Recruitment? How was it for you?

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Luis Sainz-Pardo — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 11:39:37 GMT

I completely agree with you Karen.

We all needed support once but some are quick to forget the help they once received and when they find themselves on the top use their position to criticise and rubbish all those they consider below them.

It is people like you that will change things, make a positive impact in the profession and help future generations to get better that we ever were.

We just need more people that thinks like you.

Luis

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

karen jones — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 16:09:39 GMT

If you employ a new graduate then you have to be prepared to cover that person for at least 6 months either at the end of the phone or turning out at night to give help and support. We were all new grad once. Everyone needs back up from the experienced vet who does mainly large animal needing help with a gastric torsion, to me phoning for help to calve a cow when it's an extended breech or head back and how ever much I push into the poor cow I can't reach and needing an extra couple of inches of reach, though in middle of night I would probably just Caesarian often quicker anyway.vet practice should be a team and help offered when needed.

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 10:49:46 GMT

Wren I know 1 thing about you-you'll jump a fence I would chicken out on

To get back to the OP The problem is everyone wants EXPERIENCED assistants-nursemaiding a new grad is stressfull for the other veterinary surgeons That's the problem I haven't a clue what the answer is

Wynne

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Wren — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 08:20:18 GMT

Far happier now you've got a name and a face! (yes, I can see the hypocrisy in that statement....)

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Luis Sainz-Pardo — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:26:15 GMT

That is brilliant Arlo! I really appreciate it. Yours has been the "second" positive intervention since Neal opened this thread

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:26:01 GMT

[quote user="Wren"]What? Freeadvertising?? [/quote]

As a general rule, I am happy for veterinary surgeons to use these forums to spread the word about commercial activities they are involved in, as long as it doesn't get out of hand!

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:20:30 GMT

[quote user="Luis Sainz-Pardo"]Yes you are right! I don´t like the name of Freevet either. I created it years ago and now I seem to be stuck with it. I would rather use my own. I don´t like hiding behind an alias. If you know how to change my screen name, please let me know.[/quote]

Hi Luis

I've done it for you!

It is a setting under 'My Account' > 'Edit My Profile' on the main navigation at the top of the page.

Arlo

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Luis Sainz-Pardo — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:33:08 GMT

Hi Evelyn,

Yes you are right! I don´t like the name of Freevet either. I created it years ago and now I seem to be stuck with it. I would rather use my own. I don´t like hiding behind an alias. If you know how to change my screen name, please let me know.

Yes I am involved in the VetAbroad project

Yes I thought it would be useful for someone considering to start a new recruitment agency to know how to differentiate themselves

No I did not try to obtain free advertising but to help rising awareness and providing a business tip.

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Wren — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:21:39 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

It isn't perhaps possible, is it, "Freevet", that the company you name is actually yours, is it (perish the thort)?

[/quote]

What? Freeadvertising??

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:07:46 GMT

It isn't perhaps possible, is it, "Freevet", that the company you name is actually yours, is it (perish the thort)?

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Luis Sainz-Pardo — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:02:12 GMT

I completely agree with Malcolm. If you want to do something others are already doing you need to do it differently. Would you be offering different vets to the practices? If you aren´t better not even try. If you are still keen on the idea and want to consider a way to make your vets "different" you could consider asking all your non-UK vets to take the VetAbroad course "Working as a foreign vet in the UK" that should make them more valuable that those non-UK vets offered by other agencies. (www.vetabroad.com)

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:36:33 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

I'm not sure what the benefit of them is?

Place advert, people apply, pick the best.

A 3rd party is not going to be able to do all that, even if they whittle down the short-list.

[/quote]

Depending where you advertise (Vet Record) and who you use as an agent (Dovetail) the benefit may be that the agency is actually cheaper and saved you the bother of placing the add. I've found more applicants for locums come via agencies than direct advertising. I confess I don't use VR any more for these reasons and not tried other places like Vet Times but I get little or only unsuitable response from free advertising as in our own esteemed forum's jobs section. My experience with large agencies is that they annoy me asking me if I want a locum when I don't and can't get one when I do. They also charge a lot of commission and their employees are often equally dissatisfied. Simon at Dovetail is a one man band who runs a ship well respected by employers and employees alike, charges sensible commission (for a 1-2 week locum - can't speak for longer term), leaves the payment to me and is always available to chat about any concerns I have. That is the model you need to follow Neal but I suspect you won't make a fortune.

