Returning to work after a period of parental leave can be both a rewarding and daunting balancing act for veterinary professionals. Whether youāre seeking a financial boost, mental stimulation, or some actual adult conversation (or all three!), weāve got some practical tips on getting your figurative ducks lined up for a smooth transition back into the workplace. Apply the organizational and self-care advice outlined here, and you, too, can genuinely achieve the healthy, sustainable long-term equilibrium of working and parenting that every parent wants…
š§ Say ‘No’ to Burnout: Boundary Setting 101
In veterinary medicine, the line between the demands of your profession and your life outside of your calling is becoming more blurred, scuffed, or even washed away entirely by the tide of daily life. Weāve all had those long cases that go well past closing time, that friend whose cat is having a moment, or a veterinary pal who is having a tough time coping and reaches out. And our natural empathy makes it very hard to say no. Yet, having boundaries can help you keep your own work-life situation in balance. Weāre not talking about Great Wall boundaries, more like lines in the sand. If we all learned how to set and appreciate boundaries, we could foster more mutual respect and compassion amongst each other rather than resentment or anger. And we might just add another small but important facet towards improving the overall mental health of the veterinary profession. So, here are some essential steps toward setting mutually beneficial boundariesā¦
6 Proven Strategies for a Thriving Practice Culture
Whether you are building a new practice from the ground up or approaching a new role where practice management is a key element, ensuring a positive culture is critical to your success.Ā Your practice culture will be reflected in your teamās attitudes and, in turn, how your clients and patients feel when they interact with your team. Taking the time to build positivity into your business practices will pay huge dividends. Here are 6 proven strategies and tactics to get you startedā¦Ā
āļø Is Travel AND a Veterinary Career still possible today?
Many veterinary professionals – Vets, Nurses, Techs, and more – used to dream of spending anywhere from a couple of weeks to a year or two traveling the world, working with animals and locals, as a practicing veterinary practitioner…and then COVID came along. However, with the world now returning to some semblance of normal and courtesy of being on the receiving end of a few jabs for a change, traveling internationally and caring for animals as a veterinary professional can now be returned to your bucket list. Given that it will take a little more planning time than in the pre-COVID days, it’s time to refresh your research and start exploring the options once more. So, here are five ways to still fulfill your sense of wanderlust while keeping your veterinary skills at their sharpest…
How To Write The Perfect Veterinary Job Ad
Given the generally recognized shortage of Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians, and Vet Nurses globally, the task of reaching potential new team members in a way that compels them to apply has never been more critical. While focusing on adding skills and talent to your practice is essential, today, you must also “pitch” yourself and your practice to potential candidates and tell a captivating Story. An effective job ad, or Job Campaign as we prefer to describe it, is not just a job description and a list of equipment. Today it must be a carefully crafted Story aimed at attracting and engaging with the best candidates for your job. We developed our ideal Job Campaign structure based on a deep analysis of 1,000’s of Job Campaigns and what makes potential candidates click on an Apply Now button and what does not. We focused not purely on what content to include but also on the flow or the order of how that content, your job ad copy, should be structured. And so here is our step-by-step guide to creating the perfect Job Campaign…
Practice Ownership v Salary Security: Head to Head
Here are a few of the many reasons veterinarians say practice ownership is not for them – I want work-life balance, I have a lot of student debt, I do not know how to run a business – sounds familiar? However, with recent advances in business processes, structuring, and technology, practice ownership is not only possible, it’s worthy of serious consideration. Here are some valuable insights for you to consider…
5 Must-Have Skills Every Locum Relief Veterinary Professional Needs
Locum Relief Veterinary Professionals are invaluable to practices that need a little extra support while key team members are away, or that want to give their team a well-earned break. Yes, you need the same foundational skills as any other talented Veterinarian, Nurse, or Technician. However, there are certain attributes and skills Locum Relief team members must be particularly good at. And yet, a great full-time Veterinarian may not make a great Locum, and vice versa, a talented Locum Relief Nurse may not be ideally suited to a permanent role. So what exactly does it take to be a successful Locum Relief Veterinary Professional? There are certainly more than 5, but if you have a good handle on these, any clinic, hospital, or emergency center will be keen to have you regularly on their team…
5 Social Strategies that will Rapidly Accelerate your Veterinary Career
Sometimes changing jobs is inevitable…there are multitudes of reasons for needing to change your job. Perhaps your partner has secured an opportunity of a lifetime elsewhere, or you need to move a little closer to the family as they need extra care. Or, you decide that now is the time to step up and move ahead in your career and changing jobs is the most viable option. So, having made the big decision, it’s time to start working on yourĀ Social Media Veterinary Career Strategy…
The Pain of Caring ā 8 Practical To Do’s to Overcome It
As a Veterinarian, Vet Nurse, Technician, or Veterinary Team Member, you probably donāt get told this enough; we are deeply grateful that you care so passionately about our pets and animals, and their family members. You are generous and empathetic, and your many years of study and your practical experience make you an expert that we trust. And as a caregiver, you are uniquely rewarded each and every day. But you also know vulnerability, occasional helplessness, and that there will inevitably be a small number of failures, even if they are often out of your control. So, if you are finding that your days are not as sparkly as they once were, that kittens donāt make you smile quite as often, or that a senior dog still vigorously wagging their tail doesnāt make you feel as warm inside as it once used to, you may well have Compassion Fatigue. Emotional and physical exhaustion that can often lead to a diminished sense of satisfaction in both work and life generally. Here are some practical tips to help you maintain your passion for your professionā¦Exploring these suggestions may help you return to being vigorously passionate about your professionā¦