CVS introduces new large animal graduate programme careers day

CVS is introducing a new large animal careers day for its equine and farm graduates as well as improving existing events for its companion animal graduates.

The new combined careers event will be run for its equine ambulatory, internship and farm graduates. The day will include a variety of presentations on different career pathways and will be open to all new graduates in the second year of the programme at CVS.

CVS has also conducted research with its companion animal graduates to identify what they are most interested in, to improve the content of its small animal events. It identified that second year graduates want to find out about specialisation, certificates, residencies and internships, while the same cohort also valued more information about the range of opportunities and general practitioner progression within CVS.

All forthcoming CVS graduate programme careers days will now include short trailer style sessions on career progression as a general practice vet, coaching, leadership and the benefits of working within CVS.

There will also be information on Electives - which form part of CVS’ second year graduate programme – as well as pathology work, along with information on progressing to certificates, internships and residencies.

A panel discussion will be held where graduates can pose questions on career options and pathways to all speakers, including vets from across the CVS Group. To bolster each programme, a self-leadership workshop will also be held, along with an evening dinner where graduates will have the opportunity to network and celebrate their achievements.

Furthermore, the companion animal events will have talks on CVS’ Australia secondment and from Worldwide Veterinary Services, regarding overseas volunteering opportunities, whilst the large animal events will incorporate half a day of clinical continuing professional development.

Sarah Rutherford, head of clinical education at CVS, said: “We have conducted research with graduates to understand what new vets really appreciate as they plan their careers.

“Our organisers found a disconnect between what graduates believed they were interested in pursuing before they attended a careers day and what they said afterwards.

“As a result, our graduate programme careers days have been redesigned with an increased variety of topics - including general practice, travel and neuter clinics, and our pathologist service - as well as more opportunities to ask questions to a CVS vet panel or individually.

“We really hope that our graduates benefit from their improved content.”

CVS careers days have been moved to earlier in each graduate programme to enable it to be more influential for careers. The CVS large animal graduate programme careers day will be held on November 6 at Heathrow, whilst the companion animal events will be held on November 7 at Heathrow and January 16 in Manchester.

CVS’ new graduate programme was the first in the UK, with a two-year structured clinical training programme supporting transition into general practice in small animal, equine and farm disciplines. For further information visit www.cvsukltd.co.uk