Becoming a vet is often the number one choice of career for anyone who loves animals and ‘vet’ is frequently included in top ten lists of children’s dream jobs. The world of veterinary medicine is much larger than you might think and there are actually many different career options, including veterinary nurse, anesthesiologist, zoo veterinarians and more.

A veterinary surgeon is one of the most popular vet career choices, but what do they actually do? All veterinarians are qualified to carry out some surgical work, but veterinary surgeons are specially trained to perform advanced or more complicated procedures. If you’re thinking of specialising in veterinary surgery, see below to find out more about what this role entails.

Diagnostic tests

Diagnostic tests are used to get a better idea of what might be wrong with the animal in the vet’s care. They could include x-rays, radiographs, ultrasound scans or blood tests. Veterinary surgeons are specially trained to interpret these results and decide the most appropriate form of treatment.

Neutering

Neutering is a surgical procedure used to stop animals from breeding. It’s most common amongst domestic pets like cats and dogs, to prevent unwanted litters and to reduce possible behavioural problems.

Operations for sick or injured animals

A veterinary surgeon may perform a vast range of operations and some specialise in a certain area, such as cardiology or neurology. Operations performed by veterinary surgeons may include dental surgery, fixing broken bones, wound repair, eye surgery (such as removing tumours), and foreign body removal (if your pet has swallowed something they shouldn’t!).

General health checks

Again, this covers a vast range of tasks, including taking an animal’s temperature or blood pressure, weighing them, checking their heart rate and examining their ears, eyes and throat. Vets may also give owners general advice about how to look after their pet, including specialist diets, exercise plans or behavioural advice. Administering vaccinations may also be part of general health care, especially for puppies and kittens.

Looking for your dream veterinary surgeon role? Get in touch with the experts at Vet Recruitment to see how we could help you. We specialise in matching jobseekers in the veterinary field with the ideal role for their skills and talents. Our skilled team of recruiters are dedicated to understanding your requirements and expectations and we’ll work to secure your next position as soon as possible. For more information about how we could help you, give us a call today or visit our website to browse the latest vacancies.

You’ve completed your training and perhaps even have a little experience under your belt, but now that it’s time to find a position, what should you do? As a relatively new veterinarian, it can be confusing to look at job listings and try to figure out which option is best to apply for. Before you begin sending in applications, here are a few things to consider.

Which Animals Will You Treat?

As a child, you probably thought of a vet as someone seeing dogs and cats and the occasional domestic bird. However, there are many different options now that you’re trained. You may choose to specialise in farm animals, exotic cats, zoo creatures, or small mammals. There are endless options out there and you get to choose.

Look carefully at job postings to determine which animals you’re most likely to work with. You will enjoy a job that you are passionate about more than one that you take just because it was there.

How Much Does It Pay?

Salaries vary quite a bit depending on what type of vet you are and you should research the average salary for your experience and desired position. From there, you can start looking for positions that offer a reasonable amount. Remember that it is possible to negotiate if you have unusual skills or are being recruited.

Where Is It Located?

Not everyone is willing to relocate for a job, so you’ll want to consider this. Are you willing to move if the perfect job is elsewhere? How much of a commute are you willing to do? From there, you can look for the jobs you’re willing to take. If you find the perfect position, but it requires a three-hour commute, that’s not likely to work out.

Will This Further My Career?

Everything you do in veterinary medicine should advance your career in the direction you want to take it. To do this, you will need to be very clear on your goals. Do you one day wish to work in a specific zoo or aquarium? Then you need to take jobs that will lead you toward that life. Measure each position against your end goals.

Once you have set clear goals for yourself, it’s time to start looking into those positions that interest you and are a match in salary. Remember that the interviews are just as much a test for you as for them. This is a chance to ask questions about the position and to determine if you will get along with the others in the clinic.

In order to find the best positions, you need to look at a high-quality job list or you can contact a recruiter specifically for vets. At VetPro Recruitment, we help bring together the best vets with the best vet clinics. Try us today!

Working as a veterinarian can be a varied role depending on your interests and experience. Becoming a locum veterinary nurse is one option that’s often a popular choice as you have the opportunity to work across different practices, with new people and have different responsibilities wherever you are based.

Are you interested in the prospect of locum work? Here’s all you need to know.

What does being ‘locum’ mean?

A locum veterinary nurse is not based in one practice. Locum means that you stand in for someone when staff levels or low or temporary cover is needed such as illness, maternity leave or holiday.

Due to the nature of locum work, positions are usually based across the UK and a particular region depending on your availability and each contract will vary in length and how many hours you work.

