Advertisement of Veterinary Work

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 11:03:32 GMT

I presume the pay is sh*t as well as they don't list that either!

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 10:19:08 GMT

Laughed out loud!

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

J G Wray — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 10:18:00 GMT

True advert, look carefully

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 20:53:19 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]I got my job at CAW from an ad on vetsurgeon.org![/quote]

Thanks Mark :)

I've quietly switched on the new job section. I don't think it will become clear what a big change it represents til existing advertisers update their adverts (we allow a lot more stuff to be added to an advert now, but in the meantime, a few blank spaces where old adverts don't include the additional info).

But still, hope you'll agree it's an altogether different (and better!) kettle of fish.

http://www.vetsurgeon.org/jobs/

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 09:30:43 GMT

I got my job at CAW from an ad on vetsurgeon.org!

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Silvia Maldonado — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 08:41:54 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]

The message that you need to get out is convincing people that Vets Now is a great place to work, so carry on supplying great CPD, be supportive and don't go too corporate which is a direction that I feel it's going now.

Ultimately though for the vast vast majority of folk it is a time limited career, that's its very nature, more a case of retention rather than recruitment I feel

Neil (ex employee)

[/quote]

Yes, RETENTION is the key, not recruitment. I entered Vets Now hoping to stay long, not aimed to move on to the next best opportunity, and it didn't work. From my Cutting Edge group, half of us were gone within the first year. As an idea, it is fantastic, but something is going wrong when so many staff are leaving so soon.

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 07:54:33 GMT

[quote user="Sam"]Arlo it might be helpful if there was some way to assess how successful adds are on here generally. Not sure how you would do that but more systematic feedback from advertisers might be useful?[/quote]

That's an interesting thought, thank you. I've raised it with techies and giving it some thought myself.

[quote user="Sam"]I am well aware I am a vet, not a copy writer/ marketing expert[/quote]

I've come at the redesign with PRECISELY that thought in mind, and to help you as much as possible.

[quote user="Sam"]Just looked at the cost of VR add and it is jaw dropping![/quote]

Yes, I had to have my jaw wired up too :)

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Sam — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:48:49 GMT

Arlo it might be helpful if there was some way to assess how successful adds are on here generally. Not sure how you would do that but more systematic feedback from advertisers might be useful?

Perhaps over time we could find out if particular adds are more successful than others and maybe you could pass on tips to prospective advertisers of jobs. I am well aware I am a vet, not a copy writer/ marketing expert so it could just be my add and the way it is written. Equally I am in a rural area so not a big potential catchment of vets anyway.

Just looked at the cost of VR add and it is jaw dropping! Particularly if my previous adds have failed due to my wording or area as above... I am sticking with you until I fill the position or I get exhausted from trying to do two vets work on my own.

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Catriona MacIntyre — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:40:18 GMT

Thanks. The gloom lifts a little :)

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:30:59 GMT

[quote user="Catriona MacIntyre"]and the other has had no views at all.[/quote]

No, it hasn't had no views. The counter has been bust for a few weeks. It will be reinstated (with data) when the new site goes live. The lads are working on it as I write.

Only reason ads disappear is when they have expired (after around 6 weeks I delete them, but this process will be automated and you will get an email with your ad's performance on the new system).

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Catriona MacIntyre — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:22:24 GMT

Sorry Arlo.

I've had two adverts on here - one has disappeared, and the other has had no views at all. We have also had paid advertising elsewhere, with a very poor response. I don't think we are the only ones in this position though.

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 19:18:24 GMT

Thank you all That's cheered me up no end.

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:53:27 GMT

[quote user="Sam"] I have advertised here (quite a few) I have only had few, poor quality applicants responding[/quote]I've advertised once for a locum and got an ideal (British) candidate within a couple of days. Maybe you should look at the wording of your adverts.

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:53:12 GMT

And a fellow member has a lovely practice to which I locum, again thanks to this site

Feeling better Arlo

Neil

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:52:15 GMT

And I found an extraordinarily good maternity cover through VetSurgeon, fabulous practice Dave

Neil

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:23:55 GMT

[quote user="Stephanie Fursland"]I found my first job on Vetsurgeon[/quote]

What a relief - so the old job section wasn't completely rubbish!

