When y'all are looking for a job...

[HopefulAg]

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What do y'all do? Just drop off a resume or schedule an appointment to talk with the doctor? Both jobs I've had are just a result of resume bombs across the area, but other people insist that I need to schedule an appointment to talk with the vet. Is that...normal? We've certainly never had an applicant just schedule an appointment to talk about...themselves, I reckon? You're basically scheduling an interview regardless of whether they actually want to interview you, I would think. Just seems like the wrong way of going about things IMO, especially if you don't know that they're even hiring (though in my experience, turnover is so high most places are almost always hiring).

Anyhow, does anyone do this? The people telling me to do this are outside the profession so it's not like they 'know', but since I'm looking, I figured I may as well check to see what others do.

 

[VeganSoprano]

First thing, for me, is to keep an eye on the want ads. With the economy being so tight, I don't know that a lot of places are looking to hire from unsolicited resumes. Of course, stranger things have happened.

 

[nyanko]

Honestly it probably depends on the place. I've been in academia for a few years now, so it's hard for me to remember how things were in the real world 😉 but I am now so accustomed to just asking faculty members if they have time to meet with me about something I want from them (say...a certain project or potential funding offer) before sending in an application or resume or whatever that it seems like the norm to me to do that. Some vets might like the initiative, others not so much.

Probably why I've grown so impatient with the application process. It's like torture just handing in some forms and not following up personally!

You know what...I say do it. The worst they can do is say no or ask you to wait until they contact you!

 

[DVMDream]

So what I did every year during the new school term was I called all of the vet clinics in the area to ask if they were hiring (there were only about 7 in this town). If they were hiring then I told them that I would be by to drop off a resume and fill out an application if they had one. I was only actually hired by one vet clinic in this town and only for 1 year so that was a bummer.

But I have a funny story of how I got a job at a vet clinic (already had some experience): I actually did not dress up to drop off my resume since it was in the middle of lunch time (I have no idea why I thought that made a difference). So I had dropped off my resume at 3 clinics (all of which I had a hard time finding) and the last clinic I was about to not even go to, but decided to anyway. I walked in dropped off my resume and as I was about to leave they asked me to fill out an application and then they asked me to come into one of the exam rooms and the dr. would come talk to me. I talked to the dr. for maybe 3 minutes and he said ok you are hired I will see you on Monday. 😱 I had not even finished filling out the application and I was wearing JEANS and a T-SHIRT!! I was shocked to say the least but I absolutely loved working there.

Anyway every school year I just called to see what places were hiring and then dropped off resumes at those places. I have never scheduled an appointment to talk with the vet and have never heard of that before. That would be interesting. I guess it would depend on the clinic, where the clinic is and how it operates. At the one clinic I worked at in a small town they may or may not have let you talk to the dr. it would have just depended. At the other clinic the vet does not do much of the hiring that is what the office manager is for but he is there during interviews. I really think it depends on the clinic as to whether or not asking to talk to the vet is a good thing to do and I would imagine that the people working there would let you know.

 

[StartingoverVet]

so it's hard for me to remember how things were in the real world 😉

He he. I, unfortunately, know all too well how things are going in the real world. The best way to get around the "inviting yourself to interview" problem is to schedule an "informational meeting." Under the guise of learning more about the job/industry/profession/etc. you get a chance to meet with the person face to face. Most people, even us money-grubbers in industry, like to be flattered and think they are important enough to impart wisdom. As part of the meeting you inquire about job opportunities available for people like yourself. If you have made an impression then they might offer you something or they might steer you in the right direction. Sometimes it is a waste of time but often you get a good lead if you haven't embarassed yourself too much.

Anyway, that is how it often works in my neck of the woods.

Btw, usually the person you are talking to you is well aware of the charade, but somehow it seems it is necessary to play your part.

 

[Tobysgirl81]

Don't schedule an appointment to talk to the vet. Without trying to sound too offensive, he/she will likely be in the middle of a busy day and might be a bit annoyed that someone just took a paying appointment slot just to talk about themselves.

Here's what I tend to do when looking for a vet related job. If you live in a town with a vet school, check the school website first to see if there are any openings at the school. University jobs usually offer good, steady pay and benefits which you might not get in private practice. Look for anything from animal care positions to tech positions. A lot of times, just getting your foot in the door is the best thing you can do. If future spots open up, you may be invited to apply for them by your supervisor!

Second would be to check local papers and pennysavers, etc for any openings in veterinary clinics. Look for key words such as "pet" (some have pet specialists or pet care attendants), "vet", "kennel" and "animal"(again, animal care or animal attendant).