How do you find locum work?

If you are interested in being a locum veterinary nurse then the best thing to do is register with a veterinary recruitment agency. You need to be on the ball with finding a locum position, so having expert help will ensure that whenever a new opportunity arises your CV is put forward and you have a new contract lined up.

What are the benefits of becoming a locum veterinary nurse?

Locum work can be a great option for those who like versatile roles with the option to decide when and where they work. The benefits of becoming a local veterinary nurse include:

• Your wages can often be higher than for full-time veterinary nurses.
• You have more opportunity to learn new skills.
• Working as a locum allows you to meet new people.
• You can travel up and down the UK.
• There is greater flexibility about where and when you choose when you work.
• You can test out a particular veterinary practice before signing a full-time contract
• You can gain a great reputation in the veterinary industry.

What skills do you need as a locum?

The versatility of being a locum means that you need to be flexible and ready for change. Some of the skills that are suited to locum work include:

• Confidence
• Adaptability
• Efficiency
• Good communication
• Time management

The more locum work you take on the easier you will be able to adapt to your new responsibilities.

Are you looking for your next position as a locum veterinary nurse? At VetPro Recruitment, our experienced team will match you with an appropriate employer throughout the UK. As a specialist in veterinary employment, we’re on hand to support your job search including CV tips, interview advice and more. Find your next job today.

There are a range of benefits to using a recruitment company rather than trying to undergo this process in-house. Not only are these organisations industry experts but they’ll provide a broader range of services aside from recruitment. Plus they’ll save you time and money in the long run.

This guide will spell these benefits out in more detail so you can decide if a recruitment company is the right choice for you.

They Save Your Resources

As recruitment becomes a more intricate and increasingly digitised process, the task of recruiting new staff becomes more difficult to execute in-house. Problematically, the recruitment process is a drain on both money and time and this is as true for SMEs as it is for big global chains.

It’s also true that a recruitment agency will take significantly less time to actually recruit a new staff member. Not only will this free up time for existing staff but the candidate will be able to start making meaningful contributions to the company much sooner, whatever their role is.

They Don’t Just Recruit

Something which is commonly forgotten is that recruitment companies don’t only recruit staff, they also provide a range of other services:

Background checks: When employing somebody new, it’s important to ensure that they align with the values of your organisation. Background checks are a good starting place for understanding whether somebody is the correct fit as they primarily detect criminal offences and ensure that the person’s identity is authentic.

Reference checks: Arguably this is still part of the background check, but it’s very important to check the employment history of the potential employee. This ensures that they meet your requirements.

Training: This can also be an expensive and time consuming part of the recruitment process, depending on the experience of the potential employee. Some recruitment agencies offer training as part of their services so you can spend more time on day-to-day business.

Benchmarking: It’s important as an employer to understand current market standards to ensure that what you’re asking or offering isn’t wildly disproportionate.

Utmost Experience and Market Awareness

Not only will the recruitment agency know relevant requirements, guidelines, and guidelines surrounding recruitment legislation, they’ll also have expert market awareness. Recruitment agencies form a constructive relationship with their clients to better understand their goals and requirements. The most effective recruitment consultants will then transfer this understanding to the market itself, head hunting for candidates who will meet these goals and requirements.

This is especially the case when dealing with a market-specific recruitment company. For example, at VetPro Recruitment we focus on veterinary practises with an extensive database of veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, and other veterinary staff. This means that we cater to veterinary, academic, and regulatory selectors.

A recruitment agency is a solid option for a few core reasons: they provide a broad range of services, they save you money and time, and they are industry experts. These factors ought to be considered ahead of your next recruitment to ensure that the process is as beneficial for your organisation as it possibly can be.

If you have any further questions about recruitment, especially if your organisation is a veterinary practice, then don’t hesitate to get in contact with VetPro Recruitment today by calling 01392 824667!

Working with animals requires a specific set of skills, the most important one being a passion for animals. Showing your potential employer that you care about the welfare of animals is an important step in your veterinary career and alongside other essential skills, you’ll be on track to landing your next position.

Here are some top examples that will show your passion for animals.

Hands-on experience and voluntary work

You don’t need to have a long list of paid positions to show that you’re passionate about animals. Voluntary work is still a great way of demonstrating your dedication and interest in animals as this shows employers that you truly love what you do and have actively sought more experience in this field.

Animal-related jobs

Of course, any animal-related positions that you have previously held are an advantage as well as unpaid experience. Don’t forget to include the key responsibilities that you conducted during each role including additional duties, as this will show how you’ve gone above and beyond.

