Tag: veterinarian
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What to do if you DON’T land...
Continue Reading- Career tip
What to do if you DON’T land the job
We’ve all been there; here’s what to do if you don’t happen to land your dream veterinary job.
Posted: 27/11/2022
Read Time/Watch Time
5 minutes
Who should read this?
Anyone who wasn’t selected for their dream job as a vet, vet nurse, vet tech, or student.
Author(s)
Melanie Barham
Region
Global content
Have you been through this? What advice would you have for others in this situation?
We’ve all been there; you apply for a job. You polish your resume and go through the interview, and maybe even start envisioning yourself in the role. And then you get the news that you didn’t get the job. Ouch.
First of all, let me say that everyone who is willing to admit it has been turned down for a job. Here’s some advice about what to do about it.
- Be gracious, even if you don’t feel like it. It never pays to be sour about a job you didn’t get. I generally suggest thanking the hiring committee or person for their time and consideration and wishing them the best. Even if you can’t muster any other goodwill.
- Take time to feel all the feelings and recoup. Rally your team of mentors and trusted people around you and be as angry, annoyed, sad as you like. It’s ok to feel these things. Professionally, you will likely not want to act on them at this phase, but all feelings are welcome in this stage. Talking this through with a coach can be really helpful also. Hyperlink: https://www.vsgd.cocareer-support/coaching/
- Objectively ask for feedback if you can. I’ve received some of the best feedback of my life from reaching out to the employer, someone on the hiring committee etc. after NOT getting a job. However, I will say that it is important to be sure you can listen humbly, and not get defensive or argumentative. Afterwards, it’s helpful to sit with the feedback, and decide which information you will take forward to modify your behaviour and which information you will leave behind. Not all advice is worth taking!
- Understand that sometimes it isn’t about you as a candidate, but the constraints and preferences of the employer. Sometimes you cannot change that.
- Make a plan to change things that need to be changed, and move on. It can be helpful to write it down as well.
- Know that it will feel a bit hard to put yourself out there again. If you feel a bit gun shy about applying to your next job, don’t worry. This is pretty normal. If your confidence has taken a beating, you might want to get your resume reviewed or do some interview prep with a professional, or lean on your support network.
Have you been through this? What advice would you have for others in this situation? If you want to speak to someone about interview prep, your resume/CV, or career coaching, please contact us!
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How to get into the right mindset...
Continue Reading- Career tip
How to get into the right mindset to tackle your resume/CV
Transforming a dreaded task into an amazing one!
Posted: 27/11/2022
Read Time/Watch Time
5 minutes
Who should read this?
Anyone struggling to get their resume/CV updated, or applying for a job in the veterinary profession, students, veterinarians, vet techs, vet nurses.
Author(s)
Melanie Barham
Region
Global content
It is really helpful to have time set aside to revisit your resume/CV
Getting into the right mindset to tackle your resume/CV can be challenging. As a veterinary professional, it doesn’t matter if you’re a student, veterinarian, vet nurse/vet tech, or experienced executive, few people LOVE updating their resume/CV. Self-promotion isn’t something most people love to do. However, having a great resume is key to landing an amazing job. So how do we get into a better mood and mindset to tackle this odious task?
I’d suggest putting on some upbeat tunes and getting yourself some oxygen to the brain. Whatever your jam, get into a good mood to move forward. Exercising, or going on brisk walk by yourself can help to clear your head to sit down to work on representing yourself on a piece of paper. I’m not above talking to myself either; talking through some of my accomplishments is something I highly recommend in the car, or on a walk.
I also gather all my materials together, setting aside at least 1-2 hours to get this done. If you’re smart like some of my colleagues, you could consider creating a computer file, shoe box, file, or photo album of compliments, awards, nice emails etc that show all the times people have given you compliments. If you’re not that organized (like me of yesteryear), you’ll want to have a buddy who can jog your memory of the great things you’ve done. Call a supportive friend who can remind you of all the great things about yourself.
If you’ve got a specific job in mind, print the description or ad off, and underline some of the key words or skills they’re looking for. Draw a map or chart on paper or a spreadsheet of times you’ve shown these critical skills so you can specifically highlight them.
Tackling the job an hour at a time is often best. It is really helpful to have time set aside to revisit your resume/CV to ensure you have the wording just right. Sometimes enlisting a professional or friend as your proof-reader is helpful.
