ADAPTING TO THE WORLD OF VETERINARY WORK - PROFILE OF A GROUP IN THEIR 2ND YEAR AFTER GRADUATION (1991)

Veterinarians in their second year of work were surveyed as part of a longitudinal study on factors affecting career choice. Almost 90% star ted in private practice - about two thirds mixed and one third small a nimal - with males receiving the highest salaries. Just over half (52% ) expected to be in private practice within five to 10 years, and abou t half of those expected to be in small animal practice. Almost all re garded ''being male'' or ''being female'' as not important for a succe ssful veterinarian. Most saw their profession as having lower prestige than that of doctors, lawyers and diplomats, and many placed it at th e midpoint or lower in a list of 10 professions. It is not yet clear w hat role these perceptions of professional status, and the related iss ue of professional self-esteem, plays in career choices.