How to write a veterinary nurse personal statement

A veterinary nurse is a crucial component of any busy vet practice, as they help ensure the health and wellbeing of many types of pets. A compelling personal statement is one key way to share your passion, commitment and unique qualities with potential employers. If you're interested in applying for this role, a well-written personal statement can help increase your chances of securing an interview. In this article, we explain what a veterinary nurse personal statement is, discuss how to write one and provide a template and example to help you create your own.

What is a veterinary nurse personal statement?

A veterinary nurse personal statement is a written statement that acts as a concise summary of everything you can offer a potential employer. Although your personal statement may change depending on the vet practice you apply to, every personal statement can include similar information for employers, such as:

• A summary of your relevant skills: All veterinary-oriented personal statements offer a summary of relevant skills and experiences, so employers can see these at a glance. This can include any animal-related or veterinary-related experiences you have.

• A list of your relevant qualifications: Like most nursing positions, veterinary nurses require a certain level of education, and this is important to include in your personal statement. Your statement can include a summary of any animal or health-related qualifications you've gained.

• A summary of your passion for veterinary nursing: Employers use personal statements as a way to discern your unique passion for their job posting, so remember to include why you want to work as a veterinary nurse at their practice specifically.

• A list of any relevant volunteering experience: Use your personal statement to highlight your unique veterinary nurse qualities, such as any relevant community engagement, leadership or volunteering experience.

Related: Veterinary nurse vs. veterinary technician: what to know

How to write a veterinary nurse personal statement

Now that you have a clear understanding of what this type of personal statement includes, you can learn to write one for your next job application. Here are some fundamental steps for writing your veterinary personal statement:

1. Use an easy-to-follow, simple format

Ensuring your veterinary nurse statement is clear, concise and easy to follow is one of the most important steps to writing one. This is because it presents your information in a way that employers can understand at a glance. Include an introduction that outlines why you're the best candidate, showing your most relevant information for the role. Follow this with one or two body paragraphs highlighting your experience, qualifications and volunteering experience. Finally, write a conclusion that reasserts your passion, drive and unique qualities.

Related: How to become a veterinary nurse

2. Include the right experience

Rather than including all the experience you may have, it's important that your personal statement remains relevant to the position you're applying for. Because this personal statement is for a position as a veterinary nurse, employers are looking for work and qualifications that directly relate to this. For example, any work experience you may have in a clinical setting, such as a small animal practice or a busy veterinary hospital, is great to include, along with any other relevant work experience with animals, such as working for kennels, farms or even pet shops.

3. Explain why your experiences matter

Rather than providing employers with a list of experiences and qualifications, remember to clearly explain why these experiences make you the best person for the job. Draw on your past experiences to explain why they shaped your desire to become a veterinary nurse and explain how this translates into your ability to do the job. Employers often prefer candidates who can clearly explain how their passion has brought them to this specific job.

Related: What does a veterinary nurse do? Plus salaries and skills

4. Tie your past experiences in with your future motivations

Employers use your personal statement as a way to determine what has brought you to this point in your career, but they may also be curious about your future goals and motivations. Include statements that explain what aspects of veterinary nursing are of special interest to you and where you see yourself in the future. Remember that employers are interested in what's driving your career decisions now, rather than what informed your decisions in the past.

5. Edit and proofread carefully

Ensure you edit and proofread your statement carefully to remove any spelling or grammatical errors. You can use spell-checking tools or even get someone to proofread it for you. Great spelling and grammar can indicate to a potential employer that you're a professional who knows how to communicate effectively, which is something most employers look for. This is especially important if you've used medical or specialised terminology throughout your application.

Related: How much does a veterinary nurse make (with job duties)

Veterinary nurse template for a personal statement

Although each personal statement may look different depending on the individual writing it and the job they're applying for, adopting a clear structure can help you stay on track while you compile your information. See below for a simple, straightforward template guide that you can use for your next application:

[Begin your first paragraph by sharing an anecdote and personal experience about why you love veterinary nursing.]

[Go on to explain your work experience, educational background, qualifications and relevant certifications. Put the most important information at the beginning of your personal statement.]

[Add a paragraph about your specific skills and provide evidence of experience to extrapolate on these skills.]

[Explain why you're a good candidate for the role in question-based on the skills you possess.]

[Add a paragraph to discuss why you're interested in this role specifically and tie this in with the skills and experiences you discussed above.]

[Wrap up your personal statement with a concise paragraph that explains why this role ties in with your motivations, goals and future career progression.]

Related: Top 20 popular jobs for animal lovers in the UK

Veterinary nurse example of a personal statement

Now that you have a clear idea of the structure that can include all relevant information in a clear and concise way, take a look at this example personal statement for a veterinary nurse position:

I've always loved the company of and care involved in looking after animals, from growing up on a bustling farmstead where I quickly learned to care for livestock like chickens and goats to finishing my degree in veterinary nursing. I graduated two years ago with a BSc in Veterinary Nursing from the Vet College, where I further developed my skills in animal care, afterwards working for a busy animal shelter as their part-time veterinary nurse assistant. I'm now searching for full-time employment that I can use to further specialise and grow my knowledge base.

To prepare for a veterinary degree, I worked as a volunteer at a busy vet clinic, assisting staff with the diagnosis and control of animal diseases. In this busy setting, I learned many of the fundamental aspects of veterinary animal care. Some of the core skills I developed here included learning how to carry out consultations, administer medications and observe and properly record animals' vital signs like pulse, temperature, pain and respiration. I also learned the importance of interpersonal skills in this setting, such as being sensitive to pet owners who exhibit strong emotions like anger and grief.

During my degree, I pursued the specialisations of dentistry and anaesthesia, which directly relates to what your practice is looking for. Specialising in pet dental cleaning and complex dental surgery, I believe your practice can benefit from my academic and practical expertise. Furthermore, during my time as a veterinary nursing assistant after my degree, I continued specialising in dental surgery. Specifically, I learned and assisted with periodontal treatment and surgical techniques, the management of intrabony and infrabony periodontal pockets, techniques for surgical extractions, the management and prevention of extraction complications and the treatment options for the different oral tumours.

I believe that your practice can benefit from my true passion for animal oral health, helping me continue on my career path to becoming a fully operational animal periodontal surgeon with a specialisation in anaesthesia.

Disclaimer: The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.

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• What is a veterinary assistant? (Plus salary and skills)