Making the decision to change career paths is never easy, and can be even more difficult if you are considering leaving a profession for which you have invested time and energy. If you are a vet tech considering a career switch, you may be feeling overwhelmed and uncertain of where to start. This blog post strives to provide a starting point for you to begin exploring the various options available. Our aim is to provide you with the resources and advice needed to help you make the best decision for your future. We will discuss the process of researching potential career paths, how to decide which career is right for you, and how to make the transition as smooth and successful as possible. With the right guidance and preparation, you can make the switch to a new career that you love and can find success in.
5 tips for advancing or changing your vet tech career
The following advice will assist you in organizing a career change or advancement:
1. Consider your occupational preferences
When considering a career change, start by considering your preferred occupations. Consider your preferred work setting and schedule. For instance, some professionals favor physically demanding work while others might prefer a more sedentary line of work. Try compiling a list of the aspects of your current position that you like and dislike as you think about your career preferences. This can help you determine the tasks you want to avoid performing in your next job and the types of work that you find most fulfilling. Finding the ideal workplace for you can be facilitated by understanding your preferences.
2. Account for your personal and lifestyle needs
Understanding your financial and personal needs is crucial in addition to knowing your preferences for the workplace. You can choose a career that can support your lifestyle by taking into consideration your needs for work-life balance, your financial goals, and your budget. You might search for a career that offers more scheduling flexibility or a more stable schedule than a career as a vet tech, depending on your lifestyle. To better meet your financial objectives, you might also try to advance into a position with a higher average salary.
3. Know your transferrable skills
Take into account your current skills and how you can use them for a different type of job if you want to pursue a career in a different industry. Vet techs have many specialized technical and clinical skills for their jobs, but they also have many valuable soft skills that are applicable to any industry. Vet techs, for instance, excel at teamwork, communication, and analytical thinking. These skills can assist you in successfully transitioning into other roles that require you to collaborate with others and make wise decisions. You might be able to transition into a new industry more easily if you emphasize these qualities while job hunting.
4. Research the requirements for your position of interest
You might need to obtain additional credentials in order to be eligible for some advanced positions or jobs in related industries. You can create a strategy to acquire those qualifications by researching positions you are interested in and learning the typical job requirements for the roles. To advance into a leadership position at a veterinary office, for instance, you might need to obtain a certification in veterinary management or administration. Depending on the requirements for the position, you might need to obtain a new degree or certificate if you’re looking to switch industries or careers.
5. Create a pros and cons list
Consider making a list of advantages and disadvantages to help you decide whether changing careers is the right move for you. Include all of the benefits of your current job and all of the drawbacks of continuing in it. This can assist you in expressing and assessing the benefits of your current job and the potential benefits of changing careers. After compiling your list, weigh the benefits and drawbacks of continuing in your current position. You might be able to evaluate your options and recognize the advantages of changing careers if you list your advantages and disadvantages in writing.
Why change your career from being a vet tech?
You might change your career as a vet tech for the following reasons:
To advance your career
Many veterinary technicians think about switching careers to pursue more prestigious positions. These jobs might involve going back to school to become a licensed veterinarian, or they might involve leadership or management positions. Increasing your salary and taking on more responsibilities as you advance in your career can help you develop your skill set and provide you with new challenges at work. Most veterinary technicians who want to advance in their careers do so within the veterinary medicine sector, but some may look for work in unrelated fields.
To meet your financial goals
To improve your work-life balance
Vet techs may decide to switch careers in search of employment with more flexible hours. In order to care for their patients, many veterinary technicians must work nights, weekends, or holidays. In the event of an emergency, they might also need to be on call, which would require them to report to work when it wasn’t scheduled. Others may prefer a different schedule so they can manage their obligations outside of the workplace, even though some professionals enjoy this kind of schedule. Some professionals may be better suited to choosing a career with standard or flexible hours, enabling them to achieve a healthy work-life balance.
To gain new skills
Changing careers may help vet techs learn new skills in other industries or improve their current skills because they typically rely on a specialized set of skills to perform their work. For instance, vet technicians frequently need to have strong clinical and technical skills for their jobs. They must be able to use medical equipment made for various animal species and assess the health of their patients. They might look for advanced or specialized positions to develop their clinical skills. These jobs might also aid them in developing their managerial and leadership skills.
To better your physical or emotional health
A vet tech’s job can be physically and emotionally taxing. Veterinary technicians work primarily on their feet, dealing with animals that may not always cooperate. Large animals may need to be handled, lifted, and positioned, or they may need to focus for extended periods of time on tasks like helping with surgeries. Additionally, working with sick or injured animals and their owners can be emotionally taxing. In order to pursue opportunities with lower emotional and physical demands and maintain their motivation and health, vet techs may change their professions.
Alternative careers for vet techs
If you want to leave your career as a veterinary technician, these are some jobs to take into account. Please click on the links below to view the most recent Indeed salaries:
Primary responsibilities: Animal trainers instruct various species of animals on how to perform a variety of tasks. Dogs are typically trained by animal trainers to learn specific skills for working or performing alongside human handlers. For instance, animal trainers might develop police dogs to assist officers in their work, service animals to aid the disabled, or herding and hunting dogs to aid people in protecting livestock and hunting game. Some animal trainers also work with pets and their owners.
Primary duties: A career as a lab assistant can be a great choice for those who enjoy working in laboratories and taking part in scientific research. Laboratory assistants support senior researchers and research associates as they conduct tests in the lab. Vet technicians can help researchers study animal physiology and behavior by caring for lab animals or by applying their knowledge of animal sciences in this way.
At a veterinary hospital or clinic, veterinary receptionists’ main responsibilities include a variety of clerical tasks. They welcome pets and their owners, gather and file paperwork, keep current patient records, and handle payment transactions. Additionally, receptionists may answer the phone and set up patient appointments. Vet techs with work experience can use their understanding of veterinary medicine to inform worried pet owners about upcoming procedures or medical conditions. Vet techs who enjoy interacting with animals and their owners on a personal level but would rather move into a less clinical role may find this to be a great option.
Primary responsibilities: Wildlife specialists study the behaviors, needs, and environments of a variety of wild animals. These professionals often work as researchers, advocates or rehabilitation specialists. Most professionals in this field specialize in one particular group of animals, such as marine mammals or local bird species. They conduct research on wildlife, educate the public about wild animals, create campaigns to support the preservation of species, and provide medical and rehabilitation services for wildlife as part of their work. Although vet techs might need additional training for this position, their clinical expertise may still be useful to them in this line of work.
Career Change – Bel-Rea Vet Tech
FAQ
What can I do after becoming a vet tech?
- Become a CVPP. …
- Become a technician specialist. …
- Volunteer with organizations, such as AVMA and AAHA. …
- Work with your state veterinary technician association. …
- Teach at a local community college. …
- Lead your hospital programs. …
- Become a community outreach leader. …
- Speak at conferences.
What is the next step after vet tech?
A great first step toward becoming a veterinarian is frequently to start out in the veterinary field as a vet tech. This is so because programs in veterinary technology typically lead to either an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree.
Why vet techs leave the field?
There are many reasons veterinary technicians leave their practices. Low pay, compassion fatigue, and burnout brought on by hectic schedules and understaffed practices are some of the most prevalent. Lack of appreciation for a job well done is another significant factor that could cause members of your team to look for employment elsewhere.
What is the least a vet tech can make?
- 10th Percentile: $28,370.
- 25th Percentile: $29,810.
- 75th Percentile: $45,750.
- 90th Percentile: $48,100.
- Projected job growth: 14.9%
