2016 Re-cap and a few life lessons

Phew...so it's been a while...again.

2016 so far has been a year of ups and downs and a LOT of life lessons. Probably the most stressful year to date, and it's not over yet!

This has been a year of realisation.

That I want to put more time into my business to really try and get it to take off and really focus on my career as Parasitologist and Epidemiologist. That's why I took the decision in April to reduce my hours at the hospital lab to allow me to devote more time to Target Worm Counts.

Running a business single handed is bloody lonely and it is so easy to get inside your own head too much, well that's probably the understatement of the century, as normally you are the only person you can bounce ideas off. I am so incredibly fortunate that the ladies of Stroud Saddlery have taken me under their wing and are happy for me to bounce ideas with them. Working alongside each other organising promotional days and events.

Premises Registration with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate

Devoting more time to Target Worm Counts has allowed me to achieve a number of pretty big things including obtaining premises registration with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to allow me to supply POM-VPS medicines. This is a big deal as it now allows me to provide the treatment options if necessary on the basis of the worm egg count results. To my knowledge, there is only one other company in the UK that offers this service in the postal format. Therefore my delivery through Target Worm Counts is completely new and innovative (go me!).

This is to allow me to move towards a more sustainable business model, one which is less seasonal. And I'm pleased to say that in the past few weeks I have been making sales every day. It's not hundreds of pounds a day but, it's something daily and I'm happy with that. It's still in its 12 month trial period, however I am hoping that if I can get a model that works, I may be able to expand further.

I am also working on another couple of leads, to hopefully branch out into other species. I am currently studying for my AMTRA Companion Animal SQP Upgrade exam, which I will sit at the end of October. I am also reaching out to local equine veterinary practices, as a local facility in which they can get their client's horse's samples analysed quickly and hassle free.

To anyone who is interested in working in the Animal Health Industry, I would strongly urge you to look into the AMTRA SQP qualification, as it has the potential to widen your opportunities as you will gain knowledge around the legislation regarding some Animal Medicines but also will allow you to supply within a registered premises.

If you have any questions on what it entails, or if you are currently and SQP looking to get a premises registered, then please drop me a comment and I'll get in touch.

SCIENT Scheme

I was also fortunate enough to take part in the pilot week of the EU Erasmus SCIENT Scheme. This scheme is aimed at people who are either studying for, or have already obtained a PhD in a STEM subject but wish to start a business. Which is a brilliant idea! Take person with a STEM mind and they already have many, if not all, the qualities of an entrepreneur.

But boy was it a busy week. I didn't find about the training until last minute but, with it being free AND being held in Gloucester, it was too much of an opportunity to pass me by. With the short notice, I couldn't get time off from the hospital (understandably) so had to fit in where I could. Overall, the experience was invaluable. As I don't have a business background having never taken an interest, stripping everything right back to basics was incredibly beneficial. Having read briefly about the Lean Start-up Method, the week gave us the framework to be able to apply the method to business planning. And I must say, it is SOOOO much better than writing a traditional business plan. We also learnt about the Board of Innovation, another nifty tool for business planning.

You can download templates here to use http://www.boardofinnovation.com/digital-templates/

I met some AMAZING people during the week, all with fabulous ideas which, if they stick with, will go far!

Participants of the SCIENT Scheme Pilot Week 2016. Image Courtesy of @emhaines via Twitter

Equally, if you're thinking about starting a business but have no business background. I am happy to share my personal experience of some of the challenges I have faced. No two businesses and start-up experiences are the same but, I'd love to help!

Masters By Research

This is something that I've wanted to go onto since finishing my Undergraduate Degree however, I'm glad I took a year out. I mean, the introduction of Postgraduate Loans was one of the deciding factors in holding off for a year, but it also means that I am so much more certain that it is what I want to do.

I have accepted an Unconditional Offer from the University of Gloucestershire to undertaking my Masters By Research in Biological Sciences. I hope to continue my work into Epidemiological risk factors for increased Strongyle infection in horses.

I have also been trying to reach out to a number of researchers in the field in an attempt to gain more expertise. However, I'm sad to say, that I have received very few (okay 1) return email. I will keep trying but I am hoping that its not the case of 'You're not my student, therefore I don't have the time for you'.

Current Research Papers

As I type, I am currently aware that I should be working on my paper as opposed to writing this blog post. I am working on polishing my Undergraduate Dissertation Thesis in preparation for submission for peer-review. I have increased my dataset over the past year and although, it does not reflect my original findings (due to a small sample size), I still feel I have something new to contribute to the field.

The Importance of Taking Care of Yourself

Now for something very uncharacteristic from me...

