Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Anthony Todd — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 20:22:49 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"] do they treat a blocked cat when funds are limited for example. Does the practice ethos fit with yours. [/quote]

Just unblock it, give diet advice and skip all the blood tests and ancillaries, I'd say?

I don't see how "funds limited comes into it??

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Kate Richardson — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 18:29:07 GMT

Have a few real life scenarios to hand and ask them them what they would do. For example I would always ask different people in the practice what they thought about using metacam in cats with kidney disease, or how do they treat a blocked cat when funds are limited for example. Does the practice ethos fit with yours.

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Sarah Keir — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:40:52 GMT

The PSS is what a practice makes of it. Often it is just a check list to be done, filed and forgotten and then back to the old bad habits until the next inspection. Interestingly, I have found the tier 3 hospitals the worst for this!

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Anthony Todd — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 18:37:22 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]Also consider whether they are a nurse training practice as a lot of these things will have been checked as well.[/quote]

I hope they will have changed their anaesthetic gas residue monitoring system since BITD!!

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Lucy Fleming — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 17:22:09 GMT

[quote user="Richard Carter"]perhaps this job could be the opportunity of a lifetime if you looking to expand your horizons, take on more challenges, possibly buy in/ take over at some point?[/quote]

True...and even harder to prepare for. All very well being prepared to take on these challenges, but you have to be able to carry people with you, and they have to be willing to join in

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

An On MRCVS — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 17:00:37 GMT

Drop in unannounced so they haven't got time to prepare. Then you'll see how things really are.

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Richard Carter — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 16:50:35 GMT

most of the tone here has been about what the candidate 'wants' - anyone thought the reason the practice is recruiting might be because they are running short staffed, or are trying to cope with new grads or the owner is getting elderly and cannot operate anymore and that perhaps this job could be the opportunity of a lifetime if you looking to expand your horizons, take on more challenges, possibly buy in/ take over at some point?

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Thomas Johnson — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 14:25:30 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]And at the risk of being shot down by the rabid anti-PSS brigade on here I would say a PSS accredited practice will at least give you some reassurance about working conditions. Just very basic stuff like you will get a contract of employment, the X ray machine/anaesthetic vapourisers/autoclave have been serviced, the lab machines are subject to QC, medicines are properly looked after, someone has addressed H&S issues, consent forms are used etc.etc. [/quote]

Also consider whether they are a nurse training practice as a lot of these things will have been checked as well.

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

bob lehner — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:38:30 GMT

Find out about about staff turnover - in all categories - vets/nurses/receptionists. A place where people have stayed for a decent time is likely to be a better and happier work place.

And at the risk of being shot down by the rabid anti-PSS brigade on here I would say a PSS accredited practice will at least give you some reassurance about working conditions. Just very basic stuff like you will get a contract of employment, the X ray machine/anaesthetic vapourisers/autoclave have been serviced, the lab machines are subject to QC, medicines are properly looked after, someone has addressed H&S issues, consent forms are used etc.etc.

Unfortunately it won't tell you if the boss is an idle psychopath or if the head RVN suffers from severe PMT. Those you won't find out until you have worked there for a bit.

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Neil Wheadon — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 17:39:39 GMT

From an experienced locum

You cannot tell in a week, maybe not a fortnight, you need 6 months for things to start to show, simply because everyone is on their best behaviour and it takes time for minor niggles to get larger. However many minor niggles are sorted with communication

Asking a local locum, well thanks for that. I can see it now

Practice owner ' So you told candidate XX, that our practice didn't make the tea properly'

Locum 'Well I was trying to be honest'

Practice Owner 'Well in that case......'

We're trying to stay in work as well. and there's a degree of confidentiality as well. Locum rule Number 34 subset B , don't bemoan about other practices to, it'll bite you.

Neil

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Jill Butterworth — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 15:24:32 GMT

I'd second locuming for a practice before deciding. If that's not possible, spend a day or two there at least, its' much easier to read between the lines, and the nurses are likely to tell you the truth (whilst they are covertly sussing out if you will fit in, and reporting back!).

