You are extremely excited. You just passed your NAVLEs and now you are on the search for jobs. In April or June or 2013, you will have walked across that stage, shook hands with the Dean, and embarked on your journey as what you've wanted to do since you were 5 years old...be a vet and do real medicine. No more lectures, no more late nights at the teaching hospital (unless you're pursuing an internship), and maybe, just maybe you can start paying off those student loans. But wait...something is wrong with that picture.
Rewind...
It is now February 2013 and you are looking for jobs. You have been looking for jobs since January and you haven't really had much luck. You've had some offers - but they were too unsustainable to consider. And you are getting a bit worried because you will be out of school by the spring and hopefully you would have jumped on board to save some lives. However, given today's economy, a lot of new, fresh veterinarians have had a lot of trouble finding jobs. It's been an extremely hard ordeal and at times, extremely frustrating. As a new graduate last year in 2012, I've encountered the following job offers:
1. "Haha - you're a new grad" offer
Because...you are a new grad. Because business has been slow in general, practice owners have been using this "new grad" thing to their advantage. And they have a point. True, you don't have much surgical experience. True, you can't do a spay in 20-30 minutes. And true, you've barely dealt with real world clients outside of the ivory tower. However, I feel like a lot of practice owners have used this too much to their advantage. Some have given as low as 15-20% BELOW an average new graduate's salary. That said, each part of a province or state has difference averages. For example, city A may be demographically wealthier than city B but therefore, their standard of living is definitely higher. Thus, it makes sense for city A's new grad average to be higher than city B's. However, it appears as though a lot of practice owners have disregarded that and tried to milk as much as they can for a new grad. It then becomes a game of desperation as the months go by and the new grad is becoming hungry and just takes the bait. While I respect the fact that business is slow, I do not respect the fact that some practice owners are trying take advantage of a new grad to no end. There was one practice owner at Clinic X that said to my classmate last year, "Oh I love hiring new grads because I can pay as little as I want to you guys". Hm...
2. "Come work with me in Timbuktu!"
Uh to where? This job will pay you generously. In fact, some of these jobs will pay you close to 6 figures because you are in a rural area. Usually, despite the fact that these jobs are willing to pay nicely, a lot of new grads shy away from it. I'm not sure if this has to do with the fact that a lot of new grads are from "cities" and the ones from small towns just want to get the hell out of a small town environment as well. Because from experience, once a city girl, always a city girl. I've met, however, a select few who have decided they really hate the city and want to go and experience the "country life". I know a job that was advertised last year around this time, and they still haven't found anyone for this job. They've recently reposted. So new grads, definitely keep these jobs in mind. I guess in retrospect, one year goes by REALLY quickly. My advice to you is, maybe go spend some time in Timbuktu. Sign a 1 year contract - see if you like it. And if you don't, hey 1 year goes by super fast. And if you do, you've got yourself a 6 figure salary kiddo :).
3. "I'm giving you mentorship so I will pay you less."
A lot of new graduates are suckers for mentorship...including myself. And practice owners know that. It's like a wolf ready to pounce on a lamb scenario. I myself suckered into a job that offered mentorship but paid less in return because I really wasn't confident going out. The reasoning behind the "less pay" is that practice owners will have to spend more time with you guiding you through your 2 hour spay when they could have done it in 30 minutes. Your 2 hour spay is pretty bad news for business. So therefore, you get paid less.
So yes, mentorship is key. However, be very careful about promises. I was promised mentorship and yes, I had lots of mentorship verbally over the phone or in conversation re: medicine cases. However, my practice owner allowed me to watch spays and neuters and that was about it. For my next job, I'm super screwed over, thanks to this "promised" mentorship.
Only believe in mentorship, if you are signing a >1 year contract (we will talk about contracts another time). That say, your practice owner knows that you are staying with them for a while and if they want their practice to run well, they better get their hands down and dirty and mentor you lots because you need to start producing revenue for their clinic. And also, mentorship is not a free pass to a low ball salary. A good clinic will give you a fair salary - maybe a BIT lower than average, but won't put you on an internship salary and treat you like an intern.
4. "You are a real vet now."
These jobs are "hot jobs". These practice owners are going to pay you fairly, provide you with benefits (CE allowance, uniform allowance, malpractice, license dues), and maybe throw in health benefits as well. Everyone fights for these jobs. And this includes experienced vets.
You are with the top dogs in competition. Your standout factor is that you're cheaper than someone who is experienced. As a new grad, these hot spot jobs will probably weed you out automatically. However, you will probably have a good chance one year out of practice. So be patient, grasshoppers.
Even as a graduate with >1 year of experience, you are in some stiff competition. I was just at an interview for one of these types of jobs and today, I received my "no" phone call :(. I asked how I could improve myself and the clinic manager said that there was absolutely nothing. Ultimately, I lost to another candidate who lived within the city. These jobs are hard to come by...and they are hard to get.
At the end of the day...
New grads:
Choose your jobs wisely. Take your time. Do not panic. Stand up to yourself and don't put yourself down just because someone says you are a new grad. Unfortunately, with today's economy, new grads become super desperate and take the low ball baits. Just remember you are better than you think you are and you do have the power to try and negotiate to protect yourself. Ultimately, you come first. And you have bills to pay and responsibilities to take now.
Practice owners:
I have nothing against you guys. But I do beg of you to remember where you first came from. You didn't come out of school doing 30 minute spays nor did you come fresh out of school knowing how to fix a GDV nicely. So please remember that you were once where new grads were. If you're thinking, "back in my day, I made 30k a year so my 50k is an awesome offer", please remember the art of inflation in today's day and age and as we all know, students are caught in mounts of student debt. On top of their debt, they are trying to pay rent so that they can work within your city. So please remember that they are people too and they aren't out there to try and buy a car and house within their first year. They are merely trying to feed their family or themselves, pay their rent, and try and start to ward off those student loans. Mentorship should not come with a heavy price - as veterinarians, it is our job to continue to teach our future. It's part of being a vet and you will need people to help you when you decide to take days off to play golf.
From vets to vets - the joys, laughters, & frustrations we face as DVMs
