Tag: new role
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If You Are Feeling Lost, Start Here.
Continue Reading- Think piece
If You Are Feeling Lost, Start Here.
With these tips, you can confidently navigate the resources offered by VSGD and gain a better understanding of your next career steps. Remember that being "lost" doesn't mean you're stuck; there are always ways to progress.
Posted: 28/05/2023
Read Time/Watch Time
10 minutes
Who should read this?
veterinarians, vet nurses, vet techs
Author(s)
VSGD
Region
Global content
If You Are Feeling Lost, Start Here
1. Take a deep breath.
It’s not uncommon to feel a bit overwhelmed, whether this is stemming from dissatisfaction in your career, frustration around not knowing what steps to take first, or stress about how to fit in something this important around a busy schedule.
The good news is that there are plenty of people just like you who have been there before and know what you are going through! We are building a supportive community to help guide you through this so that you can ultimately find the career path that is right for you, whether that means Staying in practice, Going on to new pastures, or Diversifying within the veterinarian field.
2. Create your candidate profile.
Take action and craft a standout candidate profile with us. This is the ultimate way to showcase your unique abilities to potential employers, whether you’re seeking to make a career pivot or looking to document your experiences and competencies for negotiating promotions or salary increases. We also encourage people to put themselves out there (if you don’t ask, then you don’t get). Reverse Recruitment is a great way to find a role that was built just for you.
Employers also have the opportunity to showcase their business values by creating company profiles.
3. Let us help with your job search.
At VSGD, we have launched a jobs board that provides you with a variety of roles to choose from based on your needs. We firmly believe in the importance of transparency and flexibility in negotiations between companies and their future employees. Our job board features a range of clinical and non-clinical roles, with options for both full-time and part-time positions, as well as the ability to work from home. Be sure to explore our “Interview the Boss” sessions to gain further insight into the employers.
4. Check out our career coaching services.
We offer a dynamic developmental group coaching programme to help veterinary professionals gain the support and clarity to take control of their own careers, empowering them to identify their next steps towards a career that works for them. This is in partnership with VDS Training and guests. Find out more information here. Looking for 1-1 coaching for instant results? Check out our career coaches here.
5. Think about all your transferable skills.
Write down all the things you are good at, enjoy and would like to do more of. It’s important to focus the things you WANT to do, the things you feel passionate about or feel naturally drawn to rather than just the things you dislike or want to rule out.
To become a veterinary professional you will have no doubt garnered an amazing skillset unique to you. Think about all the experiences you have had that led you to this point. Many of these skills are transferable inside and outside the clinic, for example:
Client management, team management, ability to work both alone and in a team
Empathy, patience, resilience
Problem-solving, critical thinking, ability to learn quickly
Teaching, mentoring, leadership
Sometimes it’s hard to work out what you want to do with all these skills. VDS Training advisors Carolyne Crowe and Penny Barker present this webinar on “Working out what you want” in conjunction with VSGD.
You can also check out the excellent session from VSGD LIVE! by Adrian Nelson Pratt on “Stop Selling Yourself Short- A CV and Interview Clinic” if you want help to dust off that CV into something that sells YOU!
Need further CV/Resume support? Invest in yourself by looking at our CV review and branding packages.
6. Find your ‘people’.
It never hurts to expand your social and professional network. Which is precisely why we run fantastic events to facilitate this! VSGD celebrates the diversity of talent, expertise, and skills originating from the veterinarian profession. The VSGD groups are intended to provide a forum for free, independent and safe exchange of information between veterinary professionals considering diversification of their careers as well as for professionals to receive advice on how to remain satisfied in the clinic. Taking action and surrounding yourself with other career pioneers in the community can really give you the spark that you may need. Come to an event or chat with us in the VSGD online forums – we’re sure you’ll find people you vibe with!
Vets: Stay, Go, Diversify – North America
Vets: Stay, Go, Diversify – Down Under
These are closed groups, not directly available to the public. Membership of the groups are limited to those with direct interest in the aims and objectives of the group. Members must have a vet degree, a qualified nursing/tech degree, or be students of respective training.
7. Check out our resources.
We have compiled career interviews of career pioneers, as well as practical blog posts on pertinent topics to help motivate you and online courses for support on landing that job and understanding the power of negotiation. PLUS we have loads of CPD video content available to stream online, recorded from our live events.
We also offer Secret Support for anyone wanting to ask a question to our community anonymously. Secret Support allows for safe, open, honest and anonymous discussion of sensitive topics with other members of the community. We cover all kinds of topics and welcome any kind and constructive comments regardless of viewpoint. Email us at community@vsgd.co if you have something that you would like to be shared with our Facebook community.
8. Let’s stay connected.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and stay ahead of the game with the latest events, job postings, and words of wisdom on how to uplift and fulfil your career. Trust us, your inbox will be filled with career inspo that you won’t want to miss.
Need more help?
We are here to help. We have an amazing, supportive community, and tonnes of resources! Email us and let us know what you need. We’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.
Newsletter
We send out regular updates with articles about creating a sustainable career in vet med, along with job opportunities and more. Employers, we’ve got great articles for you too!
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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://vsgd.co/career-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!
Newsletter
We send out regular updates with articles about creating a sustainable career in vet med, along with job opportunities and more. Employers, we’ve got great articles for you too!
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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.
Newsletter
We send out regular updates with articles about creating a sustainable career in vet med, along with job opportunities and more. Employers, we’ve got great articles for you too!
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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.
Newsletter
We send out regular updates with articles about creating a sustainable career in vet med, along with job opportunities and more. Employers, we’ve got great articles for you too!
