Even better than a person who has either experience or formal education is one who has both. That’s a combination that is hard to beat.
EDUCATION RESOURCES
Blue Ridge Community College, Veterinary Technology, http://community.brcc.edu/vettech
Bucknell University, Animal Behavior Program, www.bucknell.edu/AnimalBehavior.xml
Canisius College, Animal Behavior, www.canisius.edu/biopsych/anbehav
Purdue University, Center for the Human-Animal Bond, www.vet.purdue.edu/chab/edu.htm
Tufts University, Center for Animals and Public Policy, www.tufts.edu/vet/capp
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Integrative Biology, http://sib.illinois.edu
University of New Hampshire, Thompson School of Applied Science, [email protected]
Getting the Job
You’ve decided where your heart lies in the world of working with and for dogs. You’ve achieved the necessary education, and you’re ready to go to work. Now you just need to find the perfect job for you. Bear in mind that in any job search, the two most important things you can do are individualize your communications, so you stand out from the pack, and build relationships with everyone you meet.
Your Job Search
Looking for a job has come a long way from running your finger down a newspaper column of classified ads, hoping that the right job will be there, waiting for you. Students have resources, such as internships and career placement offices; most major companies post job openings on their Web sites; professional associations and alumni groups are often sources of career opportunities; and of course, there’s the Internet, with job-hunting sites such as Monster and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. There are animal-specific job-hunting Web sites as well, such as AnimalJobHunter.com.
However you go about applying for jobs, do so in a way that sets you apart. Do not take that to mean that you should print your résumé on goldenrod paper or write follow-up letters on stationery with hippos dancing across the top. Those are the quickest ways to have your résumé or cover letter thrown in the trash. You also want to avoid sending the same generic cover letter to every potential employer. Instead, tailor your introductory note to the specific job for which you’re applying.
You can use the Internet to find information on companies and organizations in your field of interest and check out their job postings.
Let everyone who might help in your search know you’re job hunting. You never know when someone will be able to give you a lead to that perfect position. In times of high unemployment, companies are overwhelmed with applicants. Instead of searching through hundreds or thousands of résumés, employers are more likely to rely on word of mouth and referrals. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t get referred to you. Use every resource available to make that happen.
Placement Offices, Job Fairs, and Associations
If you are in college or a trade school, start your job search in your school’s career placement office. The counselors maintain job listings and can advise you on preparing a résumé and writing cover letters. Your school may also host job or career fairs that give students the opportunity to meet with many potential employers in one place. Graduates who are changing careers can contact their colleges’ alumni associations for job leads.
Joining or contacting a professional association, such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, is another good way to find job opportunities in your field. Professional associations often have job listings on their Web sites that are accessible only to members. In fields such as advertising, marketing, or public relations, you are more likely to find a dog- or pet-related job through personal contacts than a professional association.
Networking
It’s essential to develop networking skills and overcome the fear of approaching people you don’t know well. Networking doesn’t mean being pushy. It’s a means of keeping in touch with people, sharing information, and simply reaching out. Networking is communicating with everyone you meet in your day-to-day life, from your dog’s groomer to the people in your dog’s play group to the other parents in your child’s carpool. The people you know can introduce you to people they know or provide you with helpful information or leads, and you can do the same for them.
Informally, tell everyone you talk to that you’re looking for a job and what kind of job you want. Once you have a few leads, begin by researching the companies of the people you’ll be talking to. Check out their Web sites to learn as much as you can. Look at the job postings; there may be a specific position you will want to apply to. You need to sound like you’ve done your research before you call anyone, even someone you know.
Then start working the phone. Before you make that first call, though, write down key points you want to cover. Don’t make it a word-for-word script; you’ll end up sounding artificial. These notes keep the conversation relevant and concise. You don’t want to waste anyone’s time or have to make a second call because you left out an important detail.
Using Social Media
If you don’t have any social media experience, get it! Many communications jobs require it these days, and most companies have a Twitter or Facebook account. There’s a good chance that any job you get will involve managing or contributing to your company’s presence on social media Web sites.
Sign up for Twitter and tweet at least once a day. Remember that unless you are some kind of guru in your field, you have to follow people to get followers. Volunteer to create a Facebook page for your local dog club or other organization, and create a LinkedIn page for yourself. Update them both regularly.
KEEP CURRENT
Keep up with news and trends in the pet industry, as this information can often provide leads to potential job opportunities. For instance, if you see that a company in which you’re interested has been in the news for successfully launching a new product, send off a congratulatory note or e-mail to the hiring manager or to