(Thanks for posting Stephanie, whilst recognising comments above completely fair, still hard not to be a little downhearted, not to mention nervous because I've just bet the house on the new job section. Nice morale boost to hear something more positive!)

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Stephanie Wellings — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:12:46 GMT

I found my first job on Vetsurgeon, and my second job through VetClick. I also looked on VetGrad (the vets using this tend to be students or <3 years qualified), in the Vet Times, and Vet Record, and registered with several recruitment agencies.

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 17:21:26 GMT

[quote user="Cat Barker"]As a Veterinary professional, where would you typically look if looking for new work?[/quote]

I think you're a special case Cat. Vets Now have been around long enough that practically any vet who breathes knows who you are and will know someone to talk to about the job, so advertising in a particular place will have little impact. If anything here may be better, as it'll be folks not necessarily members of BVA who are interested.

Ultimately though for the vast vast majority of folk it is a time limited career, that's its very nature, more a case of retention rather than recruitment I feel

Neil (ex employee)

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 17:02:50 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"](sorry Arlo)[/quote]

No need to apologise.

You've got to remember that until recently, VetSurgeon Jobs has been free, and not the focus of my attention.

I recognise that if I am going to charge money, I need to up my game.

I have.

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:58:26 GMT

[quote user="Sam"]Arlo.. this is a great site but I would not pay for a job add here as the times I have advertised here (quite a few) I have only had few, poor quality applicants responding (can't speak English/ not RCVS registered etc). I keep trying though... ever hopeful![/quote]

Well, stick with me.

After I made the decision that VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk need to start charging for advertising job vacancies, I did some market research.

If I am candid, the feedback was variable and you are not the only one who reported a poor response.

I did not (and do not) plan to charge anything like the competition, but that's kind of beside the point. What matters is that it works!

So I went away, got my wallet out, and invested a very handsome sum on a rebuild of the job section. It was due to arrive last Friday. Got delayed till Monday. Got delayed again, and i think now looks unlikely today, but you never know.

For commercial reasons, I don't want to say too much about what I've done, or explain the thought process behind the changes you'll see when the new job section is unveiled.

But let's just say that my objective has been to enhance the viewing pleasure, so to speak, and improve the response rate.

After it is switched on, it will take a little while for the jobs section to populate with ads that fit the new format. Then I need to market it in various ways, again to improve the response rate.

Always difficult to know with job advertising whether a poor response is down to the platform, the market conditions or the advert itself. But only when I feel confident that I'm offering a first class service will I start to charge.

And when I do, it will be very reasonable.

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Sam — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:01:32 GMT

Same here with experience of cheaper/free advertising. We get few applicants from adds on sites such as this. I have not tried the VR yet as an employer, but in the old days of job hunting myself I never looked anywhere else. So I will be biting the bullet this time and advertising in the Vet Record and will see how it goes. Sorry Arlo.. this is a great site but I would not pay for a job add here as the times I have advertised here (quite a few) I have only had few, poor quality applicants responding (can't speak English/ not RCVS registered etc). I keep trying though... ever hopeful!

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 15:27:11 GMT

We were looking for an assistant (mixed, mainly large animal). Had an add on here, on a couple of vet recruitment Facebook groups and in the Vet Record.

Vet Record brought in 35 applicants - nothing from anywhere else.

We paid for the mid priced advert.

People set up alerts and we had half a dozen applicants within an hour of the job going live.

Anything else coming along is going to struggle to compete with the VR. yes it was expensive, but 'worth' far more than the free offerings. If I wanted staff again I think I'd just go via VR.

(sorry Arlo)

RE: Advertisement of Veterinary Work

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 12:54:13 GMT

[quote user="Cat Barker"]After many years in the industry now I have trialled various places with advertising and not found a successful front runner.[/quote]

Watch this space. There's something on the horizon!