7 Interview Tips for Better Veterinary Practice Hiring

Veterinary recruiting can be a challenging task – especially for those in practice who do not have much experience with human resources. First, there’s the task of locating and attracting qualified candidates. Then there’s the process of screening applicants to find the right one for the role. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could streamline this process to more quickly narrow down your selection and end up with only those candidates that are ideal for the job? With the following seven interview tips, you can. Check them out below.

Know the role you’re trying to fill. Before you sit down with an applicant, make sure you have a complete and accurate understanding of exactly what the job will entail and what’s expected of the employee who fills it. If you’re not the one who will be managing the position, discuss the role and job duties with the person who is.

Prescreen your candidates. Scheduling in-person interviews with every potential candidate is not a wise use of anyone’s time – including your prospects. Optimize your availability by conducting prescreening interviews over the phone. From there, you can narrow your list to only include the candidates who would likely be the best fit.

Be strategic. Identify the specific skillsets, knowledge and behaviors that you envision your ideal candidate will possess. Then, use that information to create a structured interview guide that is designed to target those key competencies. You may also wish to create a scoring guide which will help you keep track of each candidate’s performance and where they ranked in the process to make it easier come decision time.

Make a list of key questions. Going in and simply winging it during an interview may seem completely doable, but chances are you’ll end up missing some important information in the process. Avoid this by compiling a list of key questions that you will ask every applicant. Doing so will also allow you to evaluate all of your options based on the same criteria.

Practice. It may sound silly, but the best veterinary recruiters (or hiring managers from any industry, for that matter) are successful because they know their stuff. Work through your list of questions and test your style and strategy on anyone who is willing to help – whether it’s your spouse, your co-workers, your best friend, etc. Practicing in advance will help you be more confident and prepared when it comes time for the real thing.

Don’t talk too much. You’ll obviously need to share information about the role and the practice during the interview process, as well as ask the list of key questions you’ve prepared. But if you spend the majority of the time doing all the talking, you’ll miss the opportunity to really get to know each candidate. Be conscious about how much and how often you have the floor and take the time to step back and listen more than you talk.

Enlist the help of a professional. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or you simply don’t have the time it takes to devote to hiring the best person, understand that there are other options available to you. For instance, getting help from a consulting firm like Dream Team Elite, who specializes in veterinary recruiting, can take that weight off your shoulders and ensure that you end up with the individual who is a perfect fit for your practice.

To learn more about how we can help you find your dream team, contact us today at 1-800-469-1871 ext 353.

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