Veterinarian from Nigeria

I will like to know how easy it can be to secure a job or internship in Switzerland. Prospect of Veterinarian in my country is not bright. I have been jobless since 2015 I had my degree. If you have any other suggestion with links, please help.

Languages that you speak reasonably fluently?

Tom

ETA:

It just occurred to me that you are still in Nigeria. i wrote the post below assuming that you somehow already had Swiss residence or at least the right to residence.

If you are still in Nigeria without another means of qualifying to live here (i.e., dual citizenship,marriage, etc.), then you have a much steeper mountain to climb. You'd have to qualify for a work permit... which of course you couldn't get without your qualifications recognized. You'd have to have a job offer (qualifications again) willing to sponsor you - and then you run into the whole non-EU fol-de-rol. So you face a bit of a Teufelskreis.

The universities do invite specialist vets and well known academicians from all over, but are you in that category?

So, if you don't already have or qualify for Swiss work permit via another means, what I've written below is quite premature.

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You will have to get your credentials recognized, which means you need local language to a relatively high degree (B2? You'll have to check on that...)

Some info from the Gesellschaft Schweizer Tierarzt und Tierärztin:

https://www.gstsvs.ch/de/weiter-und-...r-diplome.html

As a frequent consumer of veterinary services I cannot stress how very important language skills are. The science and skill are critical, of course - but the ability to communicate with the client is paramount. I speak reasonable German, but nonetheless have sought out vets willing to also consult in English, as in order to best advocate for my dogs there must be clear, unambiguous communication. Misunderstandings lead to tragedies.

In my experience as a pet owner, B2 is no where near good enough to practice day to day. Near fluency is critical to delivering the kind of care an owner expects and an animal deserves.

Thus, it is not uncommon for clinics to require vets to speak several languages, not only the national languages but also the languages of the clients who are paying the bills.

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Do you want to work with large animals and livestock, or pets?

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So first - research what it takes to have your degrees recognized in order to be able to practice here.

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Foreign vets are indeed welcome here, but often that means those who are recognized as highly skilled or niche specialists.

Or look into additional education - but here I'll defer to those who know the uni system better than I. IIRC there might be restrictions on which nationalities can study veternary medicine here.

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Good luck.

You should contact the following organisation.

"Would you like to work in Switzerland as a doctor, dentist, veterinarian, pharmacist or chiropractor?

Contact:

Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)
MEBEKO
CH-3003 Bern
T +41 58 462 94 83
www.bag.admin.ch
[email protected] "

https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/ho…opractors.html

They will be able to tell you what you’d need to do to be able to practice here.

MC is correct, veterinary medicine is a restriced university study subject here open only to a few nationalities, all of whom must have lived in Switzerland for some years to be able to apply to study the subject.

I can speak English fluently

I am very grateful for taking your time in reading my post and giving me candid and helpful information. I guess I will have to drop the idea of going to one of my dreamland to practice. I just do not know what to do next? I love this forum. Thank you once again.

Have you looked at immigration to an English speaking country?

Yes, the barriers to non-family immigration are high in most English speaking countries, nonetheless these are where your chances are likely to be better in terms of work related immigration.

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If you want to specialize in something other than small animal clinical medicine, such as laboratory work for one of the Pharma companies, you might not find the same language pressure - but of course in Switzerland at least one national language will be needed in order to have your qualifications recognized.

But if you are interested in clinical practice:

I know there is a myth floating out there that Switzerland is also English speaking - nothing could be farther from the truth. Yes, lots of people speak English as a second (or fourth) language but the everyday languages one needs to interact with the general population remain the national ones, German, French, Italian. An owner wants to discuss his pet's illness in a language he or she is most comfortable in... and the successful veterinary practice caters to that. It's all about building a rapport with your patients.

All the best.

Thank you very much for your insightful reply. As advised, I will have to look research on English-speaking countries that is not USA, UK, CANADA, or AUSTRALIA (One of my professor said their fee for examination is much and it is not easy to pass their examination) such as Malta or malaysia, Grenada, Belize.

The pharma companies you suggested, do I just search for it? Its another area I have never gave a thought to. You have broaden my horizon. I will look into that. If it work, I owned you a crate of chilled beer at Zurich.

That's pretty useless in Switzerland for a job as a vet, as your average farmer (who are a vet's main clients most of the time) won't speak it.

Tom

Have you thought about volunteering with an international organization?

Immigration might require a long term plan - on the way, volunteering with one of the organizations active in Africa might be a way to expand your network. (And of course do good at the same time.)

For instance there is Vétérinaires Sans Frontieres International:

http://vsf-international.org

The Swiss VSF group:

http://www.vsf-suisse.ch/vsf/web/en/...asp?QString=25

There are also volunteer possibilities with many animal rescue groups; often a volunteer vet can make all the difference to the group's mission. Some can offer accommodation in return for help. Again, a way to gain experience and contacts around the world. Perhaps look to one of the countries you mention in your last post, if you can't find a paying job off the bat, look for volunteer opportunities.

For instance, as you mentioned Belize, a vet I know recently did a 'volunteer vacation' in Belize. She donated her time working at an animal shelter there in exchange for accommodation. Some shelters have formal vet volunteer programs, but often these are often informal arrangements, you simply contact a group whose mission interests you, ask about volunteer possibilities.

By the way, while googling possibilities in Belize, I came across this, a formal internship program with the Belize Wildlife Institute:

http://www.wildlife-institute.com/ve...y-internships/

(I don't know anything about this group other that what I found googling. Due diligence required, and all that.)

Anyway, keep your mind open to any and all possibilities.

All the best to you.

BIG AMEN. I wish you the best in life too

I know EU qualified vets, with experience, who've been unable to find work in Switzerland due to lack of language skills. Since EU people are first in the queue for any jobs, your chances are minimal.