How To

Like Liam Neeson in Taken, you have a very particular set of skills, acquired over your career, but unlike Liam, your skills make you a joy for employers and recruiters. But when they look for you on LinkedIn, as 77 per cent of recruiters and employers do, you want them to find you and be impressed enough to reach out and connect. And when they do find you (and they will if you follow this advice), they will employ you. Apply these tips and you will be well on the way to your initial interview…

In this era of unusual demand and supply for Veterinary team members, if you want the best then it’s time to become a great storyteller. We’re not talking about fibs, stretching the truth or outright lies. What we do mean is that in a market where demand clearly is outstripping supply (at a ratio of more than 1:1) Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Nurses and just about all Veterinary Professionals are being highly selective about choosing their next career step…and it starts with your Message. You have just a few seconds…That’s it. In today’s attention-span-challenged world, if your Job Campaign does not attract, engage and draw readers or viewers into your story in the first few seconds then your audience will just move on…and, having captured their attention, you must keep their interest right to the very end. As for you Job Seekers, knowing your potential new employer’s compelling story is essential to making the right decision. Both of you will find out why and how here…

You have successfully completed your studies and practical skills placements, and gained your Degree or Certification and you are actively networking and applying, and with good interest being shown…but even though there is a recognized shortage of veterinary professionals across all levels, despite popular opinion, you need more than a pulse, a degree and state registration to get your first veterinary job. And then there is a global pandemic causing all kinds of uncertainty. Finding a practice to put your newly acquired skills to work in an entry-level role has always been a challenge, and now even more so, so here are six proven tactics to help you secure your first job as a brand new Veterinarian, Vet Tech or Veterinary Nurse in these challenging times…

As the world starts taking puppy and kitten and duckling steps back toward some semblance of normalcy in varying degrees around the world, for many the challenges have been a wake-up call. Veterinary nursing is a calling and the passion and care that our Veterinary Technicians and Nurses display, often the front line of veterinary care, is to be admired. No practice can exist without your compassion, commitment and knowledge. The personal rewards are to be cherished, but the reality is that we all have to live in an ever-expensive world. It’s not until you step up a few rungs that your income starts to meet your lifestyle and gives you that little bit more to build a buffer for the unexpected be it car repairs, family support or yes, a pandemic. So to help you make that next step or three in your career, we asked some of the leading Vet Nurses and Technicians around the world who have achieved personal, professional and financial success, to share their advice on accelerating your career.

Research indicates that over 25% of workers report experiencing high levels of burnout as a result of their jobs. And the field of veterinary medicine is not immune to this trend. Vet Nurses, in particular, are subject to burnout as a result of the daily stressors you face. Failure to address burnout head on can lead to serious problems such as depression, stroke, and other serious health complication, and is a primary cause of veterinary professionals leaving the profession that they love. Fortunately, there are some straightforward measures that you, your work mates and your hospital or clinic can take to recognize, prevent or manage the symptoms of burnout in the nursing team. Here are nine tips that we can all implement to prevent or overcome burnout…

Successful veterinary professionals know that having a standout Resume (or Curriculum Vitae or CV) is a vital element in securing the very best veterinary jobs. Your resume is arguably the most crucial tool in your job search because in most cases it creates that all-too-important first impression. A document that is often the first opportunity you have to introduce yourself to a prospective employer. So, where do you turn to when it’s time to create or polish up your resume? Here are a few great places to start…

Even this early in your career, you already know that being a Veterinary Nurse or Vet Technician is a very rewarding career. We also know it is not an easy job. The hours are often irregular. Continuing Education continues relentlessly. There are days when you don’t have any appointments for a while and you can take a moment to think and plan; then you have several patients walking in at once plus an inbound emergency on the way. There are days when you bounce out on time and days where you stay hours after you close the hospital doors to “just make sure”…and as your experience grows, you also start to grow your own insights and tips that you share with the next generation of Nurses and Technicians. So, we asked a variety of Vet Nurses and Techs from around the world what they wish they had known on Day 1, Week 1…and from the practical to the tactical to the philosophical, here are their answers…