Becoming a vet is a dream job for many animal lovers. Veterinary medicine can be a lucrative career, which offers plenty of opportunities while also helping pets to be free from diseases. With more and more people choosing to become pet parents these days, the demand for veterinarians is projected to increase in the coming years.
If you have recently graduated from veterinary medicine and are planning to take up your first job, you must equip yourself with tips on how to nail your job interviews. Even though there are plenty of opportunities in your chosen field of career, you will be competing with thousands of other job seekers. So here are some tips on how to ace your job interview and stand out from the crowd.
#1: Always Research the Practice
After graduating from veterinary medicine, you might think that you already have all the knowledge and skills to become a good vet. But do not be too complacent. It’s important that you research about the practice before showing up for your interview.
Go online and study the current events and latest updates regarding the profession. Knowing the latest happenings in the field of veterinary medicine will give the interviewer an impression that you are really serious about your profession.
You also need to research about the clinic or the company. Find out the different services that they offer and the type of animals that they will treat.
Make sure you understand the job description and that you knew exactly what is expected of you if you ever get hired for the position.
Knowing more about the company will show the interviewer that you have a genuine interest in the job. That alone will make you stand out from the crowd.
#2: Draw on Your Relevant Experience
Talk about your relevant experiences when answering the interview questions. You may be fresh from college, but you certainly have taken up internships, volunteers, or any job related to veterinary medicine in the past.
Talking about your job experiences will give the interviewer an impression that you truly are hardworking. Tell a story of how well you were able to demonstrate your skills in the profession.
Do not just leave it to the imagination of the interviewer to figure out how passionate you are about your career. Instead, explain in detail and give relevant examples to illustrate your expertise.
When it comes to talking about your experiences, though, avoid sharing too much information. Sometimes, when the conversation becomes too pleasant, interviewees would “spill their guts” and will end up sharing things they are not supposed to.
Be very careful with telling stories, and don’t bore the interviewer with things that are not relevant to the question. Above all, do not make-up stories just to impress the interviewer. You certainly do not want to be caught lying now that you’re about to start a career as a vet.
#3: Think About Challenges You Will Face
One of the most common questions that are being asked during a job interview is, “how do you handle a challenge?” This is a tricky question to answer, but an important one.
Your answer to this question will help the interviewer to gauge your problem-solving abilities, which is very important in your career. As a vet, you will be faced with different issues concerning different animal species every single day. The lives of these pets depend on your skills and abilities.
The best way to answer this question is to think about a possible challenge that a vet could face and demonstrate ways on how to handle such a challenge. You should be able to come up with the best solution because this is your opportunity to show to the interviewer your critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities.
#4: Show Your Personality
One way to stand out from the crowd is to express your personality. Instead of exhibiting a rigid, polished, and somewhat robotic personality, show the real you during your job interview.
Relax and be yourself. Having a carefree personality is important as a vet. Pet parents would want to be able to trust you with their pets, so you should exhibit a warm and friendly personality and not appear strict or intimidating.
When talking to your interviewer, stay calm and be confident. As the saying goes, “There’s never a chance to make a first impression.” So think of this when going for your job interview. Greet the interviewer with a pleasant smile and firm handshake the moment you get in. Build rapport by asking how he or she is doing or say something about the weather.
Be creative with the words you use and ideas that you express, so your words will not appear scripted.
#5: Demonstrate Your Passion
Although employers will mostly evaluate credentials when deciding whom to hire, showing passion in your job interview may help you get to the front of the line. It’s unanimous the frustration among veterinary recruiters, that vets looking for jobs must have had a passion for caring for sick animals in order to get into the tough career process of actually becoming a vet in the first place, but somehow manage to lose that upon being faced with an interview.
Showing that you are passionate and have a genuine interest in working in the veterinary industry means that you have what it takes to become a good vet. It shows that you truly care and are motivated to perform your duties and responsibilities.
As a vet, it’s important that you are passionate about animals. People who have the potential to be vets have a way with animals, and they seem to know just how to make a pet to stay calm.
During your job interview, try to demonstrate your passion for animals. Share as many skills, knowledge, and experience about caring for animals. This will give the interviewer the impression that you are truly perfect for the profession.
Instead of merely telling the interviewer that you are interested in a career in veterinary medicine, paint a vivid picture of how passionate you are with animals, which makes you a perfect candidate for the role.
For example, talk about how you feel when you got your first pet. Share your relationship with your pet and how you are as a pet parent. The interviewer will certainly take note of these, which is a great way to cap off the job interview.
Photo by International Fund for Animal Welfare from Pexels
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