First Impressions Matter: How to Shine in Your Veterinary Interview - ep 212

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In this episode of Veterinary Voices, host Julie South delivers invaluable insights for new veterinary graduates (vets and nurses) preparing for their first job interviews. 

With career expo season in full swing across New Zealand, this timely discussion provides practical, actionable strategies to help fresh graduates stand out in the competitive veterinary job market.

Key takeaways include:

• How to craft standout applications that catch employers' attention
• Essential pre-interview research techniques
• The STAR framework for answering behavioural questions
• Professional presentation tips that make a lasting impression
• Strategic questions to ask during interviews

Whether you're a recent graduate or preparing for a career transition, this episode offers concrete steps to help level the playing field in veterinary job interviews. 

Julie's experienced perspective and practical advice make this a must-listen for anyone looking to launch their veterinary career with confidence.

Perfect for:

• New veterinary graduates
• Veterinary students preparing for the job market
• Career changers within the veterinary industry
• Hiring managers wanting to understand candidate perspectives

Listen now to gain the competitive edge you need in your next veterinary job interview.

Links mentioned today:

Episode 075 - 11 Job Interview Questions to Ask
Episode 041 - Massey University Job Interview Q&A

Struggling to get results from your job advertisements?
If so, then shining online as a good employer is essential to attracting the types of veterinary professionals who're a perfect cultural fit for your clinic.

The VetClinicJobs job board is the place to post your next job vacancy - to find out more get in touch with Lizzie at VetClinicJobs

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
attending any job interview is stressful enough,
let alone your first one as anew grad, because you've got
nothing to compare the interviewwith.
You don't know what to expect.
Here in new zealand, it's thattime of the year again when
polytechs and universities areorganizing career expos to help
their new grads get ready forinterviews and entering the

(00:29):
workforce as freshly mintedgrads One of the first steps in
making the dream come true afteryears of study to start their
dream of becoming a veterinaryprofessional.
Welcome to Veterinary Voices.
This is episode 212, and I'myour show host, julie South.

(00:49):
With listeners tuning in fromover 1400 cities worldwide,
veterinary Voices celebrates allthat's great about working in
New Zealand's veterinaryindustry.
I'd love to hear where you'relistening from right now, so
please feel free to share yourlocation with me at
veterinaryvoicesnz and it's alsoat veterinaryvoicesnz where

(01:12):
you'll find back copies as well.
Veterinary Voices is brought toyou by VetStaff, new Zealand's
only recruitment agencyspecialising in helping
veterinary professionals findjobs that they're excited about.
Going to on Monday mornings inKiwi vet clinics, job interviews

(01:34):
and acing your job interview.
Firstly, you're unlikely to getan interview if your first
impression doesn't impress, somake sure you put together a
great application, which meansthat your CV and cover letter
have been proofread and you'vegone through to make sure that
there's no typos or errors orslow.

(01:57):
You'll be in a much betterposition if you tailor every
single application.
Yes, I know it's a pain, butyou tailor every single
application.
Yes, I know it's a pain, butyou tailor every single
application to the jobadvertisement.
Not only will it help you standout against the other grads who
are also applying, it meansthat you'll have done some
research and you'll know moreabout the clinic when you get to

(02:19):
the interview.
And let's face it, most peoplewould agree that a job interview
usually has an unequal balanceof power going on.
But when you're a new grad,that balance of power is
somewhat weighted more in favourof the interviewer than the
interviewee than if this wasyour second or your third job

(02:40):
that you're applying for.
Let's find out how you cantailor and what you can do.
The first thing you can do istailor your CV and your cover
letter to the job advertisement.
Make sure that you let thereader know the reader who's

(03:02):
receiving your application knowthat you've got the skills and
the attitude they're looking for.
Clues that you are looking forwith this are hidden in the job
advertisement.
So be specific with what youare saying and how you are
letting the person know that youare the person right for the

(03:25):
job.
Number two research the clinic.
Understand what it's about.
What does it look like?
Where is it located?
What are their, google andtheir other reviews saying about
them?
Is this a clinic that you'dlike to work for?
What this does is shows thatyour interest and helps you

(03:46):
tailor your responses to thequestions that you're going to
get when you're interviewed,especially if you're asked that
dreaded question what do youknow about us?
You'll be able to answer nointerviewer likes to hear that
the job applicant hasn't evengotten off their tush to find

