Life as a New Graduate Vet: What I Wish I Knew

Starting clinical work as a new graduate vet was a shock.

Despite doing plenty of EMS, and even taking a year out to spend two days a week in practice, I still felt completely unprepared when I began full-time. I had more experience than many of my peers—but it was still overwhelming.

The Reality Hits

One of the hardest moments was facing a client who’s looking to you for help… and realising you don’t know the answer.

It’s a horrible, sinking feeling. And it takes time to become comfortable with that uncertainty.

As a student, I genuinely believed that by the end of vet school, I’d know everything I needed to help both pets and their owners. But when I graduated, I felt like I knew absolutely nothing. I honestly felt like a fraud. When people asked for my advice, I thought:
“They probably know more than I do. I’m wasting their time.”

Learning to Ask (Again and Again)

I asked for advice constantly. And at first, I felt guilty for it—even when I just wanted someone to confirm what I already suspected. But that’s okay. That’s how you learn.

Over time, your confidence builds. You may not even notice it at first, but one day you’ll realise: you’re running consults on your own, and you actually know what you’re doing.

Even the most experienced vets don’t know everything. They still ask for input from their colleagues, because no one can be an expert in every area. Research changes. Techniques evolve. And that’s exactly how it should be.

It’s Okay Not to Know

Here’s something I wish someone had told me: not knowing something doesn’t make you a bad vet.

The worst thing you can do is pretend you do. Learning comes from reading, asking questions, discussing cases, and seeing things more than once. And if you don’t remember what you did last time? That’s why you take notes.

Write everything down. You’ll thank yourself later.

The Learning Never Stops

Being a vet means committing to lifelong learning. And once you truly accept that you’ll never know it all, things get easier. In fact, thinking you do know it all? That’s dangerous.

If you ever find yourself believing you’ve got nothing left to learn, it’s time for a serious reality check.

My Journey So Far

It’s now been two years since I graduated. My path hasn’t been traditional—I started in a brand-new practice, and within a year, I became the lead vet.

It wasn’t because I had the most clinical experience. It was because I cared. I wanted to help shape the practice, to make things better for both staff and clients. That passion led me to take on management responsibilities and start mentoring final-year students on their IMRs.

And from what I’ve seen—first-hand—there’s one trait that stands out above all others in a good vet: the ability to self-reflect.

Confidence vs. Competence

The overconfident students or vets who believe they know everything? They’re the ones who make the most mistakes. They’re dangerous—because they don’t question themselves, and they don’t grow.

If you can be honest with yourself about what you don’t know, if you’re willing to ask for help (even if it’s just to confirm your decision), then you’re on your way to being an excellent vet.

I’ve seen students and even vets give owners advice based on something they think they once heard. When I ask where they learned it, they often can’t say. They just wanted to give an answer quickly, so the client could leave the consult room.

But success isn’t when the owner walks out the door. It’s when the patient gets better.

Be Honest. Always.

If there’s one message I want to share with other new grads, it’s this:

Be honest—with yourself, with your colleagues, and with your clients.

If you don’t know something, say so. Tell the owner:
“I’m not sure, but I’m going to ask a colleague or look into this further.”

Most clients will respect that. Sure, a few won’t—but that’s their issue, not yours. What matters is doing what’s right for the animal.

Giving bad advice just to seem confident is never worth it.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to be perfect to be a good vet. You just need to care, reflect, keep learning, and ask for help when you need it.

The best vets are the ones who never stop growing.

Kate Dakin BVSc MRCVS