressed as a clown. Unfortunately, the interviewers failed to appreciate their talents and the job search goes on.

Do showcase your skills

One jobseeker spotted the perfect way to get noticed when a piece of office equipment broke during the interview. By showing initiative and skill in fixing the appliance, the candidate proved they’d be a great addition to the workspace.

Don’t try to show off irrelevant skills

As one candidate found out to their detriment, performing a tarot reading in an interview is neither appropriate nor relevant and is unlikely to bag you the job unless you’re interviewing for the circus.

June 12, 2014
Jobseekers: be prepared for the tough questions

Image ©iStockphoto.com/VCTStyle

Landing the perfect job is harder than ever in the current climate, and while getting through to the interview stage is a great sign, it’s still not time to relax.

We all know that interview jitters can make it difficult to come up with great responses on the spot, so make sure you know what’s coming. The best way to prepare yourself for a difficult interview is to anticipate the questions your interviewers will ask you and have the perfect answers ready in advance.

Here are a few typical questions and advice on how best to answer them:

Q. Why do you want to work here?

Make sure you do a little background research about the company you’re applying to so that you can show you know what you’re getting yourself into. You need to demonstrate not only that you’ll fit in, but also that you understand its core values.

Q. How does your experience prepare you for this position?

You’ll need to rack your brains to think of all the ways you’ve demonstrated the skills your interviewers will want to see from you in previous jobs. You need to show that you’re capable of performing the duties that will be required of you, and the best way to do this is by showing that you’ve done them before. Make sure you use the best examples you have in every case.

Q. What obstacles have you overcome in your previous roles?

Many interviewers will want you to provide examples of obstacles and dilemmas you have faced in the past and to explain how you have overcome them. Everyone stumbles every once in a while; there’s no point pretending that you’re perfect. What your interviewers want to see is that you can recognise problems when they arise, take steps to solve them, and learn from any mistakes you do make.

Q. Why did you leave your last position?

Whether you’ve already left your old place of work or you’re simply looking to move on, your new potential employers will want to know why. Most employers will be looking for candidates who are prepared to stay with the company for at least a little while, and of course if you’ve been fired or let go, it’s important to be honest about it. Don’t hide the truth, but be proactive about assuring your interviewers that you can be with them for the long haul.

Of course, there are many more questions that your interviewers may ask of you; the best thing you can do is make sure you know your CV inside and out, and be clued up on the position you’re applying for.

June 9, 2014
How to ace that job interview

Image ©iStockphoto.com/LuminaStock

There are many areas of an interview situation which can lead to candidate nervousness. Prominent amongst them is the knowledge that you are likely to be asked questions by the person (or group) conducting the interview.

These can be seen as a Paxmanesque interrogation where everything said is doubted and each view is challenged – but it shouldn’t be like that, and for your part doesn’t need to be. Four simple tips to help…

Avoid leaving questions that shouldn’t need to be asked

This means ensuring that your application form, or letter, plus any CV, is completed accurately and with all necessary information clearly provided. Even when you have achieved this, be aware that some interviewers still feel the need to check that what is written is correct. This usually reflects their nervousness, or lack of experience or skill in interview situations. Provide brief responses if asked; don’t add crossly: “As I said in my application if you’d bothered to read it…”

Treat a question as an opportunity to make a positive impression

Imagine, for a moment, you are sitting your driving test. Many people see it is a chance to fail, while others think it’s an opportunity to show that they can drive safely. It’s the same with interview questions. It’s easy to imagine the interviewer is doubting your skill, knowledge or experience, but you should see it instead as a chance, pleasantly and concisely, to show what you do know and can do.

Question any questions you are unsure of

Should a question appear unclear, a poor impression is made (even if it’s not really your fault) if you then answer what you think was asked, only to discover that the intention was completely different. Ask for clarification, but without using a form of words that suggests the person asking it has made an error.

Simply try: “To make sure I completely understand what you need to know…” then ask your question. This also makes you more part of a conversation, rather than an interrogation.

Have some questions to ask

Some people only ask about salary, holidays, benefits and the like – and this doesn’t make a great impression. In fact, the interviewer should cover this, so only ask these towards the end if they haven’t.

Instead, look for questions that show you have carried out some research about your potential employer and job. These should also be forward-looking, in terms of how your career might develop, training to be offered, as well as about the job itself.

Four simple ways to help you prepare for, and conduct yourself during, your interview. Not only does this help you make a fine impression, you may also help your (nervous) interviewer through the process – and get them on your side!

June 4, 2014
Five tips for your job search

Image ©iStockphoto.com/scyther5

Searching for a new job can seem like a daunting task, but there are some smart ways you can improve your hunt and bag that dream career move. Here are five top tips to help turn your job hunt into a smashing success:

Keep your ear to the ground

Not all employers will advertise their jobs publicly, looking to fill these vacancies by other means, such as word of mouth, recruiting internally, or headhunting. Being pro-active and sending out letters on-spec, or networking (more about that below) can provide unexpected opportunities.

Be visible to potential employers

There are plenty of websites these days that allow you to post your CV online. Think of it as an opportunity to put your details out to thousands of potential employers, giving them the opportunity to come to you.

Target the right companies

Do your research, and find the right companies for you. Think about whether you’d like to work for a small or large organisation, and spend time applying for the roles you want the most. Of course, not everyone can be too picky, but it doesn’t hurt to know the history of a company and why you’d like to work there – it shows initiative that will put you ahead of the game at interview stage.

Network, network, network!

