Career change...Equine HND...worth it?

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zeema

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Hi,
I am a potential mature student thinking of changing career and have been looking at the HND courses at the Open College of Equine Studies, but really I am just wondering if anyone has any experience of these courses and how are they regarded in the employment world? I have already done BHS exams 1-3 but as I have been job searching I feel these qualifications are not sufficient (would like to go into more scientific work, nutrition, biomechanics, etc). Would love some advice really.
Thanks
 
Hi Zeema, couldn't read and run.
You say you are a mature student and want to do more scientific work, but what makes you think your experience and BHS won't be enough? or is it you've been knocked back? There is huge competition in the equine world for jobs particularly nutrition? It might be worth talking to a recruitment person to see what they think they can find you and whether it will add value??
Anyway hope you work out what you want to do?
 
I have no experience with the HND but have just finished a Biology degree at a good university. I would say if you want to go into scientific research or your other thoughts you will really need at LEAST a good degree if not a masters as well plus experience. I have thought about nutritional or research myself but I am doing a masters next year and intend to get a few years experience first as well. Could you maybe do a Bsc instead of a HND? Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear but research is a highly academic and competitive career path and you'll need every edge you can get! :)
 
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Thanks for your responses.
Iconique, both really, I have applied for a couple of jobs but not even been considered and looking at jobs advertised that I do fancy, require degree or equivalent study level quals. I appreciate the industry is very competitive but I would just love a chance to wake up happy each morning knowing that I am doing something I love. I am trying to decide what options I have and of course don't want to jump into something without doing some research first. Wish now I had paid more attention in school and studied harder!
Thanks again for the responses, good to hear other opinions.
 
Reading back I didn't mean it to sound that negative. If you want to do it then go for it :) If you're interested in nutrition have you looked at the free Equine Nutrition course that Coursera do a few times a year? Is online through the University of Edinburgh and might give you an idea if its the field you want to work in
 
Zeema, I'm not sure what you do for a living currently? Changing industries can be hard, with or without a degree or HND and to commit as a mature student to study can be hard especially if you have the additional commitment of horses or family. It is possible, but you may find particularly at this time of year, you will be in competition with students graduating from college/uni. So I would research carefully - which it looks like you are doing, before you make a leap and remember if you want it enough it is possible!
 
If you want to go into nutrition (I take that to mean working for a feed company?) or biomechanics (very specialist discipline), you will need at least a degree.

An HND is a start, but as an academic qualification does not rate very highly with potential employers.

I have an MSc in Applied Equine Science and applied for a job working for Spillers, as a high end sales rep (travelling to major competition yards). I got down to the final 5 and there were 3 of us with Masters, and the other 2 had First Class degrees from reputable equine colleges. At the end of the day, it was a sales job, spending much of the day in the car, on the motorway, by yourself.

What do you want to achieve with changing career? It normally means a fairly large drop in salary, starting again at the bottom and a huge degree of commitment

I am not trying to put you off, if you really want to work in the equine industry, then go for it - but just be clear about where you want to land before you jump!
 
Thanks guys for the good advice.
At present I am in the beauty industry (yes, completely different I know!), a salary drop wouldnt really make much difference as beauty is barely above minimum wage, plus I don't have (can't afford) kids or horses so I am viewing this a perfect time to make a career for myself. Bear9, yes I did the free nutrition course in January, really enjoyed it and definitely confirmed my interest in that field! I have also emailed a few potential job positions with enquiry to what sort of person/quals they look for, don't know if I will get a reply but worth a shot? Just trying to get a solid bit of info behind me before I take the plunge.
 
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