Although interviewing for jobs as a qualified Vet will never be quite as nerve wracking as those initial interviews to get into Vet school, they are still extremely important and technique is key. A positive interview can truly seal the deal on that dream job, so make it count!

Here are some things to consider when preparing for your next interview….

 

Get the basics right!

 

-Make sure you are totally clear on the date, time and location of your interview. It sounds silly, but it’s really easy to make mistakes with these things and it could instantly cause the practice to feel concerned about your suitability if you turn up on the wrong day!

 

Do some research-

 

-Again, it sounds obvious, but it’s always worth doing some research on the practice you are being interviewed by. Know whether they’re independent or a corporate; know whether they have any particular areas of specialism; know whether they do their own OOH etc. Learning this information serves two purposes- firstly, it means you are going in knowing what to expect (no one needs a surprise at an interview!), ands secondly you will appear more informed and prepared, which will certainly make a good impression. You can do your own research, or you can ask us to find out key information for you- it’s our job after all!

 

Dress appropriately-

 

-Dress code can actually be quite tricky to work out for Veterinary interviews, as they aren’t typically very formal. However, if you are unsure- just ask! Either ask the practice yourself, or ask us to enquire on your behalf. There’s nothing worse than turning up over or under-dressed, so you might as well ask the question. Whatever you choose to wear, make sure you appear presentable and professional, and be clear on whether you will be expected to perform any clinical tasks when choosing your attire (would be awkward to turn up to a farm call wearing a skirt and heels!).

 

Be mindful of body language-

 

-As trained professionals, Vets and RVNs are typically very skilled communicators, but in an interview scenario where nerves are running high, it can be easy to panic and forget the non-verbal language! Remember, a polite handshake (if  appropriate) can really set the tone for a good first meeting. Take care to appear engaged and interested whilst being interviewed, by giving eye contact and having good posture.  Try to not nervously fiddle with your hair/tie/belt/etc. Ultimately, your interviewer is going to be trying to imagine how you will be in a consultation scenario, and if you appear to be a nervous, twitchy wreck, this isn’t very encouraging for them!

 

Be you!

 

Finally, although it may sound cliched, try and let your personality shine through! Honestly, a veterinary job interview is simply so that the practice can find out what you are like as a person and determine whether you can fit in with the team. By this stage they already know your clinical background and experience, and what your skillset is like (most practices want a skills matrix even before selecting for interview, so they know the ins and outs of what you are capable of).  If you’ve been selected for interview it’s really to gauge whether your personality is a good fit, so just be yourself. We will do our best to prepare you for any specific types of questions/tasks that we know might come up in your interview, but generally, veterinary interviews are simply informal chats.

One of the benefits of using a recruitment agency like Elite Veterinary Staffing solutions, is that we can help secure you an interview at a practice (by speaking with them directly and promoting your skills and personality) and then prepare you that interview. We liaise with our practices to find out things like- interview style, desired dress code etc, and once the interview is done, we discuss feedback. If an offer is made (hooray!) we are also happy to help in negotiating any terms which may require tweaking. All in all, we aim to make the process easier, faster and more successful for you.

Please reach out to us today if you are considering a new role- we’d love to hear from you.

You can reach out to us by calling us on 01823 429566 or by emailing Olivia at Oliva@elitestaffinsolutions.co.uk