October 2018

Friends or food?

Eleanor Goad ponders the ethics of being a vet while still eating meat and keeping an emotional distance when treating patients on farms.

9 mins
Is the grass greener?

One year after graduating as a full-time vet, Jordan Sinclair reassesses her career choice to wonder if the stress and poor remuneration compared to other roles is really worth it.

14 mins

September 2018

Reflecting on the good moments

While vet work can be mentally and physically draining, Jordan Sinclair suggests taking time out of your day to recall the good moments you may be taking for granted.

10 mins

August 2018

Seven – the magic number?

Jordan Sinclair considers the benefits of proposed seven-day working weeks. Is the suggestion ludicrous or what the profession needs in the fight for good work-life balance?

11 mins
Star-studded ECC workshop offers critical advice

Charlotte Mahood reports on an emergency and critical care workshop run by a trio of famous and acclaimed vets, including some of the potentially life-changing advice they had to offer.

19 mins
Corporate vet school

In the wake of news that Keele University/Harper Adams veterinary school will be partnering with a corporate practice group, Jordan Sinclair wonders if this is a path the industry should be heading down.

20 mins

July 2018

An unrecognised reliance on technology

After a day of consulting without any internet or mobile phone data, Jordan Sinclair came to the realisation how much she relies on it and how more challenging vet work can become.

15 mins
How to survive your first weeks as a new grad

Are you a new grad lost or a little nervous now you've ventured into the world of veterinary practice? Then Jordan Sinclair is here to the rescue with practical advice on how to keep your head above water.

21 mins

June 2018

Regaining surgical confidence

Three months into her latest veterinary job, Jordan Sinclair reflects on the differences between her first and second employer to explain just how important environment is for being able to excel and build in confidence as a new grad.

16 mins

May 2018

Am I still a new grad?

Despite it being a year since she graduated, Jordan Sinclair reflects on the past 12 months and why she still doesn't feel ready to stop referring to herself as a “new grad”.

10 mins
Be Kind

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Jordan Sinclair highlights on the importance of supporting colleagues who may be close to the edge and raising awareness of poor mental health in the profession, focusing on the overriding message – be kind.

11 mins
Being a millennial vet

Far from being lazy and entitled, Jordan Sinclair says the profession's millennials – driving battered cars and with bleak property-buying prospects – have simply drawn the short straw in the birthdate lottery. Yet, they still consider themselves privileged to be doing a job they love.

17 mins

April 2018

Are new grads avoiding OOH?

With today’s graduates having a very real option to never have to work out-of-hours, Jordan Sinclair discusses potential reasons as to why some new vets are opting not to undertake it.

17 mins
Fake it ‘til you make it

“All the world’s a stage,” wrote Shakespeare – so Jordan Sinclair offers tips for new graduates to turn the consult room into their stage and win the trust of clients, despite lacking experience.

19 mins

March 2018

How to handle breeders: let battle commence

Drawing on experience from the consult room and a recent visit to Crufts, Jordan Sinclair discusses the ongoing uphill battle with some dog breeders.

16 mins
Cat cafes – a pawsitive or negative?

Curious about the proliferation of cat cafes, and concerned by the implications of forcing a group of notoriously territorial creatures into a shared environment, Jordan Sinclair drops in for a panini.

17 mins

February 2018

Supporting new grads: are you up to the job?

Drawing on her personal experience and that of her university friends, Jordan Sinclair advises employers on how to ensure your practice is ready to welcome and benefit from a new graduate in the workplace.

20 mins

January 2018

Should you employ a new grad?

Taking part in a talk at SPVS-VMG Congress leads Jordan Sinclair to discuss the challenges, pitfalls, opportunities and advantages of hiring new graduates – all from the perspective of being one herself.

17 mins
New year, new me

To many new graduates, beginning a new year without a job would be cause for concern. For Jordan, however, it was a huge relief, having realised her first place of employment was, overall, a bad fit.

21 mins
Occupational hazards

Having experienced little in the way of vet-specific illness or injury, Jordan recounts the moment her luck ran out and she got her hand trapped between between a cow and the cattle crush.

11 mins