How to Negotiate for What You Want in Your Veterinary JobApril 9, 2015Once you have a job interview, you may want to dive right in to the details to see if this is the job you want and if you can get what you deserve in terms of pay and benefits. Yet while you may be tempted to start negotiations during the personal interview, it is probably best to wait, particularly if they indicate that there will be another step after this face-to-face interview. Gather all the information you need during the interview regarding wages and benefits, and go home and consider what you have acquired. Compare the wages and benefits to what you have now and what you hope for in the future. Keep in mind that if the wage is lower, but the benefits are better, this could still be a great move. Consider the work environment, as well, including the location (how long of a commute), facility (is it old and falling apart), equipment (do they have all the equipment you would like to use), people (you’ve already met front office and management, at least, and perhaps during a tour you met more of the team) and your gut instinct during this visit. Then be ready to negotiate if …
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5 Photos of Vet School Study BuddiesApril 1, 2015When it's time to study, who better to study with then the pet who inspired you to go to vet school? Like this dog, who is eager that you learn all about veterinary medicine. My study buddy <3 #dog #study #vetschool #pitbull #pitbullsofinstagram #instadogs #batears #budapest #love A photo posted by Camilla Hövik (@camillaizabell) on Mar 30, 2015 at 12:21pm PDT This puppy may be a little lost reading the course material, but he'll encourage you to keep reading! "I have no idea what I'm reading dad" @dachshundsofinstagram #dachshund #featuremydoxie #doxieoftheday #doxie #sausagedog #instadog #instagay #cute #study #mac #apple #instadaily #igers #dog #vetschool A photo posted by Dan Mack (@dan_mack_) on Mar 30, 2015 at 8:18pm PDT There's nothing like coffee and a cat while studying.
The Funniest Client ExpressionsApril 1, 2015In honor of April Fool’s Day, we share a few wacky client expressions, either heard personally or kindly shared by colleagues and technicians. This is in no way meant to make fun of our beloved clients. OK, maybe just a little. If we were to enter their professional world, we also would butcher expressions and misunderstand their explanations. Feel free to share expressions you’ve heard after reading! General Pet Care “My male puppy was just neutralized.” “Are you going to seduce my dog to clean his teeth?” “My dog needs his distemperment shot for his bad behavior.” “My dog needs his Bordello vaccine.” A classic: “My dog was spayded.” “No need to give my puppy a wormer, he was already wormed.” “My vet found the tumor by palpitation of his belly.” New dog breeds: Rockweiler, Am Stat. “I feed him Euba-Kanuba.” Surgery Department A client who felt the need to insist that he was an engineer: “My dog has a prenatal hernia and hip diphtheria.” (Translation: a perineal hernia and hip dysplasia.) After discussing removing an ununited anconeal process from a shepherd’s elbow: “Can it be done with minimally evasive surgery?” Me: “Please don’t forget to fast your dog after …
How To Prepare For An InterviewMarch 26, 2015It worked! You sent out your resume and cover letter, and you have a fish on the line! Now is the time to get ready for your interview. Be aware that the practice may want to conduct a phone interview, personal interview and even a “working” interview or observation time. Here are some things to consider: One of the best ways to interview involves behavioral questions, which is founded on the concept that past actions are the best predictor for future actions. So you may be asked questions such as: Next time, we’ll take a look at the face-to-face interview and how to sell yourself to land the job you want! Be ready for a phone call. This may sound silly, but it matters what type of voicemail message a potential employer will hear when they call you. Take a moment to listen to your outgoing messages, at home and/or on your cell phone, and make sure you sound professional — no loud music, obscure messages, lazy grammar, that sort of thing. At least while you’re sending out resumes, you should realize this is someone’s very first image of you. Make it a good one. Keep in mind that a …
Pets In The Clinic: 5 Instagram PhotosMarch 25, 2015Your job isn't always dealing with clients or patients that don't want to be in your clinic. Some pets seem to love the clinic, like these 5 pets. Working hard this Wednesday morning! #hvc #veterinarian #minipigsofinstagram #pintsizedpiglets A photo posted by Heartland Veterinary Clinic (@heartlandvetclinic) on Mar 25, 2015 at 6:07am PDT BB Basil is working hard at the front desk today. Call him to schedule an appointment. #qvpets #killingly #connecticut #veterinarian #veterinary #vettech #vetlife #ctvet #petstagram #newengland #Massachusetts #plainfield #putnam #killingly #danielson #catsofinstagram A photo posted by Quinebaug Valley Vet Hospital (@qvvets) on Mar 25, 2015 at 1:07pm PDT Chilling on my floor..lol #puppy #puppylove #puppies #chilling …
5 Veterinarian-Themed MugsMarch 19, 2015If you need your cup of coffee in the morning, you need a mug that will brighten your day just as much as the caffeine. Try one of these 5 mugs! This mug from the Blue Fox Etsy shop knows why you went into veterinary medicine. This simple mug from TYDDesigns features a cat design made out of a stethoscope. If your clinic's clients aren't around to see it, this mug from Blue Fox might be perfect for you. This cute mug from Mugxie can be customized for your hair and skin color. If you need more the one cup of Joe, try this customizable tumbler mug from HeartfeltPersonals instead. Have you moved past coffee for this day? You might want to try this cup instead: This glass from WulfCreekDesigns can be made for veterinarians and veterinary students too.