Work out what is a deal breaker for you and what you can be flexible on, as no job is perfect. It's tricky if location is important to you and nothing suitable is available.

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 11:38:05 GMT

Would a Skype interview with virtual tour of the practice via Skype be a possibility if the practice in question was a long distance away?

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Sarah Keir — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:01:37 GMT

Anon, I know the difficulties all too well! And no matter how diligent you are before accepting a job you cannot truly know how somewhere will fit with your values or if they have been stretching the truth until you work there for a few months. But the following I have found useful:

- the gut feeling as you walk into the waiting room - would you bring your pet here?

- cyber-stalking - look at google reviews, why are they good, why are they bad? Ask you friends or anyone who locums in the area. Ask the local estate agent who they would recommend to take your pet to.

- do the senior management walk the walk as well as talk the talk? Are the values important for them? You have to ask open questions - if they give you a list of equipment rather then you have your answer. Do the bosses stop for lunch, do they leave on time or work until midnight, do they take holidays?

- spend a minimum of a few days with the team you will be working with, not talking to the bosses. In particular speak to the nurses, kennel assistants and receptionists - they will tell you the true practice.

- does the practice pride itself in the small things as well as the expensive equipment. Such as is the staff room clean and equipped, does out the back look like it hasn't been painted for decades? For me windows are important - I need light - so are they cleaned, are the frames in good repair?

Lastly, you could always ask for a short-term contract or try locuming for a time. And Good Luck! The truly good practices are out there but they are rare.

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Tricia Goulden — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 12:05:50 GMT

I would assess the attitude and motivation of the key players. Do the partners/ clinical directors arrive late, leave early and avoid their share of on call? Or are they enthusiastic, passionate about their profession and keen for you to get the most out of your role? Very hard to get the most out of a job with lethargy at the top.

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

KathW — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 06:55:34 GMT

Maybe, as Michael say, ask the practice what their actual standards are. Ask about peri operative protocols and care. Ask to speak to some of the nurses as well as the vets about this.

Ask If there are targets to be met (for blood tests, cytology in house etc). If you are working up cases sensibly and well the income and client satisfaction should follow without hitting x number of laboratory tests/ month.

Ask to see a month‘s rota and ask the boss/clinical director/ vets and nurses how often lunch hours and breaks are able to be taken and if the boss keeps an eye on if these breaks actually get taken.

Ask what happens to the rota when vets are on holiday/off sick and how much notice is given for rota change.

Ask different team members how many staff have left in the last 12 months, and why they left.

Definitely aim to go and work there for a day or two.

Maybe ask to speak to any locums who have worked in a practice recently. They will see a range of practices and may be more willing to tell the truth (as they see it) than an existing team member.

I would agree with Michael that a lot comes down to gut instinct and you get more feel for a practice and team by talking to them and working alongside them. That way you can see how they work and interact as a team day to day.

We are all looking for different things in a practice and a job and sometimes it’s a case of finding that good fit for yourself. Good luck!

RE: Any advice on how to look beyond the hype in a job advert and at an interview?

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 02:18:32 GMT

Not a helpful answer but there is not a satisfactory answer to your question.

Define 'gold standard' - some people believe its the optimal treatment for the animal, some think it means do every test in the book and spend that insurance money, some think it means shine a laser at everything because we bought one and it can cure cancer and reverse aging.................

Take 2 new grads and put then in the same practice. Offer the same interaction and the same support and I bet one of them feels much better supported than the other. Individual personalities, different levels of confidence, different case loads, chance and coincidence come into play.

When we interview we have people spend a day with us so they can see how we work. We spend time with them and see how personalities gel. I don't see what more I'd gain sitting them in a room in a suit and asking them questions for half an hour.

We've made some good hiring decisions and some less good ones. We've kept the proper nutters out but really you have to go with your gut and take a punt. You'll only know for sure when you are working there. If it's not working then move on. The one thing I am learning with time is not to tolerate mediocrity - i'd be much more likely to let someone go at the end of their trial period these days.