Employers

Welcome to the DVM Career, Leadership, and Wellness (CLaW) Office. In support of our students’ searches for full-time, part-time, internship, externship, and summer work opportunities, we host the VetMedJobs portal. This portal connects students with mentors and potential employers. Generally, employers wanting to communicate with our DVM students or offer professional opportunities should create a profile in our VetMedJobs database.

UC Davis DVM Recruitment Opportunities

UC Davis DVM students accept offers of employment starting early in their fourth year of study. By April 2022, 138 of the 153 graduating DVM students had accepted placement offers. About half of our graduating students continue their training through an internship or residency. Five of the 15 who had not yet accepted an offer in 2022 had yet to start their employment search. Among those who had accepted an offer of employment, the average starting salary was $129,254 for those going into private practice.

DVM students tend to accept offers from employers with whom they established a professional relationship during their DVM program, undergraduate program, or even high school years. For this reason, employers interested in hiring UCD DVM students are encouraged to interact with students well before the final year of a candidate’s degree program. Potential employers might volunteer or mentor at the school or offer professional development experiences like shadowing, part-time work, or externships. Finally, organizations advertising full-time opportunities to graduating students are encouraged to do so early in the academic year. Job postings in VetMedJobs may stay active for up to 390 days to facilitate early and ongoing recruitment.

Company-Student Representative
This option is best for organizations seeking a continuous recruiting presence with the UC Davis DVM students. Company-Student Representatives can organize lunch talks and events, giving organizations an opportunity to interact with students during the academic year. Once per year, the School of Veterinary Medicine hosts a Company-Student Representative Lunch for DVM students to visit tables of the various organizations. To hire a Company-Student Representative, contact our office for assistance on creating a profile and recruitment in VetMedJobs.
Part-Time and Summer Work
Starting in January each year, DVM students look for part-time and summer work to supplement their budgets and professional development. All practices and companies are encouraged to post opportunities in VetMedJobs.
Shadowing
UCD students are required to complete at least 180 hours of veterinary experience before admission to the DVM program. However, admitted applicants have an average of 1,475 hours of experience in the veterinary field. As a result, current DVM students tend to look for shadowing experiences not for general experience but to explore potential veterinary specialties. Therefore, employers offering shadowing experiences are encouraged to indicate if they also offer internships, residency programs, and any specialties of practicing veterinarians.
Externships
Externships are short-term appointments that give students veterinary experience. Our first and second-year students seek hands-on experience and can work during summer and educational breaks. These opportunities can be any length but are not for academic credit.
Externships for Academic Credit
In the fourth year of the program, DVM students may complete clinical rotations outside of the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital (VMTH). Academic credit is issued for these two-week experiences, and faculty approval is required before the start of the appointment. If an organization previously offered an externship for academic credit to UC Davis students, they are included in our student-facing externship database and will be contacted by SVM staff for updates and postings. If an organization has not previously offered an externship for academic credit, the potential employer can post the opportunity in VetMedJobs. Once matched with a UC Davis student, that student will petition the faculty of the Clinical Education Committee, who will initiate the review and approval process for academic credit.
Internships and Residencies
Most UC Davis DVM students secure internships and residencies through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (please see below for more information). However, organizations offering internships and residencies outside of the match program may post these opportunities on the VetMedJobs board.

UC Davis Veterinary Mentor and Volunteer Opportunities

Veterinarians are invited to volunteer within the DVM curriculum and as mentors to our DVM students. To indicate your willingness to serve, please create a profile in VetMedJobs. Within that profile, you can indicate which roles you are willing to serve.

Professional Education: Mock Interviews
Each April and May, DVM students entering their fourth year of study participate in professional interview training culminating in a mock interview with a veterinary and human relations professional. Interviews are hosted on Zoom. After the interview, mentors provide student feedback via grading rubrics and notes.
Professional Education: Mock Salary Negotiations
Each April and May, DVM students entering their four-year study receive training about compensation, including a chance to analyze and negotiate a mock job offer. Mentors discuss the offer with students over the phone. After the phone call, mentors provide student feedback via grading rubrics and notes.
Professional Education: Panels and Presentations
Throughout the year, the CLaW Office offers a series of weekly professional development seminars. Veterinarians are invited to serve on panels related to career experiences and expertise. In addition, student groups host lunchtime talks with guests invited to speak on various professional topics.
Mentoring: Informal Network
Within VetmedJobs, veterinarians indicate if they will serve as informal mentors. If so, the CLaW staff will share a briefing on informational interviews with the mentor. DVM students are encouraged to complete informational interviews to network and learn about the profession. Once the veterinarian's contact information is made available in VetMedJobs, students may call or email the mentor for a brief informational interview about previous professional experiences or areas of expertise. Informal mentors can set their profiles to limit the number of students contacting them for informational interviews.
Mentoring: Alumni Mentor Program
Starting in the fall of 2025, the CLaW Office will host a formal alumni mentor program twice each academic year. Volunteer alumni mentors and current DVM students will be matched for a four-month program. Participants will join a monthly Zoom meeting on a selected professional development topic. Mentors and mentees can undertake additional activities as they like. At the end of the four-month program, participants can continue their mentorship relationship informally, end the mentorship relationship, or sign up to be matched with additional program participants the following semester.
Volunteer: Mercer Veterinary Clinic
The Mercer Veterinary Clinic provides free veterinary care to the pets of individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in the Sacramento and Yolo counties. Services are provided in Davis on the first Saturday of the month and in Sacramento on the second Saturday of the month. The clinic invites veterinarians licensed to practice in California to mentor veterinary students as they take a case history, perform a physical exam, and create a treatment and follow-up plan. Veterinarians interested in volunteering may contact the Sacramento clinic coordinator at MercerClinicPets@gmail.com and the Davis clinic coordinator at davispawclinic@gmail.com for more information.
Volunteer: School and Club Events
From alumni reunions to the Doxie Derby at Picnic Day, volunteers and mentors are welcome to join the fun at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. By registering for this option in VetMedJobs, volunteers agree to be contacted by email about upcoming school events and activities.

Additional DVM Recruitment Opportunities

In addition to opportunities to interact directly with UC Davis DVM students, potential employers can participate in events and programs that will help develop a recruitment pipeline of qualified veterinary candidates for their organization.

VetCAN Virtual Job Fairs
In cooperation with other AVMA veterinary programs across the United States, UC Davis students attend the Veterinary Career Advisor Network (VetCAN) virtual fairs that are generally held each fall (September) and spring (January and February) semester. These events allow employers to network and build relationships with DVM students and alumni while allowing for a convenient avenue to recruit externs, interns (outside of the VIRMP), and full-time/permanent employees. To register as a participating employer, visit https://events.careereco.com/ and click "Virtual Events" from the menu options at the top of the screen. At the next screen, select “Career Fairs” and search for “VetCAN.”
CVMA Summer Work Experience Program
Practice owners who are California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) members with externship opportunities in California can provide work opportunities to DVM candidates through the CVMA Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP). Please contact the CVMA for more information.
Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP)
Potential employers interested in offering internship and residency opportunities should visit the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP) at www.virmp.org. Details about program requirements are available in the VIRMP Internship Guidelines. If you want to offer an internship outside of VIRMP, please register in VetMedJobs and post the opportunity there.