Nice to meet you, Doctor!
The answer to "what’s next?" after graduation is an exciting one. Whatever you choose, the resources provided here are a good place to begin your journey.
Mentoring
The transition from veterinary student to practicing veterinarian can be both exciting and stressful. It's natural to want help navigating the changes.
Connecting with a great mentor can make all the difference as you start your career. If you're a current AVMA/SAVMA member, the AVMA and MentorVet will match you with a trained mentor—free of charge.
Career Choices for Veterinarians
There are many paths that you can take in your veterinary career. Take a moment to explore all of the available career opportunities!
Get to know about veterinary career options from people who have already been there. From forensics to disaster or relief medicine, there's more than one place to use your veterinary skills.
AVMA's My Veterinary Life podcast series offers a personal glimpse into the lives of your colleagues. Tune in for inspiring stories from fellow veterinarians about the journeys, challenges – and often hilarious anecdotes – that got them to where they are today. This series is brought to you by the AVMA, in partnership with Hill's Pet Nutrition.
Check out the breadth of careers open to you as a veterinarian, and start creating a plan to achieve your goals. Whatever career path you choose, the information provided here is a place to begin your journey.
Do you want to explore federal government career options? Here's the complete guide to working for the government as a veterinarian.
Triage, herd improvement plans, chemistry lab panels—learn how everything you’ve learned in your clinical veterinary practice experience can be translated into universally applicable skills for a career transition!
Internships and Fellowships
Get hands-on experience or additional on-the-job training with an internship or fellowship.
Here’s your complete guide to veterinary internships – from finding the perfect internship for you, to learning the application process and understanding the financial implications.
Interested in spending a year in Washington helping to shape legislation as a scientific advisor? Maybe the answer is: an AVMA fellowship!
Land the Job
The “j” word. It's not jejunum, joint or jaundice. It's JOB! Here you'll find all you need to know about recruiters, job interviews, employee contracts and more.
Learn how a professional recruiter can help you find your next great job opportunity! Stacy Pursell, executive search consultant and president of The VET Recruiter, provides practical advice in this one-hour, on-demand webinar.
A recruiter can be an invaluable employment resource for job seekers.
Shine as a prospective candidate and land that all-important first interview with these tips.
Making a career change? Here are 10 helpful hints for pursuing a new job.
Congrats, you landed an interview! Get some tricks of the trade to show your potential new employer all you have to offer.
Read this brief overview to help you understand your contract for a job offer.
Expand Your Career: Market Yourself
You do great work. Let the world know it!
Check out these 20 tips for starting off your veterinary career on the right foot.
Achieve success in your veterinary career by learning how to market yourself.
Keeping your resume current is as important as fulfilling your continuing education requirements.
Communication Skills: Essentials You Can't Ignore
Learn the essentials of effective client communication in this one-hour webinar, with topics ranging from active listening to building and maintaining credibility.
The right words can make all the difference in building stronger client relationships, encouraging compliance, and improving patient outcomes. Here are words, phrases, and strategies that resonate with clients.