Are you looking for your “Dream” job? Check out these tips for Veterinary Students looking for that perfect fit!

Senior year is here before you know it. The last four years have flown by and now is the time to think about that critical “next step” in your veterinary career.

·???????Where do I start?

·???????How do I sell myself?

·???????How do I network

·???????How do I determine this is the “right job” for me

·???????How do I negotiate the “best offer.”

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Before you start:

·???????Reflect on your last 4 years, get feedback from your mentors, and focus on what aspects of the profession you found most enjoyable

·???????Focus on your career Plan- is it private practice, corporate practice, academia

·???????Know yourself- your strengths and your weaknesses

·???????Have a sense of what your “ideal”job would look like

·???????Prepare your resume

·???????Do your research on what positions are available

·???????Line up your references

?How do I sell myself?

·???????Decide what you want your true image to be

·???????Develop a Personal statement

·???????Create a concise, yet detailed resume

·???????Use social media platforms as a tool to get your name out there-Facebook, Indeed and linked in

·???????“Google “ yourself

·???????Customize your overall experiences and skills to a job

It is important to understand Resumes vs CV’s Vs Bios:

·???????Curriculum Vitae are for academic research

·???????Resumes are for Business jobs

·???????Bios are for speaking, consulting and serving on committees

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How do I network?

Define first, your “ideal job” in one sentence: for example “ I would like to be a small animal practitioner in a rural practice.”

·???????Research and identify your top ten potential employers

·???????If going for an internship,?list your top institutions and contacts

·???????Reach out to your mentors, ask about the practices looking / academic position

Make phone calls! Do your research on ideal positions, locations etc.

Follow?up ! Set up interviews and Externships in your ideal settings.

·???????Know yourself

Consider the Myers-Briggs?Personality test (www.mypersonality-test.com )

Know your strengths (strengthsfinder.com)

Know your skills

Define your values

How do I know if it’s the right job for me?

·???????Know your values!

Get a set of index cards and put these words on them:

Mission -???Job Duties??- Opportunities for Advancement - Compensation

Boss- Location- team- Flexibility –Travel- Benefits-Title- Type of organization- mentorship

Put them in order of importance to you!

Then compare possible employment opportunities based on these criteria

How do I negotiate the best offer?

What to consider:

Base salary

Sign-on bonus

Incentive compensation ie Bonuses, stock options , commissions

Annual performance review

Contract? Severence agreement/Non-compete clause

Benefits:

401K match

Life insurance

Health/Dental/ Vision insurance/ co-pay

Relocation- moving/transition/relocation expense

Car allowance

Tuitition for CE

Travel

DEA/ PLIT/ Local and national Veterinary Associations

Do you know the 12 Golden Rules of Etiquette in Negotiations?

1.?????Your employer has far more information than you !

2.?????Your employer is concerned with equity, not you!

3.?????Level the playing field by being prepared. Do your research!

4.?????You need to know yourself. Know your bottom line, the intangibles

5.?????Let the employer bring up salary 1st ! You should not. Deflect

6.?????Never enter salary negotiations unless you want the job

7.?????Be honest about salary history and other offers but do not be too revealing.

8.?????Consider the entire offer. Do not focus on Salary

9.?????Never accept or reject on the spot. Commit to a response time

10.??Get the offer in writing, then accept/reject verbally then in writing later

11.??If you turn it down, remember that is the employer’s final impression of who you are is how you handled it

12.??When it’s done, it’s done.

According to the Harris Poll of 2014, here is what employers look for:

73% work ethic

73% dependability

72% positive attitude

66% self motivation

60% team oriented

57% multi-tasking

57% works well under pressure

56% Good communication skills

51% Flexibility

46% confidence

The top ten mistakes that were made during the Covid-19 pandemic in job seekers were:

1.?????Coming off as desperate

2.?????Only looking for jobs in the usuall places

3.?????Expecting an immediate response to your application

4.?????Lack of focus-quantity over quality

5.?????Failure to properly script your social media presence

6.?????Failure to do your homework

7.?????Not being organized

8.?????Not taking good care of yourself

This is YOUR time to solidify the terms that best suit you. This is your MOMENT!

·???????Listen and ask good questions

·???????Silence is golden

·???????Reiterate how much you are impressed with the employer, and want the job

·???????If you understand and like the offer, don’t negotiate!

·???????Is this negotiable? If there is something you are most concerned about

·???????If you negotiate, mention your skills and value to the company

·???????Consider options, ie. Higher signing bonus vs accelerated performance review

·???????Only negotiate the unacceptable parts

Remember:

IF IT NO LONGER WORKS FOR YOU THEN LEAVE. IT’S NEVER WORTH STATYING AT A JOB THAT MAKES YOU MISERABLE AND DOESN’T HELP YOU TO BE A BETTER PERSON.

“THE ONLY WAY TO DO GREAT WORK IS TO LOVE WHAT YOU DO. IF YOU HAVEN’T FOUND IT, KEEP LOOKING. DON’T SETTLE. AS WITH ALL MATTERS OF THE HEART, YOU’LL KNOW WHEN YOU FIND IT.

STEVE JOBS 1955-2011