by Stith Keiser | Blue Heron Consulting


This article was written for and featured in Clinician’s Brief.

Career planning encompasses exploring options that range from clinical practice (private or corporate) to academia (research or laboratory) and even to nontraditional entrepreneurial opportunities (laboratory or marketing companies, consulting groups). A clinician may choose to open a clinic (brick and mortar or ambulatory) immediately after graduation, make a career out of relief work, or enter general practice before making the leap into industry to serve as a director, clinical research associate, or medical advisor. Passion in general practice may mean remaining in a private or corporate clinic as an associate or partner or moving into a regional or national medical director role.

The variety and breadth of available opportunities can be overwhelming and often requires exploring multiple specialties before finding an ideal fit—something that aligns with your whyand checks the boxes of both personal and professional goals (for more on how to find your why, see Suggested Reading). Trial and error are not necessarily bad, but career detours can be reduced by being intentional about career planning and goal setting.

The following tips can help early career clinicians and veterinary students embarking on a journey to find the right career path.

Start With Your Why

Many students and clinicians focus on what they want to do (eg, become a large animal veterinarian, join the US Army Veterinary Corps, pursue a certain specialty) over why they chose the profession. Similarly, the hedgehog concept is the confluence of passion (ie, your why), marketable skills, and what drives your economic engine (ie, what allows you to produce a profit so the business is sustainable).1 Many students and early career clinicians focus only on their passion and end up on a career path in which they cannot excel or that they love but does not provide the financial means to satisfy personal goals.

Establish a Mission, a Vision, & Goals

Although technical expertise is important, strategic development of a personal mission, a vision, and goals should not be overlooked. Cultivating this framework during veterinary school can help determine what you hope to achieve from the profession and the values by which you plan to live.

Leverage Your Time in Veterinary School

Veterinary school is a job, but getting good grades is not the primary job responsibility. Becoming an exceptional clinician is not based on curriculum and grades alone. Students should take advantage of extracurricular opportunities (eg, clubs, volunteer work, career experience programs, mission trips) that help build a resume and prepare for life after graduation.

Build Credibility

Clinicians are expected to have adequate clinical skills regardless of where they graduated from or how long they have been in the profession. Exceptional communication skills, leadership abilities, and an understanding of veterinary economics are rare and can help you stand out from the crowd. Taking courses in business, communication, and marketing can help develop well-rounded and marketable skills.

Become a Leader

It has been said, Leaders do what others cannot or will not. Leadership skills should be cultivated in veterinary school and then honed throughout your career. Many practice owners want a leader who will elevate their practice, and a successful track record of leadership opportunities can help in the hiring process. If being a leader feels intimidating, think about leadership as the act of positively influencing others.

Cultivate a Network

Many students who receive multiple job offers have a network of people they have cultivated from experiences, club/association involvement, and extracurricular activities. The key to networking is finding others with similar interests and developing friendships or, at the very least, professional relationships.

Create a List of Negotiables & Nonnegotiables

Self-imposed restrictions may prevent job seekers from getting a job. Creating a list of negotiable and nonnegotiable items can provide guidance during the interview process. Larger issues (eg, ethics) should not be compromised on, but small things (eg, an extra 5-minute commute) may be worth the compromise.

Utilize Externships

An externship can be a great working interview that allows students to discover opportunities with potential future employers. An externship can provide both the student and the organization a better idea of each other and allow the student to convey why they are worth hiring.

Do Your Homework

Generic cover letters or resumes often fail to engage potential employers. Hiring professionals prioritize candidates who take time to research the organization and articulate how their specific skills and interests can complement the team.

Interview to Win the Job

Situational and experiential questions are often asked in interviews. Specific examples of the skills listed on the application should be prepared ahead of time.

Interviews go both ways. Savvy employers screen the candidate to ensure they are the right fit, and the candidate should screen the organization as well. Employers are more likely to hire a candidate who is looking for the right job versus simply a paycheck.

Become Invaluable

To earn and keep the kind of job most new graduates want, becoming invaluable to the organization, whether through skills or partnership potential, is key. Most often, this is not simply a matter of clocking in and clocking out. Candidates should focus on an employer’s mission, values, and metrics for success (eg, financial, cultural, client or patient focused) and build the skills needed to enhance those values.

Find a Mentor

The learning curve is often steepest following graduation. Having a trusted mentor can help in developing into the type of clinician you have dreamed of becoming.

References

  1. Collins J. Good to Great: A Study of Management Strategies of Companies with Lasting Growth. Harper Business; 2001.

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