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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Create Your Veterinary
Resume in 5 Easy Steps

  • Step 1: Add Contact Info

    Heading Slides

  • Step 2: Include Work Experience Details

    Work History Slides

  • Step 3: Provide Education Details

    Education Slides

  • Step 4: Select Your Skills

    Skills Slides

  • Step 5: Fill in Your Background

    Summery Slides

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Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Veterinary Resume

Veterinary applicants have to prove their experiences match up with this demanding industry. Aspiring veterinary workers need to demonstrate a suitability for working with animals. They should address their accuracy, knowledge about anatomy and a thorough background working with medications and treatments for animals. The best way to do this is with LiveCareer’s simple Resume Builder. Read these examples provided by our certified resume writers:

  • Reviewed pet health history, examined animals, conducted tests and prescribed treatments for diagnosed conditions
  • Performed both scheduled and emergent surgeries, including exploratory surgery and C-sections
  • Collected specimens from patients for laboratory analysis for parasites, blood analysis and culture
  • Evaluated incoming patients to determine treatment needs and urgency of care
  • Followed all pet care instructions, including dietary needs and medication regimens

6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Veterinary Resume

  • Do give details about experience with animals. At the heart of a veterinary resume is a detailed, extensive history caring for and working with animals. Veterinary applicants should list experiences working with farm animals, household pets, zoo animals and any other animals from their professional careers or volunteer experiences.
  • Do showcase research skills. Since this field is also part of the sciences, employers appreciate applicants who have strong research skills. Collecting data, performing an analysis, using biological specimens, and communicating findings are all essential parts of caring for and treating animals in a veterinary setting.
  • Do stress information that gives an idea of your ability to provide medical care. Another big part of a job in the veterinary field is the capacity to deliver effective medical care. Detail your history conducting or assisting veterinary surgical procedures, administering medications, and treating animal patients.
  • Don’t discount internship experiences. If you don’t have a long history of professional experience, it is acceptable to include internships in the veterinary industry. Use these experiences to show off skills in caring for animals.
  • Don’t overlook details about animal-related problems you found solutions for. Take advantage of opportunities to show off value to an employer by giving examples of veterinary problems you helped solve. For example, educating pet owners about healthy pet food diets, referring owners to training programs for problem behaviors, and diagnosing and treating tough cases.
  • Don’t forget to customize your resume for the type of position, whether a small practice or large organization. There are many different types of veterinary jobs, so be sure to customize your resume for the specific employer. Veterinary jobs may be part of a small, family-owned practice, a large research-oriented university, the federal government and corporate practices.

Beat the ATS with These Veterinary Resume Skills

According to the American Veterinary Association, there is an applicant shortage. Veterinary practices use an applicant tracking system to find skilled workers in this field. Job seekers should craft a resume that caters to the ATS to ensure they get a chance to land the job.

One tool that helps job seekers get through the tough ATS stage for a veterinary job is our comprehensive Resume Builder. LiveCareer’s Resume Builder offers complete ATS-friendly phrasing for resumes to attract employers to talented job seekers. Here are some examples of the language the ATS looks for in this industry:

  • Animal-handling experience
  • Demonstrated animal surgery skills
  • Experience with animal rehabilitation medicine
  • Certified veterinary technician
  • Current veterinary license from the state board
  • Skills in safe restraining techniques for animals
  • Ability to prepare and dispense veterinary medications

Veterinary Resumes for Every Professional Level

Entry-Level
Veterinary InternBuild my Resume

Veterinary Intern

The entry-level applicant for a veterinary intern should consider a functional style resume to highlight their skills and downplay a lack of work experience. The resume example above begins with a focused professional summary that indicates an interest in a career in the veterinary industry. The applicant lists an internship and his experience working with animals at a pet store and leadership skills in his work history. The skills he focuses on for his resume are problem-solving, communication and compassion. He gives examples of his proficiency in each of these areas from a previous internship experience. Build my Resume

Mid-Career
Veterinary SurgeonBuild my Resume

Veterinary Surgeon

The mid-career applicant seeks a position as a veterinary surgeon. With more than nine years of experience in the field, a combination resume format is a great choice for showing her work history and the skill set she has gathered. The applicant lists prior jobs in veterinary medicine, including a vet technician assistant and two other positions as a surgeon. Build my Resume

Executive-Level
Veterinary OfficerBuild my Resume

Veterinary Officer

Executive-level job seekers need to show a high level of expertise in the field and a strong career trajectory. This applicant demonstrates both of these competencies through the use of a chronological resume format that includes plenty of details. The applicant’s leadership skills are on display here, with experiences developing pet ownership classes and administering financial systems in a practice. He also has knowledge and experience working in a medical lab and treating patients. Build my Resume

More veterinary resume samples

Find resume examples for your desired veterinary career. Get access to expert writing recommendations, do’s and don’ts and everything you need to write a perfect resume.

animal care attendantanimal caretakerbird specialistcatemergency veterinary technicianLicensed Veterinary Technicianpre vet externsmall animal veterinariantraveling veteran coordinatorvet assistantvet receptionistvet tech internvet tech responsibilitiesveterinary practice managerveterinary receptionistveterinary receptionist dutiesveterinary surgical assistant

Resume Success Stories

Statistics and Facts About Veterinary Jobs

Median Annual Wages for Veterinary Workers 2018

Veterinarians$93829
Veterinary technicians$34420
Veterinary assistants$27540
050K100K
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Popular Job Titles in Veterinary Services

Health Support technicians29.4%
Veterinarians18.4%
Veterinary Assistants and Animal Caretakers15.4%
Receptionists and Office Support9.7%
Managers3.86%
02550
Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Bureau

Percentage of Veterinarians Working With Types of Animals 2018

Pets75.3%
Unspecified6.9%
Food Animals5.9%
Multiple Types5.7%
Horses5.6%
Other4%
04080
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association

Job Outlook Data for Veterinary Workers 2018-2028

Veterinarians18% increase
Veterinary Technicians19% increase
Veterinary Assistants19% increase
012.525
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Diversity of Veterinarians 2017

White91.5%
Asian3.14%
Two or More Races2.2%
Black1.97%
Other1.21%
050100
Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Bureau

Types of Doctorates Earned by Practicing Veterinarians

Biology51.5%
Agriculture19.3%
Health16%
Interdisciplinary studies5.46%
Psychology5.32%
Engineering2.34%
03060
Source: Data USA – U.S. Census Bureau

Types of Physical Therapy Specialties

  • Veterinarian: Doctorate or Professional Degree
  • Veterinary Technologist or Technician: Associate Degree
  • Animal Care Worker: High School Diploma or Equivalent
  • Veterinary Assistants or Laboratory Animal Caretaker: High School Diploma or Equivalent

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Largest Employers of Veterinarians 2018

Veterinary Practices78%
Self-Employed14%
Government3%
Social Advocacy Organizations1%
Educational Services0%
08162432404856647280
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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