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Malcolm Ness — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:34:08 GMT

[quote user="Neal Palk"]Yet the suggestion to set up an alternative is not well received. Strange........................[/quote]

You haven't defined what value your agency might add to the recruitment process nor described how that value might be added.

Perhaps if you do it almost for free and seize the moral high-ground by criticising all the other agencies as mis-guided, money-grubbing numb-skulls you might do well. It is a business model being tested elsewhere in the veterinary sector!!

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:30:11 GMT

[quote user="Neal Palk"]

Yet the suggestion to set up an alternative is not well received.[/quote]

A 'alternative' or just another one in a different guise?

[quote]

Strange........................

[/quote]

Not really; reading this thread suggests that the people likely to be concerned feel that they neither need them nor want them.

Tim.

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Lorna McHardy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:11:07 GMT

I've mentioned this before; but I don't really understand why a middleman is needed at all. When I'm looking for work, I look at adverts and apply; or I contact suitable practices directly. Maybe I've been lucky, but so far, it's worked perfectly both looking for full-time and locum work.

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:12:21 GMT

I'm not sure what the benefit of them is?

Place advert, people apply, pick the best.

A 3rd party is not going to be able to do all that, even if they whittle down the short-list.

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Neal Palk — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:34:20 GMT

Yet the suggestion to set up an alternative is not well received. Strange........................

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

plantagenet — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:37:14 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

My impression of recruitment agencies is that they cost a fortune if you hire a full time member of staff from them.

Am I wrong?

[/quote]

No!

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:04:54 GMT

My impression of recruitment agencies is that they cost a fortune if you hire a full time member of staff from them.

Am I wrong?

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Tim Cheyne — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:25 GMT

[quote user="Neal Palk"]

Glad I asked! But why then are there so many vacant roles and people looking for jobs?...................

[/quote]

Presumably the existing agencies are not very good at connecting the two.

Tim.

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Mark Holmes — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:57:25 GMT

[quote user="Neal Palk"]

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

Please, please, please not another! There are recruitment agencies coming out of every orifice and this profession needs another like a hole in the head!

My view only obviously!

[/quote]

Glad I asked! But why then are there so many vacant roles and people looking for jobs?...................

[/quote]

Because people move around. I have left a number of jobs for no better reason than I fancied a change of scenery. I think the profession probably does not help itself in that it is still fairly common for a practice to provide accommodation of one form or another. Therefore there are few switching costs and is it all goes wrong and you leave on good terms you can generally go back as a job is likely to come up again sooner rather than later. Most of my friends are in a similar position. They see a job as an extended locum in many cases. Having a family changes things and makes moving more difficult.

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Neal Palk — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:41:37 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

Please, please, please not another! There are recruitment agencies coming out of every orifice and this profession needs another like a hole in the head!

My view only obviously!

[/quote]

Glad I asked! But why then are there so many vacant roles and people looking for jobs?...................

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Bob Russell — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:29:23 GMT

Please, please, please not another! There are recruitment agencies coming out of every orifice and this profession needs another like a hole in the head!

My view only obviously!

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:45:51 GMT

It's a good distraction discussion but may not work as if you click on the Who's Online link, out of 32, 22 are are 'New Veterinary practice!!'

Re: Recruitment? How was it for you?

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:41:00 GMT

Dear Neal

My honest answer, is 'Oh no, not another one'

I started locum work 16 years ago and it was Veterinary Employment agency or Northern, ever so easy. I was interviewed by Rowenna at Veterinary Employment and off I went.

Returning today there is VET and Northern (still with us) A1, Rig, Carlton, VetConnect, Carlton, Synergy, Alpha Impact, Vetsurgeon, Vet Record, Veterinary Times etc.