New Year, new vet job? January is a popular time of year for employment change. As Big Ben chimes midnight and the champagne corks pop, we often think about how we might like to do things differently in the year ahead. The promise of a fresh start can be very appealing.

If a new vet job is on the ‘to-do’ list for you, the great news is that there is no better time to explore the possibilities out there than now. In the current climate of vet and nurse shortages, there is more choice, more possibility for negotiation and more opportunity to find your perfect fit in veterinary medicine than ever.

No time like the present

Working in the veterinary profession can be immensely rewarding but in the face of a UK-wide veterinary recruitment crisis, and with pet-ownership at an all-time high, there is no doubt that times are challenging. Work niggles that have been lurking in the background, come to the fore when ops lists are full and there is no give in the diary. Whether it is the working hours, the on-call rota, the company culture, the salary….there is no time like the present to prioritise finding the veterinary job that is the right one for you.

Make the move

So if you are in a vet job that you do not enjoy, what are you waiting for? Before you reach for your resignation letter, it is worth devoting a bit of time to reflecting on what you are looking for, and setting yourself some goals. The obvious one is ‘getting a new job,’ but unless you identify the reasons for wanting a change, you may end up in the same position again a few months down the line.

Looking back at your current role is a good place to start, listing both the positives and negatives. If you are a seasoned veterinary surgeon or nurse, with a few jobs under your belt, even better – as you list the pros and cons you may start to see a pattern emerging. Equipped with the benefit of hindsight you can start to form more targeted goals.

Setting your vet job goals

When it comes to vet jobs, there are lots of options out there. Of course there’s clinical work in practice – small animal, equine, farm, exotics, mixed practice…. That’s usually a pretty easy decision to make.

Equally you may thrive on the adrenaline of emergency or out of hours work, not knowing what is going to walk through the door next. While the hours may put some off, the exposure to acute surgical cases and complex medical crises, is second to none.

If flexibility is what you are looking for, a vet locum job may be just the ticket. Not for everyone, locuming gives you the option of saying ‘no,’ and missed family weddings become a thing of the past. And how about referral practice, government veterinary jobs, mobile vet clinic jobs, charity work?

But that, by and large, is the easy bit. Most vets and vet nurses have a pretty good idea of where their heart lies without giving it too much thought. True goal-setting requires a deeper delve…

Values, vet jobs and more

You may have heard talk of ‘values,’ but what does this really mean? Well, our values are the ‘why’ behind career decisions, or to put it another way, the vision that enables you to achieve your goals. Put simply, they give meaning to your working day, and help you to narrow down your ‘must-haves’ in your next vet job. On those working days that do not go according to plan, your values help you see the bigger picture and carry on.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started. You may value:

· Team-work – being part of a small close-knit veterinary team, where mutual support gives meaning to your day.

· Clinical freedom – you thrive when working independently and full clinical freedom is essential to your job satisfaction.

· Compassion – compassion is an integral part of being a vet, but if it is central to your work-life, charity practice may be on your radar.

· Drive – a vet job in a corporate may be for you, or how about a position where you can help grow a small independent?

· Professional growth – if you are full of ambition to further your career, you may be considering a certificate. A role in a larger practice with a high caseload and plenty of opportunities for working up cases may appeal.

Looking at your interests out of work, the people you spend time with, the TV shows you watch, the books you read… all of these will help you narrow down what is important to you. Finding a veterinary practice or veterinary team, with values similar to your own should be a priority in your job hunting.

Next step

You have sussed out what makes you tick, and know exactly what you are looking for, but what next? How do you find the practice that is your perfect fit?

Using a veterinary recruitment agency not only removes a lot of the legwork, but also enables you to get real insight into any role you might apply for. At JHP Recruitment, with expert knowledge of the veterinary profession, we build long term partnerships, helping practices to build the culture they want and enabling vets, nurses and support staff to build the career they deserve. We know the ins and outs of all the jobs we advertise and take time to get to know you too. With our support on everything from writing a CV, to interview techniques and negotiating a salary package, we can help you find the dream job, that perfectly aligns with your values.

So before you hang up your surgical gloves or put away your stethoscope, maybe it is time for a change. What are you waiting for? Get in touch with JHP Recruitment today.