Although I am yet to experience a complete burn-out, I have been incredibly close to one this year. Working nearly 70+ hours a week consistently has been an uphill struggle. As someone who is incredibly motivated, a perfectionist and gives everything their all, I have failed to leave time for someone important. Me. And.....it's beginning to show.

I am currently out in Nairobi, Kenya visiting family, which I am so grateful to have the opportunity to do. This break away has given me the thinking time I needed. To clear my head so I'm ready to hit the ground running on my return to the UK. It has also made me realise that I should make time to exercise, be it Yoga or something more strenuous, but something for me.

I need to take more care of myself, eat right, drink plenty of water and not just survive throughout the day on one meal, with the day punctuated with copious amounts of coffee.

Also, to treat myself once in a while. This year I've worked so much that I've barely had a day off to do what I want to do. If I want to buy that candle, I should buy that candle. If I want to get my nails done, I should get my nails done.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All that being said, I still incredibly grateful to have such a great support network around me and I am forever indebted to you all. I have met some truly amazing people over the past year and they continue to inspire me.

My first week as an MLA

What a week it's been. My brain is incredibly tired and it's only Wednesday! This week has definitely been one for attempting to absorb as much information as possible and I'm just thankful that they've started me off on the quieter side so I can learn without there being too much pressure.

Nerding out so much over my lanyard!

First, there was the HR stuff, including E-learning, manual handling and fire safety...the usual. Then there was training for the computer system. Hep B jab. Trust Induction. Oh and I imagine there will be plenty more formal training sessions to come!

Now the lab stuff. How do I sum that up? Codes. And so many of them. Codes for the consultants. Codes for the locations. Codes for the tests. Comment codes. Shortcut buttons. What colour sample tube means what. What information should be provided on/with the sample to allow it to be accepted/rejected. Centrifugation. Luckily that's just a case of balancing the samples and setting the centrifuge to run. The chute system, which is pretty fun.

Haematology tests....
Chemistry tests....
Immunology tests....
And I'm sure many other types of tests to cover once I'm over in the other hospital as microbiology samples aren't processed in my current hospital.

I'm definitely going to be brushing up of my biochem and stuff as I can't help but feel that if I had any sort of grasp on human biology and disease testing etc. I would understand more what I'm actually doing i.e. what are they looking for in a certain sample for a certain test. It will also keep my brain ticking over as I'm a very logical thinker and I love to ask questions.

I will definitely be honing in my skills regarding deciphering Doctor's handwriting! But all in all it has been a good week, just to get my body clock in sync and once I'm settled in the routine everything will be a lot easier!

Evening Seminar - Equine

After a super busy first day at work, it had completely slipped my mind that I'd agreed to attend an evening seminar from a visiting Vet over at the University. So I braved the horrendous weather and headed over to the campus.

The talk was given by Dr John Kohnke, visiting from Oz to exhibit at HOYS in Birmingham, and was witty and engaging, covering a vast variety of topics including:

• Injury prevention in Riding Club horses including pre- and post-ride checks, recognition of early signs of lameness and physical stress, steps to reduce risk of lower limb, tendon and joint injuries to counteract 'wear and tear'
• Lower back injuries in Riding Club horses including, lower back strain, kissing spines, sacroiliac ligament sprain and sacroiliac joint and hock arthritic changes in dressage horses
• Gastric ulcers
• Equine metabolic syndrome
• Fear, anxiety and hesitation

Although, there were quite a few shameless plugs at his own brand of equine nutritional supplements, which highlight perhaps the reason why he was so willing to provide the talk free of charge, it was a thoroughly enjoyable seminar and incredibly in depth. Clearly a man who has devoted the majority of his life to the well-being and health of horses. 

She's only gone and done it!

After hours of scrolling job sites, countless applications, tweaks to the CV, calls to agencies, interviews and rejections, I've finally had a job offer! WAHOO!

The position is a medical laboratory assistant for the NHS at Gloucester Royal Hospital working in the pre-analytical area for the pathology laboratories. It's not the most technical position but hey, its a foot in the door working in one of the most prestigious services that the UK government has to offer, and a source of income vaguely relevant to my degree! Meaning I can pick some brains of people who work in the labs whilst on my lunch break

This time yesterday following the interview, I hadn't much hope. I'd met some of the candidates prior to going into the interview and I think that I psyched myself out a tad (never good) and I felt that I didn't answer the questions as well as I could have, so I wasn't too optimistic, so much so that this morning I started the job hunt yet again. But then came the call. I was overwhelmed as I genuinely thought that I'd right royally ballsed it up. Apparently not. My passion and potential must have shone through. The position is a 6 month contract which is perfect to build links but cover the quiet winter period for Target.