Networking is essential for meeting people who might be able to help you with career prospects. You can do this in a variety of ways, from going to networking events to just signing up on LinkedIn and adding people to your online pool of acquaintances. Just remember to keep your eyes and ears open, and you might stumble across information that could help you obtain your new job.

Stay positive

Rejections can be very disheartening, but it’s important not to let this get you down. Persistence is key, and is one of the main attributes of any successful person, regardless of what they do for a living. Stay in the game, get back on that horse, dust yourself off and keep going!

And lastly, we wish you the best of luck with your job search.

May 30, 2014
Could I have a pet at university?

Missing her cats, Jordan ponders the feasibility of owning a pet while at university.

I’ve always had cats at home, and they often played the role of revision buddy/lap warmer. That was one of the things I missed most when I first went to university.

Pets aren’t allowed in student halls, but now that I live in a flat with other vet students, pet ownership becomes a possibility (landlord permitting).

As a student, I meticulously budget in order to ensure I eat well, am able to enjoy myself and get some travelling in without blowing all of my cash the first week that student loan comes in. But even with this amount of planning, could I find some spare to pay to feed a cat as well as myself? Probably. Could I find the money if something went wrong, if said cat needed lifetime insulin or thyroxine treatment or broke a limb in a road traffic accident? Probably not.

Pet insurance would extinguish the worry surrounding the “what ifs”, and I do know other students with pets that are insured. Even then, premiums that cover long-term conditions come at a fair price, and I wouldn’t want to find myself in a financial position forcing me to cancel insurance and risk my pet requiring costly treatment.

Money is not the only commitment that you make to a pet though. The other major consideration is time – although this is more of a concern with dogs, which require a greater time commitment than cats.

I often feel that owning a dog would be excellent stress relief, but as idillic as dog walking seems, could I commit several hours a day, every day, including around exam time?

Even if I could commit the time while I’m around, I know that I don’t stay permanently in one place. For the majority of the time I’m in Glasgow, but during the holidays I’m at home (Leicestershire), on EMS or travelling. Who would look after the pet then? Since I live with vets, they have similarly busy lifestyles and it would be unfair to expect them to pet-sit while I’m away.

And what would happen when I graduate? I don’t know where I’ll be living, where my first job might take me, or whether it will be feasible to take a pet along for the ride.

An alternative to pet owning is fostering. The Glasgow branch of Cats Protection has recently advertised their fostering service to vet students at Glasgow. The fostering scheme encourages taking on a cat, with bedding, litter and food provided. They will provide all veterinary care and will even take back the cats if you go on holiday.

I think fostering is a great way of caring for cats without a lot of the concerns outlined above, and perhaps the only option I’d consider while at university with regards to pets. As much as I’d love to own a pet in Glasgow, I think it would be unfair on the animal if I could not offer the money and time to give it a great quality if life.

It’s unfortunate that many people do not undertake greater consideration when deciding to own a pet. Perhaps many of the day-to-day ethical issues faced in practice could be avoided if they did.

May 30, 2014
Interview nerves? How to calm yourself before an interview

Image ©iStockphoto.com/PeskyMonkey

Of course you’ll be nervous – it’s an interview! Accepting that you will be nervous allows you to work on some strategies to help before and during the interview.

The Pen is Mightier… I find that many people are helped by the act of writing. I suspect that it’s the act of writing as well as what you write. What to write? If you are nervous about forgetting something, write down a list of what you need. If you are nervous about certain interview questions, then write out your answers. You won’t deliver them exactly as you write, but you will remember most of what you write. If you are nervous about certain behaviors (talking too fast, giggling, not smiling), then in the corner of a piece of paper write a coded symbol that reminds you to smile, listen, etc.. If you are waiting outside of the interviewer’s office, write a thank-you to the interviewer in advance. Writing that thank-you allow you to focus on the successful outcome of the interview. You will drop off the thank-you as you leave the interview and appear well-organised.

Help someone else. If you need to practice for an interview, find someone else who needs to practice. Use your new partner to practice with and seek opportunities to offer advice. When you realise that your problems are similar and normal, you will relax. Although you may face similar challenges and concerns, you will find it much easier to solve their problems than yours. Along the way you’ll get insights into your own challenges.

Be your own third party. Even if you don’t have a buddy to work with, consider pretending that you do. Take a look at your situation and ask: “If I were someone else what would I do?” This technique is particularly powerful if you identify someone you feel handles these situations well. If you know that “Bob” is always good at discussing his career, then imagine how “Bob” might handle a tough interview question.

Find your “peaceful place”. Before an interview consider the place you’ve always felt safe and relaxed and happy. Practice seeing yourself in this place. When you get nervous picture yourself again in this place.

Concentrate on a detail around you. Nervous people relax when their attention is diverted, so this is a good waiting room strategy. That’s partly why doctors’ offices have magazines. But you can find an interesting painting to look at, or window to study the clouds outside. Focus on details and try to memorise what you see.

Ask questions. During an interview if you ask questions the interview will become more comfortable for both you and the interviewer. Have a few questions prepared for the interviewer, “How long have you worked here?” Making an interview into a conversation allows you to feel the normal comfortable rhythm of conversation.

Nervousness is normal. Accept that your nerves might help you stay energised. Then, use simple strategies to manage the stress level.

I’d love to hear from you! For many more ideas about getting and keeping a job that you love, check out my book: Make Me an Offer I Can’t Refuse is available at Amazon.

Article Source: Interview Nerves? How to Calm Yourself Before an Interview

May 23, 2014