Mentorship: A Tool to Improve Job Satisfaction

With job satisfaction on the decline, it is important to consider ways to improve the employee experience. It takes years of hard work and preparation to obtain a career in veterinary medicine— and studies are finding that so many workers are experiencing burnout or a decrease in well-being once they finally make it into a clinic.

Mentorship is an excellent way to boost hope in a young professional’s role and instill a desire in them to enjoy the job. They’ll learn how to tackle challenges right from the start of their careers, developing the skills they need as they learn from people with experience. As an added bonus, being a mentor can help older practitioners fuel their desire to work as they help the younger generation find their purpose.

Here are some suggestions for establishing a mentorship program at your clinic:

• Focus on in-person mentorship - It is so much more impactful than virtual conversations, even if those may be more convenient.
• Host a mentorship introduction event - Have the mentors prepare different topics to discuss and pieces of advice to offer and then rotate the mentees around the room every 15-20 minutes to get the chance to converse with a variety of experienced professionals.
• Limit the number of employees assigned to a mentor - Try to limit how many mentees each mentor gets to ensure enough time and attention for an individualized experience.
• Encourage regular meetings - Be sure the mentors are really getting to know and helping their mentees, and are asking meaningful questions like “What challenges are you facing?” and “How are you adjusting to your role?
• Facilitate check-ins - Every so often (perhaps quarterly) check in with both parties to see how the mentorships are developing.

Want to know more about how to introduce mentorship to your practice? My company is here to help. Give me a call and I’ll explain how my team has earned an 90% success rate in bringing quality candidates to our clients and advising them on how to create the best environment for their employees.