Work expe3rience yr10 - again!

[OrmirianResurgam]

Feels like I just got over this with DS1 and now we're embroiled in it again with DD. DS ended up having to come to my place of work for a week as he wasn't very proactive (understatement) and due to a variety of cock-ups he didn't end up at the place he applied to.

Anyway.... DD being a very different sort of person is out of the starting blocks already. She was told to call the place first and then when they agreed to consider her to write a letter or send an email. She emailed our vets to ask if they offered work experience - she rang beforehand and was given a name to contact. DD emailed them. No reply. I rang and was asked to apply again in September. DD emailed again .....and nothing! No-one answers the phone when I ask to be put through so I leave a voicemail. No response.

She then found 2 vets on the schools work experience website. One said 'we aren't doing it his year' and slammed the phone down on me! I guess someone ate a hamster last year The other one took my name and promised to call me back. Nothing. Nadda.

So fed up. She is trying to be keen and proactive. And is getting nohwere. I know it's early days but just a little encouragement when she is so keen

[BlackMogul]

I think the problem is that vets get SO many requests. Try and work at the local dog or cat rehoming centre. Year 10 is very early and vets may not take until A level and applying for vet school anyway. What about local RSPCA centre? Think around the area of work she is interested in. Vets are not the only people who work with animals. Do you know a farmer? I am not sure work experience in year 10 is worth anything anyway. University will not take much notice of 1 week in year 10. Vet sci will want a great deal more than this. What about a dog grooming shop? Helping a dog walker? Seeing if a local stables wants some help. I a sure she will find something else.

[OrmirianResurgam]

Thanks for your reply

They are all obliged to find work experience at the end of yr 10 for a week. The county provides a list of employers who are willing or have been willing in the past and the second two were on this list. She helps out at a stables every weekend so it's not as if she doesn't have experience. She could do anything - work on a burger van, it doesn't matter to the school - but she wants to do something relevant to her potential future career.

[OrmirianResurgam]

The nearest rehoming centres are at least 15 miles away so she's have trouble getting there for the week.

[Eustonroad]

Do you have a vet yourself? Our DD got her foot in the door that way. What about you both going along with her cv in person

[Unexpected]

I think the problem with lists supplied by the school or in this case, the County, is that EVERYONE who wants that particular career will phone those same numbers so those two vets will have had probably dozens of calls and letters. I used to work in theatre (you can imagine how popular that was as a choice!) and we got piles of letters asking about WE. We could only take one student in any week as otherwise we couldn't offer the student anything meaningful or spend any worthwhile time with them if we had several at the same time. As pretty much every student wants to choose from one of about 4 weeks after exams, the places got filled very quickly and we then spent hours responding to everyone else who applied to say no.

I would suggest that you visit every vet in your locality and ask in person.

[OrmirianResurgam]

Thanks for the suggestions

We tried our own vet first. That was the one she emailed twice and got ignored.

Visiting in person is a good idea.

[EduCated]

Agree with her going in (preferably alone) to hand deliver a letter/'CV' explaining what she wants to do, with realistic things like observing, handling animals where possible etc, to show she realises she's not going to be performing operations as well as her previous experience and career goals.

It may be that with her being so proactive they haven't replied as its slipped to the bottom of their to do list, as its still quite a way away.

[EduCated]

Also, remind her to go tidily dressed and to be polite. You'd be amazed at the people who'd come into the shop I used to work in and who would bathe in front of customers, scruffily dressed with a 'here's my CV, you got any jobs?' [faints]

[Eustonroad]

Also ask around. I found a woman I knew had worked at a local vet so she was able to give a personal introduction. Our school also has a bank of placements locally - a lot of which come from parents - would it be worth the school emailing parents with a wish list asking if anyone could offer anything?

RE the local vet - DD used to come with us and talk with the vet about the animals so he could see she was keen. He offered the place - he occasionally does but only for the very interested. Does your pet need a vaccine in the near future? Perhaps try that tack. I think he only takes year 11 and up though.

Generally most animal places only want 16 + but there are exceptions.

[Talkinpeace]

DD did work experience at our vet.
They would not deal with me. She had to make all the calls, write the letters etc. She loved it but decided not to do Vet degree.
She feels it will narrow her options too much

• 6 year course, have to work every holiday and when you qualify, having to deal with idiot owners the whole time
• or join the 60% of vets who work in and around slaughterhouses

she's aiming for Biochemistry instead

[OrmirianResurgam]

Woohoo!!! Our vets rang back and they are happy to have her.

talkingpeace - she isn't all that set on being a vet per se. One idea is equine physiotherapy. She just reckons a vet surgery is a good place to get useful general experience.

[Talkinpeace]

Ormirian
That is excellent - as then she can actually see how the system works and make her mind up with the evidence in front of her.