(04:07):
out some basic information abouttheir clinic.
You'll lose points, maybe notstraight away, but definitely if
you're up against someone whohas done their research and who
lets the person know thatthey've done it.
So go online and start digging.
Go to their website and theirsocials, check out their reviews
what do you see?
What do you like, and make surethat you mention this in the

(04:30):
interview.
The third thing to do ispractice common interview
questions.
Prepare your answers fortypical interview questions,
such as your strengths and yourweaknesses and why you want the
job.
We all have weaknesses,weaknesses, so make sure that
you know yours and let theinterviewer know what you're

(04:50):
doing to address these Numberfour.
Use the STAR framework toanswer those questions, those
behavioral type questions.
Those are the.
Tell me about a time when youtype questions, learning how the
STAR framework works, whichmeans that you'll be able to
answer any behavioral basedquestion anyone throws at you.

(05:13):
So STAR S-T-A-R stands forSituation Task Action Result.
That's the framework SituationTask Action Result.
Go and check out episode 73 ofthis podcast.
I'll put the links in the shownotes for you.
Episode 73 goes into specificways that you can answer the

(05:34):
behavior based questions.
So episode 73, show notes linkswill be in the show notes for
you for that.
I just want to interrupt thischat for a very brief moment to
share something important forclinics that are doing their own
recruitment and for jobapplicants who want to do their

(05:56):
own recruitment as well.
So, in other words, you want toconnect direct and you don't
want an agency involved.
That's vetclinicjobscom.
Clinics probably already knowand agree that traditional
recruitment methods just aren'tcutting it anymore, which means
that a different approach isnecessary If you're an employer

(06:17):
who wants to work direct withjob applicants.
And if you're a job applicantwho wants to work direct with
the employer in other words,like I just said, no recruitment
agencies involved then your jobadvertisement needs to be
listed on vetclinicjobscom.
Vetclinicjobscom showsemployers how to boost their

(06:38):
clinic's employer brand, whichis just what job seekers want to
know about.
It's completely different tothe clinic client brand and at
just $99 New Zealand dollars pervacancy listing, you can't go
wrong.
So visit vetclinicjobscom.

(06:58):
It's totally, absolutely 100%affordable.
So give your job listings theoomph that they need at
vetclinicjobscom.
Now let's get back to today'sshow Point.
Number five considerationnumber five at the job interview

(07:19):
is to dress appropriately.
Please make sure that anythingyou wear that needs to have
gotten up close and personalwith a hot iron has done it has
done so.
Make sure that you are cleanand well presented.
You don't have to be flash, youdon't have to wear the latest
fashion, but you do need to betidy and as professional looking

(07:40):
as you can be.
Most hiring managers will cutnew grads some slack because
they know what it's like tryingto survive as a poor vet student
themselves, but don't let thatbe an excuse for looking unkempt
and or dirty or untidy.
Number six prepare yourquestions.

(08:02):
Have thoughtful questions readyto ask the interviewer about
the role and about the clinic.
Check out episode 75 of thisshow 11 examples of questions
that you can ask.
Also, again, show notes will bein the link.
Sorry, links will be in theshow notes.

(08:22):
Also, check out episode 41.
And this was a show I did acouple of years back
specifically for questions thatMassey grads asked me to answer.
So that's episode 41.
These questions still standtoday, so go and listen to that.
Point.
Number seven body language.

(08:44):
This means all the invisiblestuff.
Maintain, make sure you makeand you hold eye contact.
Give a firm handshake and Iknow I probably sound like your
mother here Sit up straight sothat you can convey confidence.

(09:04):
And lastly, follow up.
Send a thank you email after theinterview to show your
appreciation and thank them fortheir time.
And if you're still interestedin the job, then definitely let
them know that.
I hope you found this helpful.

(09:28):
If you are looking for a joband you want to totally DIY your
own application, then pleasecheck out vetclinicjobscom.
If you are looking for a joband you want coaching before and
after your job and supportevery step along the way, then

(09:48):
please get in touch with TanyaBruce at VetStaff and that is
vetstaffconz Links for both ofthose will be in the show notes
along with all the others foryou Until next week.
This is Julie South signing offand inviting you to go out
there and be the mostfantabulous version of you you

(10:11):
can be, and thank you forgetting to the end of this
podcast.
Really appreciate it.
Ka kite anō.