My next plan of action in life is this:
- Work the 6 month contract with the NHS and build contacts
- Schedule Target appointments around my shifts for September/October
- Sit my AMTRA SQP exams that are scheduled for the start of September (which I should be revising right now...)
- Work towards either my RTech or RSci accreditation through the Royal Society of Biology which ever is more appropriate the obtain through the role
- Continue to build Target from Spring and hopefully start the ball rolling with trying to secure a registered premises from which to sell the wormers
- If Postgraduate student finance is bought in next year, continue on to complete my MRes at Bristol University in association with the Vet School - focusing on Veterinary Parasitology.

So I'm not quite there yet but, life is a journey and I think to stand still would be pretty damned boring. A message to any recent graduate or anyone at their wits end applying for jobs and stuff, keep at it, something will come up if you want it that bad!

I haven't got a start date yet but I believe they're sorting out all the HR stuff first so stay tuned for the next episode I guess.

I'm off to prep some stuff for my talk I'm giving to Cotswold Vale Pony Club tomorrow on horse worms, do a bit of SQP studying and have a couple of glasses of wine in the process to celebrate.

To all those that continue to support me, again you know who you are, and I love you all <3

So many acronyms!

Howdy folks!

Here's just a quick update on what's been happening in the world of Chloe, and yes I still have a caffeine addiction which isn't gonna shift anytime soon...

We've got a house and are settling in nicely, I've started to get my routine back and am finding it easier to focus. I've taken up running, something I never thought would happen as I've always hated it but, I thought it was about time I got my butt into gear exercise wise.

Veterinary receptionist interview

On the job front, this week I had an interview for the veterinary receptionist job at the small animal practice, which I really hope I get as the position is so much more than just a standard receptionist. The interviewing administration manager mentioned that they would like to do a lot more outreach with schools and the local area to promote the practice, which I have experience in, gained through my work as a student ambassador, but also putting together the displays in the waiting room, which I will be in my absolute element doing! So much so that I've already got a good few ideas for, likewise with outreach ideas.

Which is why, if I get a second interview, I will be taking these ideas to the table, to show them that I have passion! Incidentally, the second interview is in front of the practice vets who are also board members who founded the practice some 35 years ago! The nurse also mentioned that they will teach me how to bring up a vein and such to prep animals during busy times, which of course I am more than happy to learn! 

I'm also hoping the fact that I'm studying for my SQP qualification is also a key selling point as, although I'm studying for the livestock and equine modules, there's the option to add the companion animal module, which would mean I would be able to prescribe wormers over the counter, without the need for a vet surgeon or nurse. Handy during busy periods!

SQP Studying

This has got me focussing on my SQP studying intensely, as I want to sit my exams at the start of September if possible, a mere 5 weeks away! They're not booked yet but, I want to book within the next week, after I've secured a farm to carry out my on farm investigation for the assignment that accompanies the farm animal module.

So anyone with livestock, holla at me and help a gal out! I can pay in  cookies and cake!

So with 5 1/2 hours worth of exams and a viva to prep for I'm going to be firing on all cylinders for the next few weeks! I mean, look at all these acronyms that were mentioned in just ONE section of ONE module! 

My plan is to nail the base module this weekend and then get cracking on the farm animal and equine ones! 

New crew member

With the partner in crime's family emigrating soon, we've adopted the family pet. Say hello to Sylar, the bearded dragon! Whose pastimes include skidding along the laminate flooring, climbing up shoe mountains and being a picky bastard when it comes to most things! But he is incredibly loveable for a scaly! Here he is on the top of a pair of my (probably stinky) boots! 

This has obviously prompted me to brush up on all things reptilian, as cold blooded critters have never been my expertise however, I have found it incredibly refreshing reading up on their ways and husbandry! 

I'm going to leave it there for tonight, to get some much needed R&R before tomorrow's weekly 5K park run and intense study sesh again! 

The vets are going to contact me Monday to let me know if they want me to come to 2nd interview so I'm keeping everything crossed it comes good! And hopefully this will be my chance to work in an environment that I love! 

Ciao for now! X

Now what?

So I've completed my undergraduate degree with a first class (yay) but now what? The question that every graduate is faced with. But I don't want to just become a statistic, another one who ends up in retail.

That's why I've decided to not move back to my hometown, I need to keep moving forward and progressing. But where am I progressing to, and where do I see myself? I'm unemployed, okay I'm self employed at the moment but that will only be able to sustain me so long, I've been applying to jobs daily and the waiting is putting me on edge. I'm continually checking my emails for a response, an interview anything. I don't fear rejection. I fear the not knowing. I can't think straight. There's so many things whizzing around my head.