Above all, remember that while you’re meant to be honest and authentic, you really have to show that you can do the job. Don’t be ashamed or afraid to really let your strengths shine. If you don’t share them, no one will know they are there at the receiving end. Whatever you have to do to get in the type of mood where you feel like an absolute bada**, do it.
If you’d like help crafting your resume/CV, we can help. From students to executives, we’ve helped all stages successfully land positions in their dream jobs- clinical and non-clinical, in the veterinary field. Check out our services here. If you’re not sure what direction you’re headed, you may want to explore career coaching. Group coaching and individual coaching is available.
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Why You Need a Resume Even if...
Continue Reading- Career tip
Why You Need a Resume Even if You’re Not Looking
3 great reasons to update your resume/cv even if you’re NOT actively job seeking as a vet, vet nurse/vet tech or employer.
Posted: 27/11/2022
Read Time/Watch Time
5 minutes
Who should read this?
Anyone who has an out of date resume in the vet profession, vet techs/ vet nurses, veterinarians, students.
Author(s)
Melanie Barham
Region
Global content
Don’t let a resume be a barrier for you
When did you last update your resume or CV? Is it collecting dust bunnies in your desk drawer, or on your old computer from 3 years ago? If so, you’re not alone! Most people hate creating their resumes and view it as a tiresome tedious task that’s best put off until necessary. I’m here to challenge that belief today.
Here are the top reasons why people say they don’t need a resume/CV, and why you might want to change your mind:
I own my own business
So, if you’re a veterinary business owner, you might think you don’t need a resume at all. I mean, who are you applying to? But you’d be surprised at the number of times having a polished and updated resume can come in handy when applying for board positions, awards, or as a supporting document for bank loans etc. If you’re an entrepreneur, or someone looking for investors in your business, it can come in handy to offer to flip someone your amazing resume as a way to get to know someone quicker.
I mostly like my job
You might love your job, but sometimes amazing positions become available at the drop of a hat. Being prepared can allow you to take advantage of opportunities to progress in your career or take advantage of major pay increases without delay. You’d be surprised how many colleagues I’ve heard say, “Oh, I saw this amazing veterinary job on a Facebook group, but it was so much trouble to apply and update my resume.” Don’t let a resume be a barrier for you. Additionally, as a professional, you’ll want to continually add to your portfolio of experience, and applying to volunteer positions can be sped up with the addition of a resume. Finally, keeping your resume updated keeps track of your accomplishments for annual review time, making negotiation MUCH easier
I haven’t seen a job I like yet
Don’t let last minute resume panic seep in. When a job you love pops up, you want to be at the ready to apply early. Applicants who apply early have a much better chance of success! Having something prepared also likely means less errors. The more passes through a document, the less likely we are to make silly grammatical errors.
If you’d like help with preparing for a job application, check out our Resume/CV review services here. We have qualified veterinarians who are experts in crafting resumes that fit your needs, and all reviews include a LinkedIn audit and personal recommendations. Also check out our CV accelerator programme if self paced support is more your jam!
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How to Survive the Rollercoaster of Applying...
Continue Reading- Career tip
How to Survive the Rollercoaster of Applying For Jobs
Creating a sense of calm and resilience when you're trying to find a new role.
Posted: 19/11/2022
Read Time/Watch Time
8 minutes
Who should read this?
Veterinarians, vet nurses, vet techs, job seekers
Author(s)
Melanie Barham
Region
Global content
How to survive the rollercoaster of applying for jobs
If it’s been a while since you applied for a job, you might forget how much energy it takes. Much like dating, applying for jobs in any field is really putting yourself out there. It can be exhausting, exciting, and many other feelings in between.
Here’s some tips to help:
1. Budget your energy
Remember that you might have to take time to imagine yourself in a role, craft a cover letter and customized resume, and go through interviews. This can cause us to feel quite exposed, as though we’re holding ourselves up for examination and validation. Whether you get the job or not, set aside energy to dedicate to this process. Remembering this before you begin is so important!
2. Rally your circle of support
You may contact your mentors etc for references, and this is a great time to rally your supporters. They know you well, and can be your cheering squad and team of reflection coaches as you prep for each stage of the job seeking process, asking you great questions that get your brain thinking. If you don’t have a circle of support, reach out to our communities or a coach as either an anonymous support or for one-on-one support from our coaches.
