Finally quit my job!
I started working in this field last year at 21 years old. I started off as a kennel technician in August 2025. I was then promoted to vet assistant in January 2026. I was a joint position, so here and there I worked kennel and here and there I worked as an assistant. I'm sure you all know kennel techs basically act as custodians.
I don't work at a teaching hospital. And by that I mean that you have to prove yourself somehow to get a sign off sheet. I have been an assistant for almost 6 months and was just promoted to a full assistant this week, meaning no more kennel. I get paid 17/hour here in CA (which is ass). As kennel I was paid 15/hr...
My boss is an RVT who also determines who gets to get a sign off sheet and who gets to learn certain skills. The sign off sheet comes with injections, anal gland expression, nail trims, etc. Just the basic stuff. I to this day have still not earned my sign off sheet. All I do 24 hours a week at this job is go into rooms with the doctors and take notes for them, fill medications, and restrain. I am literally not allowed to do anything. No one advocated for me and I was told not to advocate for myself as my boss gets annoyed when people seem too demanding. I have never called out or been late. I always do my job and rarely make mistakes. I feel as if I deserve it. I am a very hard working person and do my job right when told what to do.
My clinic is extremely toxic. The most skilled assistants make themselves seem god-like and better than lower tiered assistants and even the doctors talk badly about some employees. It makes me feel better than I will be a vet one day while they are all still stuck here being hateful and discouraging.
I am going into my senior year of college with barely any experience. I want to be a veterinarian more than anything. I finally quit and I got a job at an ER clinic. I'm not gonna lie I am very nervous, especially since I was not allowed to do anything at my previous job. It completely drained me from all my confidence as I constantly wondered why I wasn't good enough to teach. With little confidence, I have freeze responses when asked questions since I doubt myself so much. This clinic ruined me. It's like my boss had a weird kink over making her employees feel like shit. I really hope I am able to regain my confidence back since I will actually learn here. Anyone have similar experiences?