The traditional career path for veterinary graduates is, of course, working in a veterinary clinic. However, this may not be the ideal career for everyone so we take a look at some of the options for those who don’t want to work in a veterinary clinic, but still want to work with animals/in the veterinary industry.
Pharmaceuticals
For those who love veterinary medicine but want to be more on the development and ideas side of things, rather than in practice as a surgeon, work in veterinary pharmaceuticals could be a good option. You will be at the forefront of developing new medicines and working on innovative news ideas for the sector.
Teaching and academia
Some qualified vets might find that their passion for the subject is actually best suited away from direct animal care and in a role that requires a dedication to research, learning and teaching the next generation of vets! You can really specialise in an area that you feel passionate about, while also passing on the knowledge you have acquired over the years.
Large animal vets
While small animal vets tend to work in a clinic, large animal vets will often work on farms as they need to provide care directly to livestock. This is a different type of job, which tends to require more travelling and potentially less stable working hours, but it can be very well suited to those with a passion for this kind of veterinary work and who like a bit more variety!
Government vets
If you have an interest in national policy and would like to work in the public sector, there are sometimes vacancies available as a government vet. This type of role can be found in a number of government departments and agencies, including the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Government vets work for the general public in areas such as disease control, animal health and welfare, and supporting the food industry.
Animal welfare and charity work
The charity sector is a great place for qualified vets if they want to move away from clinical practice. If you have a passion for animal welfare, you can fulfil this through working at a charity in a non-clinical position that involves communicating with the public and working on strategic planning for fundraising. The skills you have as a vet can easily be transferred to such a position.
Conservation
Those working in conservation medicine have committed to highly specialised areas and are passionate about helping endangered species, as well as helping wildlife thrive more generally. This might include work on aiding breeding, advising on diets and researching the diseases that threaten certain species.
Clinical director or practice manager
A final career option you could consider as a qualified vet who no longer wants to be doing wholly clinical work is becoming a clinical director. Your job role is primarily ensuring that the practice provides an invaluable service to clients and their pets. You will be involved in training and developing staff, promoting the services and maintaining client relationships, among other responsibilities. If you are a vet nurse and are looking to get into a role similar to this, you can look at becoming a practice manager.
These are just some of the non clinical veterinary jobs out there that you might consider if you want to move away from the traditional path of working in a clinic.
If you are looking for a new opportunity in your career, why not start by taking a look at our current vacancies?