How to Find and Keep the Job You LoveMarch 12, 2015It’s nearly impossible to know when you might want to consider changing jobs, unless you are making the decision, of course, and then it depends on how impulsive you may be! Regardless, it is important to stay “ready to launch” into finding a new job whenever needed. Keep your eyes open. Even if you are “happily married” to your current job, remain observant about job openings in your profession and region. Stay in touch with your state or provincial VMA at a minimum. If you are a veterinary technician, you should also continually review the classifieds for your technician association. By doing so, you will not only be one of the first to spot a great opportunity for advancement, but you’ll also get a feel for the supply and demand for employees. For instance, if you notice a continued or sudden increase in practices looking for credentialed technicians, you’ll know that the demand is high and supply may be low, so you could ask your current employer for a more competitive wage and/or benefits, knowing that it will not be as easy to replace you if you decide to leave. Pay particular attention to any wage and/or benefits mentioned …
4 Tips for Hiring Veterinary StaffMarch 9, 2015Whether you are just starting your own veterinary practice or you are looking to replace or expand your practice, hiring is an essential part of running an efficient practice. With an employee costing 1 ½ to 3-times their annual salary and some employees taking up to five months to reach break-even productivity, according to Investopedia, making sure your next hire is the right one is essential to your practice’s longevity. Have you looked at how your practice selects the best candidates? Here are some tips to help your veterinary practice reduce hiring time and increase the amount of time you can spend growing your business by better serving new and existing clients. Focus on Soft and Technical Skills When Hiring While having the necessary education and licensure for a technician or veterinarian is necessary for competency, looking at the complete skill set of a potential hire is equally important when making a successful hire. “For a technician, you look for a person with good technical skills: Being able to put catheters in, being able to intubate animals, being able to setup a patient for a radiograph is what I look for in a vet tech,” says Dr. Philip …
7 Things That Will Kill Your Employee's MotivationMarch 9, 2015Almost every new employee brings a high degree of motivation to: Be the best they can be Contribute to your practice Learn new skills Get along with other employees Remain with your practice for the long haul “I Love My Job.” The challenge for practice leaders is to build on that initial motivation, and to create an environment where motivation grows deeper. Eventually, a sense of motivation can blossom into an attitude of loyalty and commitment. This reminds me of a scene at the altar of a wedding I once heard about. When the groom started patting his pockets as though looking for something, his best man asked, “Did you forget the ring?” The groom worriedly answered, “No, I think I’ve lost my enthusiasm.” Looking back on 36 years of leadership in veterinary practices makes me wish I had researched and written this article many years ago. No, I didn’t make all the mistakes all the time, but my leadership could have been better, especially in the area of keeping team members motivated. A lot gets written about how to motivate employees. But what about the flip side; things that kill motivation like weeds choke out a vegetable garden? Killer …
Why are Technicians Late for Work?March 5, 2015After months of polling the technicians we work with from various clinics and online (with the help of a Facebook page for technicians, “Vet Techs United”), we have come up with a collection of the funniest or craziest reasons they’ve arrived late for work. Here is a true story, narrated by a technician at one of my practices on a day we had a TPLO scheduled at 9 a.m.: “I woke up late but still wanted to go to the gym. I quickly gathered up my gym bag, and out the door I ran. I had a successful ‘express workout,’ feeling good about myself. Time to hit the shower. And that’s when I realized that not only did I pack two scrub tops and no pants, but also no fresh underwear. OMG!!! So I have to put on my sweaty gym clothes back on. I rushed home to spruce up and get dressed. “Once I got to the clinic, my TPLO patient had backed up his rear end up to the cage door and unloaded the smelliest and most disgusting blackish diarrhea, which stunk up the entire kennel. With a deep breath and some assistance from my great teammates, we …
