Early in our careers, many of us will marvel at a more experienced veterinary colleague and think, “If only I could take an exact copy of their professional brain…”. The sad news is: you can’t. The good news is: you don’t need to! With some hands-on experience and learning, you are going to become your version of Veterinarian Extraordinaire! In the meantime, your composed, knowledgeable future self has kindly sent back in time the following pieces of helpful advice that they know you’ll appreciate an early heads-up on now…
7 Ways To Kick Start Your New Veterinary Career
So, you’ve worked hard and earned the certifications to become a qualified Veterinarian, Veterinary Nurse or Veterinary Technician. Congratulations! But now, a whole new challenge lies ahead… your very first job! Making the transition from student to practicing is an exciting time, but can also be understandably daunting. During this first year of employment especially, a great support network is invaluable. Helpful colleagues, accessible professional resources, and some mindful self-care will not only kick-start your career but will also support your mental and physical health during a potentially stressful time. So, to help you feel more cool, calm, and in control on your journey, here are a few early veterinary career tips that we sourced from Veterinary Professionals who have “been there, done that” and not just survived, but thrived…
5 Years as a Vet…now what?
As you approach five years into your career as a veterinarian, it’s time to step back and do some reflection. Take a few moments to carefully consider what you have learned, how your job has impacted your worldview, and how you’ve managed to balance your work responsibilities with social or family obligations. You probably don’t need to be convinced of the importance of self-evaluation. After all, you have been pushing yourself since your pre-vet days. Even as a practicing veterinarian, you likely work hard to keep up with evolving technology and techniques. You may put in long and irregular hours, either at the clinic or at home with your nose in reference books and veterinary journals, all in the continued quest for personal and professional development. Five years into your career, you’ve earned your chops and gained confidence in your work. Now it’s time to take a step back and take a big-picture view. What’s ahead for your career? What are your goals in your personal life? Where do you see yourself five years from now?
6 Ways to Build a Great Practice Culture
Whether building a new practice from the ground up or approaching a new job opportunity, taking the time to build positivity into your business practices will pay huge dividends. Your practice culture will be reflected in your team’s attitudes and in turn, how your clients and patients feel when they enter your clinic. Here are 6 great ways to get you started…
5 Essential Skills for Locum Relief Veterinary Professionals
Locum relief veterinarians are valuable assets to clinics who need a little extra support or want to make sure their patients have access to quality care while they are away from the clinic. Locum veterinary professionals need the same foundational skills as any other veterinarian; however, there are certain attributes and skills locum veterinarians should be particularly good at. A great veterinarian may not make a great locum veterinarian, so what exactly does it take to be successful? There are certainly more than these 5, but if you have a good handle on these, any clinic would be happy to have you pitching in to support their team…
Veterinary Work-Life Balance – Making The Myth A Reality
Veterinary professionals are naturally type-A empathetic individuals, aspiring to make life better for both pets and pet parents by providing excellent care. So yes, achieving a work-life balance that allows you to thrive is every veterinary professional’s goal, but many don’t notice that things are off-kilter until it is nearly too late. It’s time for an Intervention. We approached veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary technicians, and hospital managers from our global community for their advice and their practical, tactical tips to get you started on re-establishing your own work-life balance. Here are their 7 top tips…
What are the different kinds of veterinary jobs and careers?
If you want to work in the veterinary industry, it’s probably safe to say that you really like (or even love) animals! But did you know that there’s actually a variety of individual career paths you can follow within the wider veterinary field? Whether you’re particularly detail-oriented or more focused on “the big picture”; wanting to flex your science brain or your creative side; an intellectual problem-solver or a nurturer; or seeking a sociable daily working hub or a quiet office environment where you can focus, there’s likely a veterinary job to meet your ideal career requirements. So whether you are a veterinarian, veterinary nurse, or technician or just love working with animals, here are a few of the different ways you can work within the animal health industry, in a manner that will play to your specific skills, strengths, and interests…
Your Veterinary Career – Time for a Fresh Approach?
Now that we are beginning to see some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel and we are settling into a ‘new normal,’ there are many opportunities to take your career in new and exciting directions. If it seems like every day is the same with that sneaky puppy who presents with a foreign body at closing time, the chronically vomiting cat, or the rabbit who is suddenly inappetent, it may be time to change things up. It’s not that you don’t care about these cherished pets, or about their owners’ peace of mind – we know that you always will. It’s just that, after years of the same routine, some vets find themselves wanting something new; different challenges, new procedures, fresh ways to learn and grow…and with that, maybe a little more balance in their work-life balance too! If you’re willing to explore new horizons with an open mind (which could be quite an adventure in its own right), you’ll find a host of interesting and surprising veterinary careers that you may not have considered, or maybe didn’t know existed, or didn’t even exist at all when you started…
Why Don’t Veterinary Recruitment Agencies Publish Their Fees?
In today’s business environment, so many veterinary practices are running short-staffed and it is becoming increasingly challenging for veterinary hospitals to attract qualified veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary support staff to available job openings. In an effort to increase their applicant pool, some practices consider turning to a veterinary recruitment agency or “head hunter.” One of your first questions when considering appointing a recruitment agency is probably a simple one: how much does a recruiter charge? Unfortunately, finding transparent information on the fees associated with veterinary recruiting can be a challenge. Veterinary recruitment firms seldom publish their fees publicly, so uncovering this information requires a bit of sleuthing. This lack of transparency creates uncertainty and chews up your valuable time… time that you would probably rather spend seeing patients, or getting a head start on your search for employees. Is hiring a recruitment agency the right choice for your practice? And, if so, how much does it cost? Find the answers here…