If you're an LVT you can also get your hands on Veterinary Technician magazine and look for job openings in the back. That's a little more hit or miss - a lot of them are big practices and there aren't a bunch listed for each state. If you're willing to relocate, it may be the way to go.

If nothing is really showing up, get dressed up in some nice clothes and do some leg work. Go to a couple local vet clinics and drop off your resume. Be friendly but concise as you greet the receptionist. If it's a busy clinic they probably don't have the time to answer all your questions right then anyhow. Be prepared to answer questions about how long you've been working in the vet field, if you have any experience and what your experience is. Sometimes you'll strike gold, sometimes you won't.

I've found my last 3 jobs pretty easily following those tactics 🙂 And if you live in town with an agricultural or research college, consider looking up research or animal care related jobs as well!!

 

[nyanko]

OH, you're asking about scheduling an appointment, like an actual 30 minute office call slot? Hell no you shouldn't do that! I was just saying to ask if the vet has time to talk sometime or whatever.

...unless you plan on paying the office call fee and maybe buying some flea prevention or something...

 

[HopefulAg]

OH, you're asking about scheduling an appointment, like an actual 30 minute office call slot? Hell no you shouldn't do that!

See that's my thought as well, but I keep getting people insisting I should schedule an actual appointment to talk to them. Maybe it's part of the problem of how the general public sees the veterinarian. In previous practices I've worked/volunteered at, I'd never seen this done, so it's quite conflicting to hear from other sources about how it should be done.

I reckon I'll just start smiling and nodding in response.

 

[Crazy Hippos]

When I was looking for a job, I just e-mailed a handful of vet hospitals my resume and cover letter. Most of them replied stating: 1) Yes they were hiring or 2) Not hiring at the moment, but would be keeping my resume on file. Craigslist is also great!

 

[StartingoverVet]

Yeah, someone would definitely have to pay the office fee visit if they wanted a chunk of the boss's time. although, to be perfectly honest, I swear, pretending you have a sick dog is the only way to get in contact with her...she's not exactly a stickler for returning phone calls.

I guess it's a good thing she doesn't do the hiring!

Of course you wouldnt schedule an office fee but there are plenty of vets who want to help and will meet you during lunch or after hours. Misleading them and taking an appointment slot would be a disaster.

 

[August24]

I was super lucky today-I just got back from an interview at UPEI and there was a message on the machine. It was from a vet I had met just once at a spay/neuter clinic a week or so ago and got to be his tech for half the day. He said he had an internship opportunity at his clinic for the summer that he wanted me for! I was just lucky I guess. Now if only the vet schools were knocking at my door this way!

 

[Tiktaalik]

Misleading them and taking an appointment slot would be a disaster.

I feel like it would be akin to asking a realtor to show you a house and then, when they showed up to meet you with the keys, handing them a résumé and taking a seat in the living room of said house as though you expected an interview. 😛

 

[purplesaurus]

See that's my thought as well, but I keep getting people insisting I should schedule an actual appointment to talk to them. Maybe it's part of the problem of how the general public sees the veterinarian. In previous practices I've worked/volunteered at, I'd never seen this done, so it's quite conflicting to hear from other sources about how it should be done.

I reckon I'll just start smiling and nodding in response.

I've had three jobs at vet clinics (two as receptionist and one as "nurse" [i.e., unlicensed tech]), and they were all the result of resume bombs. I just sent my resume along with a short cover letter explaining who I was, my applicable skills, and what I was looking for. None of the clinics where I worked actually advertised the positions I was offered, and I would say that none of the vets there would have had time for me to schedule my own interview. In fact, while working at these clinics, we had people come by to do so, and we were just instructed to have them fill out applications and to take their resumes.

And also based on my experience working at these clinics, most people seemed to have the impression that vets have TONS of free time to chatter on about anything. People would get up in arms about having to wait two whole hours to get a call back from the vet. What do they think vets do all day???

 

[WIDVM]

I did all the tech hiring at my last job and I was shocked at the amount of people that refused to leave their resume with the receptionist and expected me to come out and meet them personally. It doesn't show that they know a lot about how a clinic works when they think we have time to drop everything and chat. A follow up phone call or card works much better. It reminds people to review your info without being too pushy.

 

[HopefulAg]

Any recommendations as to what to say in said phone call? And who to ask for? I'd assume the office manager but calling to go "heyyyyy, I'm still lookin'!" doesn't seem very tactful.

