Hiring Experienced Veterinarians vs. Recent Graduates

Are you looking to add a new veterinarian to your team but are unsure whether a seasoned professional or a fresh graduate would be better? There are definite pros and cons to both options. Read along to determine which level of experience would best fit your clinic’s needs.

Hiring an experienced veterinarian means having someone who has the knowledge and skills it takes to be a successful veterinarian. The onboarding process would require minimal training, and they would be able to start practicing medicine very quickly. Additionally, if you hire a seasoned vet who has additional knowledge of a more specific type of vet medicine, for example, exotic pets, this could open up your business to new clients.

However, with more experience comes a greater pay expectation. Veterinarians who have been practicing for many years expect to be paid in a manner that reflects their work experience, and your new hire may have their own ideas in mind of what they deserve. Another potential con is that a long-time vet could be stuck in their own ways of practicing, and they may not mesh well with the rules and expectations of your clinic, which can make the onboarding process run less smoothly.

Alternatively, adding a newly graduated vet to the team would allow for fresh ideas and skills to come into your clinic. Typically, recent graduates are eager to begin their first veterinary job and usually will put in the extra time and effort it takes to become one with the clinic environment. They provide an ample opportunity for mentorship and will be receptive to feedback and encouragement.

However, because they are freshly out of school and have not yet been a full-time veterinarian, the onboarding process will be lengthy and detailed. It takes a great deal of time and effort to bring a new vet into the clinic, but this can be managed and prove to be well worth it to add new life to your practice.

Still not sure which kind of vet would be best for your team? This is where a recruiting service specializing in veterinarians comes into play. Give me a call, and I will explain how my team has earned an 88 percent success rate in bringing quality candidates to our clients in the first 90 days of the recruitment process. Allow us to assist your practice in hiring the most beneficial candidate.