A degree or qualifications

Depending on which position you’re applying for or interested in pursuing, most veterinary roles require a related degree or qualifications. Studying animal care is a surefire way of showing your passion for animals both theoretically and practically.

Think carefully during the interview

It’s completely normal to feel nervous during your interview and this can cause you to fumble over your words and forget important details. You’ll want to come across as confident and passionate no matter what role you’re going for so think about good examples you can use. If you can’t think off the top of your head then there’s no harm in asking if you can come back to your question so you can answer with a well thought out reply.

At VetPro Recruitment, we match new and experienced veterinary professionals to roles throughout the UK. We have a comprehensive database of high-quality veterinary vacancies throughout the UK, which allows us to accurately match the best suited jobs to your skills and job criteria. Get in touch with us today for more information.

Are you looking for a job as a vet? There are plenty of vacancies available around the UK, but unless you’re prepared, you won’t land the job you want. Fortunately, we have some tips to help you get the job of your dreams.

Stay Flexible

You may be surprised as to where your dream job is available. If you are flexible about location, there could be a job for you, just outside where you had previously expected to find a position. There are many veterinary clinics looking for help, but sometimes they’re a little further away than you may have considered. If you’re willing to relocate or commute, you open yourself up to many more opportunities.

Don’t Just Look for Vet Clinics

Not all vet positions are with clinics. In fact, there are quite a few organisations that are currently looking for vets. Again, you need to be open to all sorts of new experiences and you could end up with the perfect job.

Many vets work outside of animal hospitals and vet clinics. You may find positions at research institutions, in the government, within the pet food industry, at a zoo or even in an animal welfare program. The possibilities are endless, so don’t get locked into one idea about where to work.

Build Your Experience

While waiting for a job, be sure to continue practising wherever you can. Volunteering at an animal shelter and hosting clinic days in your neighbourhood are just a few of the ways that you can build your CV and ensure that you’re a promising candidate in any position you apply for. There are so many applicants that you really want to stand out. Having a little extra experience could be exactly what you need.

Get Some Help

Talk to recruiters and be proactive. Get yourself out there and make sure the clinics and organisations in your area know that you’re available.

You can talk to a recruitment company about your needs and what you’re looking for in a job and if they have the right match for you, it will speed up the entire process considerably.

Practice Your Interview Skills

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, so be sure you’re prepared before you go. It may be helpful to practice with someone else before you actually attend a real interview. Also, remember to try to relax when you go in.

As you interview, be sure to ask your own questions as well. Seeing if the position is a good fit goes both ways and the interviewer will see that you’ve thought about the position.

Are you in the market for a vet job? At VetPro Recruitment, we know of the latest positions and can help you find the right one for your needs. Contact us to learn more.

Job interviews are always a bit nerve-wracking, but they are a necessary part of building your career. If you want to be sure you’ll do well in your interview with a veterinary clinic, here are a few tips to help you ace it.

Prepare for the Interview

Do some research on the potential job and the company behind it. You shouldn’t walk into the interview without a basic knowledge of the clinic and what it stands for. It’s also helpful to know who already works there.

You can build your confidence by practicing your interview with a friend or family member. Have them ask you questions and try to answer as you would in an interview. Listen to their critiques to help improve your interviewing skills.

Dress Appropriately

You should arrive at the interview in appropriate attire. This means dressing professionally and avoiding excessive makeup or jewellery. It’s also best to avoid perfumes or colognes, as you will be working with animals that may be sensitive to strong smells.

Arrive On Time

It’s best to come a little early so you are certain of being on time, even if you need to wait outside for a few minutes. If you aren’t sure of the route, check it ahead of time and use your phone’s GPS to provide directions while allowing plenty of time to arrive.

Show Your Personality

Be as confident as possible when you enter the interview and be sure to greet the interviewer by name. This will help you make a good impression. It’s always good to smile and to be enthusiastic about the position. Don’t feel you need to downplay how you feel about the job. The interviewer will often base part of the evaluation on your personality and interest.

Ask Questions

You should prepare a few questions to ask about the organization. You may ask things like:

What would my duties be here?

What type of business culture would you say the organisation/clinic has?

What are your performance expectations?

While you will certainly want to know about the salary and the benefits provided, it’s best to wait until the employer brings this up. You want to appear interested in the job, not just the money. You will find that it’s much easier to interview with a clinic if you are genuinely excited about the position.

Interviewing to become part of a veterinary organisation can be exciting and scary. Just keep your eyes on the goal and remember to practice your interview questions before you arrive.

Are you looking for vet jobs? VetPro Recruitment has plenty of amazing positions available right now.