Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Veterinary Hiring

Looking to add to your staff? You are most likely already aware of how long the recruitment process can take. The average search could take months or even years, and as the shortage of veterinarians continues for the unforeseeable future, that time frame is expected to keep increasing. So, what can you, as a practice owner, do to stand out in the competitive market? Here are some ideas:

• Define your needs – Be specific in identifying what exactly your practice is lacking so that you know exactly what you are looking for in a job candidate.

• Write a captivating job description – You want to grab the attention of job seekers from the start, so be sure to include active and specific descriptions of what you are looking for in a candidate and what your practice has to offer.

• Be visible online – In today’s digital age, you will need to advertise your open positions on as many online job boards as possible, in addition to posting positions on veterinary college job boards and other professional associations.

• Prepare for interviews – Get to know the candidates ahead of the interview so that you are asking the right questions once you are face-to-face. Find out what interests they have outside of work and use that information to make your practice and your community stand out. For example, if they enjoy surfing and your practice is 30 minutes away from the ocean, you can talk about that during the interview. Likewise, if you learn they enjoy museums or attending theatrical performances and your practice is in a city, you can play up the cultural opportunities available.

•  Competitive compensation – In addition to a competitive salary and benefits package, consider offering flexible hours, a senior staff member as a mentor, or continuing education and training as incentives for the candidate to choose your practice.

Employing these tactics can go a long way toward finding the right fit to add to your staff. Or consider hiring a recruiting service like DVM Consulting & Recruiting Services to take the job of hiring out of your hands. Give me a call and I will explain how my team has earned an 88 percent success rate in presenting quality candidates to our clients within the first 90 days of the recruitment process.