Any vet students/vets (also in careers)

Grey_Arab

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have decided that I would like to try and go on and do veterinary medicine as a post graduate, it is something that I've always wanted to do and since doing two weeks work experience with the local vets it's made me even more sure. I am prepared to work very hard, but don't want to tget to the end and find that the job wasn't for me after all.
However my parents are making me doubt myself as they don't think that I have the right temperament to be a vet, as I'm not the most confident person in the world (although I'm not too bad) and that I would do better to look for a career that would be more 'caring'. I think what is making them doubt is that my brother is more confident than me and shows more of an outward enthusiasm (he wants to be a vet as well and applies this autumn)
So what I was wondering was (if it's not too much of a personal question) is is what inspired you to want to be a vet and what sort of temperament that the job suits.
Cookies and thanks in advance, answer by PM if that's better
 
my son has recently qualified as a vet and if thats what you want to do go for it... there are all sorts of people that do ...
 
You do have to be confidant enough to be able to speak to people about things that sometimes they don't want to hear or news that is distressing to them and deal with sometimes some quite obnoxious or drunk people especially out of hours!
shocked.gif
Its a job that means you spend a great deal of the time dealing with the general public as much as the animals so you do need fairly good people skills but then I wouldn't say I'm particularly outgoing but as you progress through your career and you develop better people skills and learn how to cope with more challenging situations - you might find it difficult when you first qualified though because it can be quite overwhelming leaving Uni with all that info in your head but suddenly realising that you don't actually know anything!!! The hours are very long and the pay isn't that great - especially for new grads and the out of hours work can be very tiring. I don't do any out of hours work anymore as I used to find it very stressful working a full working day, being up all night and then working all the next day until my next break. If you do tend to get very stressed out in situations then I'd say its not a great choice but if you are calm and unflappable you will find your general confidance is something that improves with time.
 
I'm a doctor, which probably requires a similar level of confidence as vets. When I went to medical school I was the most quiet, shy, underconfident person around, but through experience and a bit of hard work you can improve and become effective, even in the most difficult situations. Don't let that put you off.
 
Thankies everyone, that has made me feel a whole lot better!Ann-jen, I do see where your coming from and it makes complete sense! I am prepared for the hard work that the job does involve and the hard work that it takes to get there as I think that it will all be worth it and from what I've seen be very rewarding!
Thanks
 
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