If you're an undergraduate and you've landed yourself an interview at a local animal hospital, congratulations! You're one step closer to getting the experience hours you need. Let's go over how to properly prepare so that you're hired!
Before the Interview
Chances are, you don't have any experience working in a professional veterinary facility, but that's okay! In this case, your attitude and willingness to learn will be more important, so you want to demonstrate that you've done all you can to prepare.
Firstly, do some research on the clinic and look closer at the job listing you applied to. To prepare for an interview, it can be helpful to create a document in which you compile information just so that you can review it before speaking to anyone in person. This helps with organizing your ideas and allows you to come up with answers to potential questions.
It might look something like this:
When creating your document, take note of what is said in the company's mission statement. If they ask you about why you want to work for them, saying you align with these values looks great! Additionally, look into what will be expected of you if you were to fill the position. These are the duties listed in a typical veterinary/technician assistant job posting:
While it might seem like a lot, working as a tech assistant consists of a lot of on-the-job training. Don't worry if you don't know how to perform certain tasks. That being said, there are a lot of online resources you can use to familiarize yourself with what you'll potentially be doing. The YouTube channel atdove.com covers almost anything you can think of – from restraint to anal gland expressions to setting up anesthesia. I highly recommend you check out their videos before your interview so you know what might be asked of you! This is especially pertinent if you'll be doing a "working interview," which is very common in the industry. You'll stay in the hospital for a few hours (maybe even a full shift) so that everyone can get to know you, see how you fit in, and understand your skill level.
Before you leave, print a copy of your resume to have on-hand. Review the information you prepared and practice answering common questions, which can found on sites like glassdoor.com. If you are headed to a working interview, wearing scrubs is best, but if you don't have any, close-toed shoes with a t-shirt and jeans (with no holes) will suffice. If the interview is more traditional, dressing semi-formally is generally expected – this means a nice shirt, jeans (still no holes), and shoes like flats (or something other than a sneaker).
Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and take a deep breath on your ride over. Know that you got this!
During the Interview
Once you've arrived at the clinic, don't be shy! Walk up to the front desk and let them know your name, the position you're interviewing for, and who you've spoken to previously (whether it was over email or on the phone).
During your discussion with the practice manager or associate veterinarian, try your best to sound enthusiastic. Use your research to give informed answers, but highlight the fact that you're a pre-vet student who has a lot to learn and that excites you! Emphasize your willingness to be cross-trained and help out the hospital in any way possible.
In a working interview, your goal is to never sit still! There's always something that needs to be done, and in your position that is everything from cleaning to filing charts to putting phone lines on hold. Consistently ask the technicians if they need assistance. If they don't, you can still ask them to walk you through what they're doing so that you can learn more! Use discretion and don't bombard them if they're too busy, but know that they will definitely appreciate your interest and helpfulness.
Once your interview comes to a close, have some questions prepared that you can ask. Here are some that I've used in the past:
What does a typical day look like? How many appointments are there?
How many doctors/techs work during a shift? Are technicians assigned to a doctor?
Why are you filling this position?
What does your training process look like?
How would you describe the atmosphere here?
You can come up with your own to assess other things you're interested in as well.
After the Interview
After returning home, it's always nice to thank the practice you interviewed at for taking the time to meet with you. The easiest way to do this is through an email.
If you interviewed in the afternoon, sending a message the same night would be appropriate timing. You can also send one the next day. Utilize a format similar to the following:
Good evening [interviewer name],
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work in the hospital today. It was very insightful and I enjoyed getting to know everyone. I would love to be apart of your team in the future.
I've attached my resume to this email so that you have it on file.
Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you,
[your name]It's also great to mention something specific you talked about or an interesting case that came in so that you can spark the interviewer's memory.
Send that email, know that you tried your hardest, and good luck! I applied to countless positions before I got my current job, so don't be discouraged if you aren't hired on your first try. With limited experience, sometimes it's best to apply for bathing, kennel technician, or exam room assistant jobs because they are entry-level and usually provide you with the chance to train up.
Trust the process and you can do this! Feel free to reach out if you need further guidance or assistance in getting veterinary experience hours.