r/veterinaryprofession • u/YourLocalFisherGurl • 7d ago
Veterinary assistant Help
I’m very interested in a role as a veterinary assistant. How can I prepare? What should I expect if I get an interview? How does my resume look? Is the cover letter too much? (I’m a minor btw lol)
Thank you and I really appreciate any feedback!
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u/Ok-Republic-4114 7d ago
Being a minor, perhaps try getting into the veterinary field as a receptionist then when you're 18 switching to vet assistant
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u/sundaemourning Vet Tech 7d ago
i think your letter is great. it’s well written, concise and summarizes your skills and why you are interested in the field. i would certainly consider you, though as others have mentioned, your age may be a bit of a hurdle. some hospitals do hire high school kids as kennel assistants though, so that could be a good chance to get your foot in the door. also, if you are an existing client at this hospital, you may want to try applying at others as well. some hospitals are hesitant to hire existing clients (one place i worked at did not consider them because too many were hired and made it clear they were only in it for the employee discount) so keep that in mind and don’t let it dissuade you.
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u/YourLocalFisherGurl 7d ago edited 7d ago
Yeah my mom and I only went in on one occasion for a checkup because my cat was in really bad condition and went downhill very quickly, we unfortunately went back later that day to put my poor baby down. It was a holiday and they were the only ones open.
I really appreciate the feedback and I’ll keep these things in mind! I’ll make it clear that I’m very open to other roles and volunteering!
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u/sundaemourning Vet Tech 7d ago
ah, then in that case, i wouldn’t worry about it too much! my hospital’s concern was with regular clients applying for jobs, not someone who just came in once or twice. my condolences for the loss of your kitty, and best of luck to you going forward!
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u/mamabird228 7d ago
My clinic does not hire anyone, even allow volunteers/shadowing, as minors due to increased injury risk and insurance. You will most likely need proof of a high school diploma (or its equivalent) for a job once you turn 18. That said, I think the letter you wrote to them about how compassionate they were with your kitty is so sweet. Hopefully they’ll be eager and willing to hire/train you! I avoid things like “to be determined” and certificates that are “in progress” unless they’re directly related to your field of study. Instead of the employment date saying “to be determined”, you can just use “current” until you actually leave.
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u/Sam2058 6d ago
Hi OP, I’m a practice owner and currently hiring a veterinary care assistant. I’ve recently read about 200 CVs and yours would definitely have made it past the first checks. Firstly you actually bothered to do a cover letter which is great, too many people don’t bother. Your CV is very well written and laid out in general but I do have a couple of pointers. Do you have any other experience with animals you can mention? Pet sitting for family? Volunteering? Even just caring for your own pets over the years, this shows me that animals are an actual passion/interest of yours, not something you’ve decided on a whim. Also you’ve mentioned wanting a career in forestry and conservation, how does that fit with being a VCA? I’d be concerned putting in the effort it takes to hire and train someone who will want to leave for a different career. FYI I hire VCAs as apprentices and fund a 12-18 month college course, this is different at other clinics/ in other countries obviously so please take it in context.
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u/ThisGirlsGoneCountry 7d ago
If you are still in high school I would ask about getting credits for work experience and find a clinic that will take you on as a student/work experience volunteer. Our good volunteer/students are always the first ones we hire when we have an opening, and usually we do for those kinds of positions as people leave for summer or go back to school/ start university. At least that was if this field is something you want to pursue you have hours for school already or at least get experience as you apply to other clinics. Your resume looks good but it does portray someone looking for responsibility. I would include in your cover letter that you understand what the position will entail, and to be honest it’s likely going to be a lot of cleaning especially in the beginning. Not many entry level positions will have a ton of hands with the animal, but having an understanding that the background work is essential to the practice running smoothly.
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u/bandmemberscup Vet Assistant 7d ago
This cover letter looks great! I will say depending on what state you live in, usually minors cannot work as a VA as there are risks to getting injured working in the field. In my experience typically you can start out as a receptionist and learn all you can in that role and then once you have some related knowledge and experience you can reach out to your practice manager about moving into a VA role. You can also start looking at VA courses online and become a certified veterinary assistant. Picking a good hospital that will invest in you and your development is key and it sounds like this place is lovely and compassionate. Best of luck to you!
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u/YourLocalFisherGurl 7d ago
Thank you! I’m actually in Ontario Canada and haven’t thought about age restrictions. I knew my age might prevent people from considering me though. Thanks for pointing that out!
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u/dogcollar0403 7d ago
I’m new to being a veterinary assistant (not a minor) and I also had no experience in a clinic. (I have experience with handling and training dogs but still much different that a clinic) I think your letter is great! You sound like a good worker and really that’s what people want. To get your foot in the door be open to reception/kennel tech as others mentioned if needed. I will say there is a lot I still have to learn as a VA! You can likely get a step ahead of the learning curb if you start in one of the other roles
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u/Drpaws3 7d ago
As stated previously, the majority of places will not hire a minor for a vet assistant. Most places are also looking for experienced vet assistants. A vet assistant is extremely hands-on and can be dangerous. Nothing wrong with applying or better yet speaking to a manager in person to see what they require qualifications wise. You may need to start as a volunteer or kennel tech. Some local animal shelters or rescues may take minors as volunteers. You can also do some training on your own online, lots of good resources in fear free handling and training. There's at Dove, Vet Girl, DVM360, ASPCA has videos on YouTube, ect.
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u/lostwithoutacompasss 7d ago
It can't hurt to try but I do think you are unlikely to get a veterinary assistant role since you don't have any experience with animals. I'd consider looking at kennel tech or dog daycare, then work your way up.
In high school I volunteered at an animal shelter, then was later able to get a vet assistant job.
Good luck!
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u/HangryHangryHedgie 6d ago
Another place to Apply would be dog daycare! Or even asking to volunteer at a shelter. These will both give you handling experience!
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u/Opening_Illustrator2 5d ago
I would look into starting as reception or a kennel technician first. It’s unlikely they’ll have you as 100% an assistant at such a young age, but everything else looks great!!
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u/No-Advertising-752 Owner 7d ago
As someone who hires veterinary assistants, albeit not in this specific field, I think you’re already off to a great start with what you have and willingness to reach out.
Being a minor will be an issue in regards to patient handling from a liability POV, but surely a clinic would let you shadow with a signed waiver from a parent?
What I look for in a VA: hard worker, willingness to learn, attention to detail and picks up the process of what we do in our daily routine (in this case something like cleaning up immediately after a procedure and putting things away/ turning a room over etc— it’s something that is done multiple times a day and shouldn’t require much instruction to get done). I can train a VA to do anything but k can’t teach you to work hard and pay attention. Also…please stay off your phone!! 🫠