Survival Guide to GP Practice: Your First Job & First Month

Honest, practical advice for new grads and vets starting out in practice

Starting in general practice is exciting — but it can also feel overwhelming. One minute you’re a student, the next you’re in a consult room on your own with a client expecting answers.

If that feels scary… that’s completely normal.

In this first episode of our Survival Guide to GP Practice, we’re talking about how to choose your first job, what to look out for, and how to survive those first few weeks.

Choosing your first job: what actually matters?

It’s easy to focus on salary, shiny equipment, or a nice building. But as a new grad, those aren’t the things that will make or break your experience.

Support is everything.

Look for:

• A named mentor

• Regular check-ins

• Support during consults and surgery

• A positive, friendly team

• A manageable caseload

• A practice that prioritises learning

  
  

A “perfect job” doesn’t exist — but the right environment for you right now does.

Red flags to watch out for

Some things should make you pause:

• High staff turnover

• Being expected to work sole charge too early

• No structured mentorship

• Regular unpaid overtime

• A stressed or unhappy team

  
  

If a job looks great on paper but feels wrong in person, trust that instinct.

Speak to the team (not just the boss)

The best insight comes from:

• Nurses

• Reception team

• Other vets

  
  

They’ll tell you:

• Whether lunch breaks actually happen

• If people leave on time

• What support really looks like

  
  

If people love working there, you’ll feel it. If they don’t — you’ll feel that too.

What should your first day look like?

Not four back-to-back consults.

A good first day should focus on:

• Learning the system

• Knowing where things are

• Understanding practice protocols

• Getting comfortable in your environment

  
  

You’re not expected to know everything — you’re expected to learn how things work in that practice.

Start simple and build confidence

Most supportive practices will start you with:

• Vaccines

• Flea and worming consults

• Routine checks

  
  

These help you build:

• Confidence

• Communication skills

• Clinical flow

• Time management

  
  

You don’t need to prove yourself on day one.

Your team will make or break your experience

Your nurses, VCAs and reception team are your biggest allies.

• Listen to them

• Respect their experience

• Ask questions

• Offer help back

  
  

A good relationship with your team makes everything easier — clinically and emotionally.

Communication matters more than you think

Early on, clients won’t remember your clinical decisions — they’ll remember how you made them feel.

Simple things go a long way:

• Use the pet’s name

• Introduce yourself properly

• Be warm and approachable

• Respect the animal’s behaviour

  
  

Good communication builds trust — and that gives you time to grow clinically.

What to say when you don’t know the answer

You don’t need to say “I don’t know”.

Instead, try:

• “I’m just going to run this past a colleague so we don’t miss anything.”

• “I want to double-check our policy to give you the best advice.”

• “I’m going to take a quick look at this under better light.”

  
  

This shows care, not weakness.

Practical survival tips

• Keep a small notebook with key info

• Learn a simple consult routine

• Don’t be afraid to step out and ask for help

• Use treats to make exams easier

• Don’t expect perfection from yourself

  
  

Everyone feels out of their depth at the start — that’s part of the process.

Surgery: you should be supported

You should not be doing surgery alone from day one.

A good practice will:

• Buddy you up

• Support you in theatre

• Build your confidence gradually

  
  

If that support isn’t there, it’s a red flag.

When it’s not you — it’s the job

If you’re:

• Anxious every day

• Constantly unsupported

• Rushing and cutting corners

• Afraid to ask questions

  
  

That doesn’t mean you’re a bad vet.

It often means the environment isn’t right.

And it’s okay to move on.

Final thoughts

Starting in practice is tough. There will be good days and bad days.

The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress.

Find a supportive environment, ask for help, build your team around you, and give yourself time.

You will get there.