 

[katryn]

I usually just call and say I'd like to leave a message for *name of office manager* (I'm the nerd with an excel spread sheet of all the local vet clinics and their managers and contact numbers....). "Could you please let him/her know that I called and that I am still interested in a position at your clinic if one is available." And leave a name and number obviously.

I've FAX resume bombed four times now and found 4 jobs. So it atleast works pretty well in my area.

 

[sumstorm]

I'm not sure scheduling an informational meeting is very viable in the clinical field; every other kid from preK seems to want to be a vet....by UG that has thinned out, but vets get a lot of job shadow/career day/etc requests. So that tactic can seem a bit burdensome (according to most of the vets I have worked with) and artificial…or if they do it, they take it at face value and it has little to do with employment (probably because they either have a position or they don't.) I would definitely use this tactic with vets that are farther removed from the public.

I have had a fair amount of success with cover letter, resume, dropped off in person (be friendly to everyone.) I am a baker, so I do often take sweets with me if I really want the position or an opportunity (low cost, easy, something I also tend to do as an employee.) Ask receptionist best time to call to speak with the vet, then hand write a note on the bottom of the cover letter saying ‘I hope to speak with you soon. I will call between X & Y on Z to see if you have time to review my application.' When I call, I am very cordial with the receptionist, and always ask if they have a moment; if we had an interesting conversation while I was there (maybe she mentioned how she has a Corgi at home) I will mention something about that (I stopped by the office Friday and left a resume with you, did you get out to the park with your Corgi over the weekend?). Then I will ask if the vet has a moment to speak with me. Most of the time I can get a few moments at this point, or I am told when to come in.

In tight economies, it can be really hard to land a job. Then you may need to ask for shadowing opportunities and try to promote those into employment by being useful.

 

[purplesaurus]

Any recommendations as to what to say in said phone call? And who to ask for? I'd assume the office manager but calling to go "heyyyyy, I'm still lookin'!" doesn't seem very tactful.

If you mean a follow up to a resume bomb/drop-off, then you can call and say something like, "Hi, I mailed you my resume 2 weeks ago, and I am just calling to follow up. Do you have any positions available right now or expect to have any in the near future?"

I also like sumstorm's idea of adding personal info if you went by in person and talked with the receptionist.

Actually, if you have the time, it's not a bad idea to go by in person with your resume and cover letter (or maybe just could just visit your top choices). I came in to fill out an application at one clinic, and the receptionist (who had been there 15 or 20 years and carried a lot of weight) told me (once I had the job, the nurse job!) that she made sure they gave me special consideration because I was so friendly when we met. Sometimes those impressions help!

Phone calls can also give impressions about you. I was once interviewed for a position because I sounded friendly and competent on the phone. I didn't get the position, but I was one of only 10 people interviewed out of dozens who applied.

I guess my point here with those last two paragraphs is that those phone/in-person contacts are very important, so make sure you're warm and professional.

 

[WIDVM]

Any recommendations as to what to say in said phone call? And who to ask for? I'd assume the office manager but calling to go "heyyyyy, I'm still lookin'!" doesn't seem very tactful.

I think a simple "did you get a chance to review my resumes" is always good. If you can through in a specific reason why you want to work at that clinic always gets more attention too.

Don't underestimate chatting up the receptionist either. While the DVM or Pm might not be willing to sit down with you right off the bat, you can bet that the front desk will take all your info and pass it on.

 

[katryn]

Don't underestimate chatting up the receptionist either. While the DVM or Pm might not be willing to sit down with you right off the bat, you can bet that the front desk will take all your info and pass it on.

I second this, I don't know how many times the boss has come up and asked us receptionists our opinion on this or that applicant.

 

[Highlsnds3]

I really lucked out I guess! I got my very first "tech" job because when I went to my local vet to get my new kitten vaccinated I just happened to get the clinic owner. As we were talking asked if they ever allowed volunteers to come in. She talked to me for about 5 minutes and told me she'd hire me, to come in starting the next week. Every other job I've had has been as a fill in, either at the local shelter or spay/neuter clinic. I got those because a lady I know who is VERY involved in local animal welfare called and told me there was an opportunity for part time work if I wanted it. Also have had a former co-worker call twice in the last year to offer me a job (out of the blue!) at an emergency clinic. While I would love to have accepted, there was no way I was leaving the job I've been with for the last 10 years. I love my boss, the $$, the hours, and the flexibility too much even if it means I don't work in the vet field.