3. Set aside time for reflection
It’s important to reflect on what went well and what didn’t at each stage of the job search. What went well? What were you most proud of? What would you do differently next time? Answering these questions, and considering them independently of the outcome or feedback of others first can be helpful. Seeking feedback from successful and unsuccessful job attempts can also be incredibly helpful to help with personal growth.
4. Avoid over-rumination
Sometimes, getting or not getting the job has less to do with us, and more to do with the specific job. If you go down the road of self-depreciation and examining your self worth, you know you’ve overdone the reflection. My fabulous husband always says to me, “Your worth is not measured by other people’s opinions of you,” which I will share with you as well. Even if you get 0 jobs you applied for, you are still an amazing professional and there is still a need for your unique talents.
5. Manage your expectations
A lovely wise person told me, “It isn’t worth keeping track of how many attempts it took to get you over the high jump pole.” Ah right! We always remember the failed attempts and take them hard, but in reality, it can take a few tries before we land an amazing position. Know that despite how people tell their career stories, there’s a lot of failed applications and attempts before appearing to leap to apparent success.
Let us know if we can help you on your career journey. You don’t have to go it alone.
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How to Write a Job Ad That...
Continue Reading- Career tip
How to Write a Job Ad That Stands Out
Here's our top tips to stand out in a sea of employers. Let your unique and amazing workplace shine through!
Posted: 19/11/2022
Read Time/Watch Time
7 minutes
Who should read this?
employers, office managers
Author(s)
Melanie Barham
Region
Global
How to Write a Job Ad That Stands Out
Whew, it is tough out there right now for employers, am I right? Every veterinary magazine is stuffed with help wanted ads!
We’ve been conducting independent market research as we piloted our recruiting methods, and below are some of the ways that are proven to help employers stand out.
Show your values, not your equipment or your adorable town
Job embeddedness is a term from careers research. It describes the level of commitment or depth of connection an employee feels to a workplace. When an employee or potential employee feel connected and aligned with the values of a workplace, they are many time more likely to stay, even when life is tough. Workplaces that can showcase their unique values are much more likely to attract a candidate who will feel embedded and want to stay long term. If your clinic values that you’ve written down include “delivering high quality care”, I’m urging you to dig deeper!
How in heaven’s name do you do that?
Start with asking your employees these questions:
- What makes this workplace special?
- What makes them stay?
- What attracted them to the clinic, or what they noticed first?
This exercise helps themes come though! Maybe you value laughter every day, or getting every employee home on time, or being a flexible workplace.
Let them see your personality
Think back to the days of commercials on TV- you’d see an ad for a soft drink. The person in the ad would be having fun, and feeling so very refreshed drinking the drink, exhaling, “ahhh.”
Marketers want us to be able to see ourselves using a product, or enjoying the benefits of a service. Job advertising is no different. Help employees picture themselves within your workplace by adding video, photos, tours of the workplace, or a personal message. Don’t be afraid to show them what it’s really like day to day. Essentially, you want to attract your ideal employee by showing your special breed of awesome that your workplace is. This is why every job ad listed with us on our recruiting platform allows video, photos, and unlimited text.
We love doing Interview the Boss features with workplaces for this exact reason; it’s a unique opportunity to have an intimate and personal conversation to show what it’s really like to work for you. ITBs have a 4x factor increase in candidates applying to their positions in our pilot in 2021-2022, and report higher quality candidates. With a professional facilitator to assist and tease out the best characteristics of your team, it makes connecting genuinely with candidates easier.
Show your full offering
Salary isn’t the whole package for employees, and while it’s an important factor, be sure to list all the perks/benefits of working for you to create a real picture of total compensation.
Private pension/401K/RRSP matches, loan repayment programs, paid time off/vacation time, number of stat holidays, be sure to list it all. Maybe you have some fun clauses like get your birthday as a paid day off, or you always pay for lunch on Fridays. Remember that in a global market, candidates are moving all over the place, and may not know the amazing perks you offer even the other side of the same country.
Conclusion
If these seem overwhelming right now, or you’re fresh out of ideas, we get it. It can be tricky to find time to ponder deep things like your workplace values and craft a jaunty ad after a 12 hour day. We specialize in helping workplaces identify their unique and amazing aspects and showcasing them to attract the right people. Contact us to get help crafting an ad and showcasing your job to a larger audience.
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