UF CVM Careers March Newsletter

 Welcome to the March edition of the UF CVM Careers monthly newsletter!

We encourage you to keep up-to-date by following our Facebook page and watching for emails about dinners, workshops, and more!  

Student Article: 12 Ways to Set Yourself Apart

Are you struggling to figure out how to improve your resume of experiences & set yourself apart from your peers? Check out the list below of 12 was to help you land the job of your dreams. While the market has drastically changed since this article was written, it still has invaluable advice for helping you become a solid, well-rounded candidate, whether you are applying for a job or an internship following graduation. 

Adapted from "Career Planning & Goal Setting" by Stith Keiser, BA
(published on Clinician's Brief in July/August 2013)

1. Start Early: A mentor once told me that veterinary school is a job. Believe it or not, getting good grades is not your primary job responsibility. Too many students fail to take advantage of opportunities to build their résumé and prepare for life after graduation. Join clubs, volunteer, get work experience, and go on mission trips, because you won’t become the exceptional veterinarian you want to be based on curriculum and grades alone.

2. Diversify: Veterinary school provides the chance to decide which of the many career paths is right for you. Success in life, and veterinary medicine, involves setting and achieving SMART goals (see handout, above). You need a general vision of what you want out of your career. Once you have found your niche, you can hone the skills and traits necessary to get hired and be successful.

3. Establish your Mission/ Vision/Goals: These often get overlooked in a world flooded with technical skills. Take the time, preferably while you are still in school, to determine what you hope to achieve from the profession and the values by which you plan to live your life. 

4. Build Credibility: There is no shortage of veterinarians, but there is a shortage of veterinarians with exceptional communication skills, leadership abilities, an understanding of veterinary economics, and the ability to provide new services that create value. Take that communication elective, study the film of yourself in the exam room, hone your business knowledge, and learn what services can add value based on the area you hope to work in.

5. Become a Leader: As a new veterinarian in the practice, your team members and clients will see you as a leader and look to you for guidance. Start cultivating leadership skills in veterinary school. A favorite saying is: “Leaders do what others can’t or won’t.” Most practice owners want a leader who will elevate their practice, and a successful track record will help you get hired.

6. Cultivate Your Network: Many students who receive multiple job offers use their network cultivated from leadership experiences, club/association involvement, and extracurricular activities. The key to networking is to find people with similar interests and develop a friendship, or at the very least, a professional relationship.

7. Create “The List”: Self-imposed restrictions prevent many job seekers from landing a job. Create a list of “negotiable” and “non-negotiable” items to guide you through the interview process. Some things, such as ethics, you should not compromise on, but I’ve seen people lose jobs because they were not willing to compromise on small things such as an extra 5-minute commute (see handout).

8. Utilize your Externships: An externship can also serve as a great “working interview.” Find practices that might be hiring down the road.  An externship will give both you and the practice a better feel for each other and allow you to convey why you’re worth hiring.

9. Do Your Homework: Few things will turn a potential employer off quicker than a cookie-cutter cover letter or résumé. He or she will look for a candidate who has taken the time to research the practice and who demonstrates how his or her specific skills and interests will complement the team.

10. Interview to Win the Job: Most progressive practices will ask situational and experiential interview questions. Be prepared to give specific examples of skills you claimed in your application. Interviewing is a two-way street; smart practices will be screening you to figure out if you’re the right fit, and you should be screening them also. Most employers are more likely to hire a candidate who is looking for the right job versus just a paycheck.

11. Become Invaluable: To earn and keep the kind of job most new graduates want, you must become invaluable to the practice, whether through skills or partnership potential.

12. Find a Mentor: The learning curve is often steepest following graduation, and having a trusted mentor will help you develop into the type of veterinarian you’ve dreamed of becoming. 

Veterinary medicine offers a variety of rewarding career paths. Consider these recommendations when constructing your goals and building the future you’ve dreamed.

Looking Ahead to Events

Learn more by clicking the links and don't forget to RSVP!

VetCAN Virtual DVM Career Fair - Register today!
March 28, 2020| 1pm-4pm| Online | UF CVM is participating in this virtual DVM fair in collaboration with other AAVMC colleges of veterinary medicine with opportunities for full time, part time, relief, internship, residency, and externships from 50+ employers across the nation. Registration is free for students!

Wellness First Year Lunch Event - March 26, 2020| 12:20pm-3:00pm| Banfield Room| Sponsored by Banfield Pet Hospitals

Wellness Third Year Lunch Event - March 30, 2020| 10:30pm-1:00pm| Banfield Room| Sponsored by Pet Paradise

National Veterinary Associates Lunch and Learn March 31, 2020; 12:20pm-1:00pm| New Auditorium| Dr. Kathy Steih, Vice President of Business Development at NVA, will be presenting on  “Let’s Make a Statement: Looking at Practice Finances”.

Highlighted Gator CareerLink Job Postings

We have over 110 jobs currently listed on our job widget; below are three of the most recent. Click on the button below to view all current postings.

Feline Focused Veterinarian in Busy Chicago Suburb | Full-Time
Arlington Cat Clinic (Arlington Heights, IL)
Posting Date: February 20, 2020

Experienced Veterinarian for Sunny Florida Practice | Full-Time
Advanced Pet Care (Spring Hill, FL)
Posting Date: February 20, 2020


Emergency Veterinarian In Indiana | Full-Time
Norht Central Veterinary Emergency Center (Highland or Westville, IN)
Posting Date: February 20, 2020
 

For the full list of all current job postings, please click the link below:

UF CVM Careers Facebook Page

Interested in staying up to date with career opportunities and other career related information that is accessible to you? Consider following us on our Facebook Page!  Check out the three most recent visitor posts below:

For requests to receive this newsletter or to include information or events in this newsletter, please contact UF CVM Careers at careers@vetmed.ufl.edu