Today is the 3rd day of her 10-day internship and she asked: "My mum asks if I have to work on weekends."
"Didn't your XXX (a top Junior College in Singapore) teacher tell you about the terms and conditions of internship at Toa Payoh Vets?" I am surprised that there was no disclosure from a top school. It speaks poorly of the administration. Students who want to study vets do e-mail me direct. I just interviewed one from ACS (Independent) 2 weeks ago. She could come for only 3 days. Straight As in her "O" levels and two testimonials from her teacher as required. For XXX, it seemed that the administrator does the match-making and there was something inherently defective in its system of not disclosing what is required for the intern who came to Toa Payoh Vets.
"Well," I said. "You don't have to come to work if you think that vets only work during office hours and not on weekends. Some interns work even after midnight but you are exempted. What did your teacher say about weekend work to you?"
"She said to inform her if I am required to work weekends." There was something not right somewhere.
"Vets in small animal practice work very long hours," I said. "Some emergency cases of Caesarean sections require 3 am surgeries and the next day, I walk like a zombie. If you want a 5-day week, don't become a vet."
XXX may be a premier school but it is not doing its students a service by providing a poor quality of administration. XXX e-mailed to me asking whether I would accept interns for the June holidays. I told the administrator that two testimonials are needed and the working hours are long. If the prospective student has no interest in veterinary medicine, don't even recommend him or her.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
461. Beauty in veterinary medicine
"You didn't reply to my sms," the pet shop lady said. "So, I phoned your surgery and made an appointment for vaccination and micro-chipping."
"I was taking the real estate examination," I replied. "In any case, there is a vet available for you."
"Is she pretty?" she asked. "I did not see her as I sent my staff to your surgery. She has a sweet voice as she was the one answering my phone call."
We had known each other for years through my extension visits to her pet shops. She had agonised over competition from one Mediacorps starlet. "Don't worry," I said. "The starlet is famous but you are as good looking as her." Well, she got her man and that was what counted in love. I asked to attend her baby's first month and she invited me. Still I was much surprised by her question about whether my associate vet is eye candy or not.
"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," I said. "In my real estate class (my REA exams were in May 25, 26, 27, 2011), there were said to be four pretty ones according to one classmate. Another one said it was the girl with hair on her shoulders. Another said the thin one who could have been an air stewardess. Another who came to class with a different handbag every time.
Looks are still important in veterinary medicine and human medicine. We inherit our looks but we can make first impressions count. Once I went to a Development Bank of Singapore-appointed lawyer to sign some legal documents. The young lady lawyer in the HDB Hub office was wearing sandals to meet me. Was that good first impressions? I don't think so.
Once, my receptionist James and my assistant Mr Saw wore slippers while at work on a Saturday, knowing that I would not be on duty. I reprimanded them as my associate vet on duty did not think it was a big deal.
Many young adult professionals, in my observations of two young vets, seem to think that they can wear sandals to work since they are the boss in the practice. Their assistants and interns adopt similar footwear. It is time to change such mindset as "branding" of a corporation and positioning in the minds of the consumer are now much more important in this highly competitive world.
A vet may be a good one but if he or she can't be bothered to present a good first impressions, there evokes a doubt in some clients as to whether he or she can be meticulous in veterinary surgery.
"I was taking the real estate examination," I replied. "In any case, there is a vet available for you."
"Is she pretty?" she asked. "I did not see her as I sent my staff to your surgery. She has a sweet voice as she was the one answering my phone call."
We had known each other for years through my extension visits to her pet shops. She had agonised over competition from one Mediacorps starlet. "Don't worry," I said. "The starlet is famous but you are as good looking as her." Well, she got her man and that was what counted in love. I asked to attend her baby's first month and she invited me. Still I was much surprised by her question about whether my associate vet is eye candy or not.
"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," I said. "In my real estate class (my REA exams were in May 25, 26, 27, 2011), there were said to be four pretty ones according to one classmate. Another one said it was the girl with hair on her shoulders. Another said the thin one who could have been an air stewardess. Another who came to class with a different handbag every time.
Looks are still important in veterinary medicine and human medicine. We inherit our looks but we can make first impressions count. Once I went to a Development Bank of Singapore-appointed lawyer to sign some legal documents. The young lady lawyer in the HDB Hub office was wearing sandals to meet me. Was that good first impressions? I don't think so.
Once, my receptionist James and my assistant Mr Saw wore slippers while at work on a Saturday, knowing that I would not be on duty. I reprimanded them as my associate vet on duty did not think it was a big deal.
Many young adult professionals, in my observations of two young vets, seem to think that they can wear sandals to work since they are the boss in the practice. Their assistants and interns adopt similar footwear. It is time to change such mindset as "branding" of a corporation and positioning in the minds of the consumer are now much more important in this highly competitive world.
A vet may be a good one but if he or she can't be bothered to present a good first impressions, there evokes a doubt in some clients as to whether he or she can be meticulous in veterinary surgery.
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