Are You Rejecting Great Veterinarians Over the Wrong Things?
| Recently, we presented a veterinarian to a clinic owner. The owner liked the candidate, and the candidate had the clinical skills they were looking for. While the interview went well, there was just one relatively minor concern that arose and created hesitation, a scheduling conflict. The owner decided not to move forward.
While every practice has the right to establish its own expectations, situations like this highlight a challenge I see throughout the profession. Many practice owners are still hiring as if there is an abundance of veterinarians available. There isn't. The veterinary shortage has fundamentally changed the hiring landscape.
The Cost of Waiting for Perfect
When a veterinarian position remains open, the costs add up quickly:
Yet some clinics continue to reject otherwise strong candidates because they don't check every box. In this situation, an important question to ask is:
Is this issue truly a deal-breaker, or simply a preference?
Preferences vs. Requirements
Every practice should have standards, including clinical competency, culture fit, professionalism, and patient care. But not every concern belongs in the deal-breaker category.
The clinics successfully hiring veterinarians today are often willing to have conversations about:
Flexibility Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage
Veterinarians have choices. Private practices can absolutely compete, but flexibility is increasingly becoming part of the compensation package. This doesn't mean lowering standards. It means recognizing that a small accommodation may be worth making for the right person.
One Final Thought
Instead of asking questions like:
"Why can't this veterinarian work exactly the schedule I want?"
Consider asking:
"What would this veterinarian contribute to my practice if I made a small adjustment?"
Small adjustments can include additional appointments, which brings in additional revenue. This lessens the stress on your team and provides greater stability. The practices that thrive over the next decade will be the ones that adapt to today's workforce realities.
The goal isn't to lower standards. The goal is to avoid losing exceptional veterinarians over issues that may matter far less than having a great doctor on your team. |