likelihood of veterinary jobs

[Hannahkate]

I have a feeling that I know what your answers will be but I still want to ask anyway.
Basically I am studying a veterinary medicine degree and am trying to vaguely plan my future. I am English but I study in Slovakia (EU degree so should be recognised).
I have several friends who have graduated and gone to work in Sweden for a year or two before returning to England. They have done this without needing to know the language at all although obviously learned some out there.
Basically I want to know whether this would be possible to do in Finland or whether the language thing is much more of a barrier. I would obviously be willing to learn but am quite aware that it's not really very likely that i would be able to consult in finnish for years and years.
I don't even have a clue how to find vet jobs yet but thought maybe i should address this hurdle first!
thanks in advance for any help

[rinso]

There are job possibilities for vets. Although it is getting more difficult now.
There are several options:
- vet in a rural area (employed by a local commune or region)
- vet in a clinic
- private practise in a city (small animals)
- in a company (research, production etc)
Speaking the language is necessary, but I think you could manage with less than perfect Finnish.
But if you want to work as a vet, you first need to pass an exam about Finnish regulations.

it's not really very likely that i would be able to consult in finnish for years and years.

Most animals don't speak Finnish either.

For more information contact the Finnish vet association: http://www.sell.fi/index.php?id=391

[Hannahkate]

Thank you thats useful to know. Perhaps I could try learning the language first and having a job in england for a few years and then when I feel confident enough to talk to people I could see about getting a job and moving over. I'll try and find out about this exam on the regulations. I assume that it's just additions on top of the EU laws and things like that.

Most animals don't speak Finnish either.

It's not the animals that I am worried about, I know I can deal with them, just not so much the owners!!

[rinso]

It's not the animals that I am worried about, I know I can deal with them, just not so much the owners!!

I always thought that a vet could learn much more from investigating a sick animal than from listening to their owners.
What you need for the owners is: "Tämä on lasku"

[Hannahkate]

Hehe yes of course you do, but if all you can do is look blankly at the owner when they are getting hysterical about their poor little fluffy then it isn't the best look!!
This is making me very tempted to find a summer school to learn a bit of the language at.

[rinso]

but if all you can do is look blankly at the owner when they are getting hysterical about their poor little fluffy

You need to get a few acting lessons.

"Hmm, jo, jo, hmm hmm......Tämä on lasku.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

I think you have to speak Swedish too? Not 100%...but,I know a foreign vet who speaks Finnish but couldn't work as they didn't speak Swedish