I Got Hired: Veterinary Surgeon at Vets4Pets

Posted on: 10 November 2023 by Richard Finch in Graduate stories

Andre Brenn is a Class of 2022 Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) graduate, now working as a Veterinary Surgeon at Vets4Pets.

I heard about a practice needing some help on Facebook. I messaged them when I was in the first year of my degree, offering to volunteer some weekends.

After some weeks, the head vet at the practice offered me a paid weekend reception role which I gladly accepted. I continued working at the practice, both as a receptionist and later as a veterinary care assistant. I was able to build a solid relationship with the team over the 4 years of working there and was subsequently offered a job upon graduation to remain with the same team but in a new capacity as a Veterinary Surgeon.

Being able to continuing working with the team I had got to know so well allowed me to really ‘hit the ground running’, having gained so much valuable experience and confidence prior to graduation.

The most difficult element of my role is that mixing finances and emotional decisions can be hard, and has to be approached in the correct way to help people make the right decisions for them and their pets.

My advice to curent vet students:

1. Make the most of your EMS placements, they could be future employers and the more you get stuck in and help out, the more they will likely let you do.
2. Volunteering/working at a practice in a non-clinical capacity set me up with all the tools for the graduate challenges that aren't covered at vet school, such as the minefield of computer systems, pet insurance, and all the day-to-day admin of a practice.
3. Don’t forget to take time to yourself. Burnout is all far too common in the profession, and it’s okay to not have done certain skills or procedures your friends have. Everybody will get to the end goal at their own pace.