Part-Time Vets

Remember yesterday? Here's the next part of Jessica's question.

I was also wondering if it's possible to be a part time veterinarian. Only because if I ever get married and have children in the future, it might be hard to be a full time veterinarian at first.

Women are now in the majority of veterinarians, and this is changing the business of veterinary medicine. Part of these changes are directly related to Jessica's question. More and more women want to have a family AND a career. Instead of having a full-time job and putting the kids in daycare all of the time, they want to work part-time. So this is definitely not an unreasonable thought.

I know many people who are veterinarians and only work part-time. Most of them work 3-4 days per week. This kind of work pattern is in the minority (and likely always will be), but is becoming more common. The trick is to find somewhere that will allow this. Since more prospective employees are looking for this kind of schedule, more employers are willing to accommodate it. When it comes time to look for a job, you may have to do more looking around to find someone willing to hire you with this stipulation. It may be more work, and may mean it will be longer to find a job, but if it's what you really want it will be worth it.

Tomorrow...the last of Jessica's questions on being a vet.