Veterinary Surgeon CV Example
On a veterinary surgeon CV, employers want to see which animal group you work with (small/large animal, exotics), your surgical and medical competence, and your clinical caseload. The example below shows how to present small-animal clinic and surgical experience with case numbers and success rates. Keep it one page, ATS-friendly and free of photos or personal details.
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Sophie Hughes
Veterinary Surgeon (Small Animal Surgery & Internal Medicine)
Bristol, UK
Summary
RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon with 6 years of experience, specialising in small-animal surgery and internal medicine. Over 400 surgical procedures per year with a 97% anaesthetic safety rate. Skilled in imaging (ultrasound/radiography) interpretation, emergency intervention and preventive-medicine protocols.
Experience
Veterinary Surgeon (Surgery Lead) · Riverside Veterinary Hospital
Apr 2022 – Present- ›Carried out 420 surgical cases per year including soft-tissue and orthopaedic procedures, keeping the post-operative complication rate below 3%.
- ›Introduced a standard anaesthesia and monitoring protocol, reducing anaesthesia-related risk and raising the safety rate to 97%.
- ›Grew the number of patients returning for routine check-ups by 28% per year through a preventive-medicine and vaccination reminder programme.
Veterinary Surgeon · Highfield Farm Animal Practice
Sep 2019 – Mar 2022- ›Managed herd health and calving monitoring on cattle farms, reducing calf mortality from 12% to 5%.
- ›Delivered emergency care and artificial insemination under field conditions, improving reproductive performance across 60+ farms.
Skills
Education
BVSc Veterinary Science · University of Bristol (2013 – 2018)
What to Highlight in a Veterinary Surgeon CV
- ✓State the animal group you work with (small animal, farm/large animal, exotics) clearly in your title; practices look for this distinction at a glance.
- ✓Give surgical and medical case numbers alongside a success/complication rate; it makes your experience level concrete.
- ✓List the imaging and laboratory equipment you use (ultrasound, digital radiography, in-house blood analyser).
- ✓Show field or farm experience with herd-health and reproduction results (e.g. a drop in calf mortality).
- ✓List your RCVS registration and any congresses/certifications attended in a separate section.
Technical Skills
- •Small-animal surgery
- •Anaesthesia and monitoring
- •Internal medicine diagnosis & treatment
- •Ultrasound/radiography interpretation
- •Emergency and critical care
- •Cattle herd health & reproduction management
Soft Skills
- •Calm communication with owners
- •Composure in stressful emergencies
- •Team and technician coordination
- •Welfare-focused approach
Common Mistakes
- ✕Giving a vague "I treat all animals" impression without stating the animal group you work with.
- ✕Never writing your surgical and clinical case numbers with a success rate.
- ✕Leaving out the imaging and laboratory equipment you use.
- ✕Not including your RCVS registration and professional certifications on the CV.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I separate small-animal and large-animal experience on a veterinary CV?
Put each group on its own experience line with the relevant case types and outcomes. Lead with the experience that best matches the practice you are applying to; if applying to a small-animal clinic, emphasise your surgical case numbers.
How does a newly qualified vet cover a lack of experience?
List the procedures you assisted with during university clinic and placement rotations, the case types you observed and any field work. Shelter volunteering and workshops you attended also count.
What should I write if I do not know my surgical case numbers?
If you have no exact figure, give a realistic range (e.g. "assisted on 20-30 procedures a month") or a frequency. Honest, verifiable statements build more trust than made-up high numbers.
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