I'm incredibly restless, continually bored, even if I've been reading and learning throughout the day. Nothing satiates my appetite for mental stimulation. I've began running, I hate running and that's given me some focus but I still find it incredibly boring.

I sort of resigned myself to not doing my MSc or PhD for a good few years, take a few years out, gain some experience in the field but that's not as easy. Companies want to pay people as little as possible but want stacks of experience, experience that a recent graduate won't have and will never get if employers don't employ graduates. That's not a dig as scientific employers, it's just a comment on the recent jobs situation.

I very nearly got my foot in the door, as an assistant study investigator, working for a company whose research strands include risk factors for increased parasitic infection in horses and the implementation of worm egg counts into worming programmes. The salt in the wound, the only thing stopping me from getting the job and coming second was that the person I was up against had direct experience in that role, no other negative feedback. And when I sent an email to the company asking for advice on how best to go about getting experience and whether I could work shadow, I never received a reply.

Since then I've been applying for roles, getting contacted by recruitment agencies for positions that aren't particularly related to my degree but anything within a laboratory environment. I'm still waiting. I've applied for retail positions but keep getting rejections, the only reason I can think, I'm 'over qualified' and the sad thing is, I diluted my CV down, stripped it, got rid of a few things to make it not seem as extensive. I just need a source of income, of course I don't want to work in retail.

I've also applied for a receptionist in a vets. Another way to fulfil one of my passions. Although I would be a receptionist, it would be in an environment in which I have an interest. Which got me thinking again. Should I abandon my dream of being a vet? Feasibly, I should. To get my qualification it would be at least another 4/5 years, which I certainly cannot afford, £9000 a year tuition fees alone. Not going to happen. That's why I've been researching Veterinary Parasitology at University of Bristol, an MSc. But I've got absolutely no idea what I would do my thesis on, linking back to me struggling to focus. I can't formulate my thoughts, categorise my thought processes, think. The last 2 times I've emailed a potential supervisor we've exchanged 2-3 emails each time before they stop replying so I'm yet to have a face to face meeting. I feel that if I can start networking, so people can put a face to a name I can start making more progress.

I segway to networking. I want to get out and about to events to meet people in the industry but, that requires money to go to events, even if the events are free they're usually in London. Money which is going to very quickly start diminishing if I don't get a source of income soon.

I guess this is what they call an existential crisis? I need my routine back.

Enough of this doom and gloom. I know it takes time and something will come up, I just need to keep at it. I'm fortunate enough to have an incredibly supportive family and boyfriend, we've secured a place to live and the business is slowly taking off. I'm not about to give up and throw the towel in, jeez I haven't been going at this for long enough yet. I just don't like sitting around. I want to make a contribution to science and I want to make the next step and I don't expect it to be easy or to be handed to me on a plate.

Watch this space, you never know, the next time I post I may have a job or someone may have thrown sponsorship at me to do my MSc or even a PhD.

Just keep swimming!

I'm back!

Well, I didn't realise a year had passed since my last post! Blimey! Well I'm still in the land of the living a busier than ever. Here's a quick low down on the past year:

1. Last summer I thought it would be a grand idea to work 3 jobs at the same time. I've never known exhaustion like it! 

2. Target had been coming on leaps and bounds, with client numbers constantly increasing, exciting research and development plans and we won an award for sustainability! We've been building links with external labs which is also great! So watch this space!

We have a new website so feel free to check it out!

www.targetwormcounts.co.uk

3. I got a 1st in my dissertation! Which I'm incredibly proud of! :D and I'm working on getting it published

4. I finished my degree! I'm waiting to hear the results of my exams so I won't know my overall classification until then

5. I had a job interview at a diagnostic lab, coming a close second. Not too shabby seeing as it was my first 'proper' interview

6. I'm relocating to Newport for a couple of months over the summer so I can save some money but I'm still going to be running Target and taking on interns but then in September it's back to merry old Gloucestershire! 

7. Finally, I hope to begin my Masters in research from October, I need to sort my proposal and raise the money to pay for it but I'm determined! 

I'm now pursuing a career in equine parasitology diagnostics and research so not quite a full veterinary surgeon, still hoping to be in the veterinary field! Who knows, I could obtain my PhD from a veterinary school in the future! 

Phew! That should cover everything, for now! 

I want to thank my wonderful family, friends and better half, Ev, for their continued support and care, I couldn't do it without you all.