There comes a time in many a vet’s career when they wonder what the next steps could be. Perhaps you have decided against opening your own practice, or there are constraints that prevent you from doing so, yet still you want to be more than ‘just a vet’. What are the options available and what skills should you be developing if you want to expand your career as a senior vet?
Owning a veterinary practice involves a great deal of responsibility. Aside from clinical and surgical practice there are also the administrative responsibilities of maintaining supplies, managing staff and developing the practice. It can be overwhelming even if you are a high energy, driven personality. This is why many practices look for senior vets to fulfil a supporting role and take on some of the responsibilities of the practice, freeing up the owner to focus on the elements of the business that they enjoy most.
Some examples of this are:
Head of Surgery/Medicine – ideal for a vet who is particularly skilled and passionate about a particular area of clinical work. In a role like this, there is the opportunity to mentor junior vets and share your knowledge and expertise, while still practising the aspects of the job that you love the most. There may also be the opportunity to give lectures or consult on particularly difficult surgical cases in the broader industry. It is the ideal opportunity to carve a name for oneself in a particular area of specialisation while actively contributing to the growth of the practice.
Coach/Mentor – it is incredibly rewarding to be involved in the development of others, especially when it combines years of work experience with elements of veterinary practice that you’re keenly passionate about. Coaching and mentoring can have a clinical and personal focus, or could simply be a supportive role, ensuring that junior vets are developing their skills in their areas of interest. Having someone dedicated to mentoring can help develop a more cohesive team and ensure that vets stay engaged with the practice. They are more likely to develop their careers within the practice if they feel valued and have someone dedicated to help them make the most of opportunities.
Practice Manager – this is the ideal role for a vet who has both strong administrative and people skills. Assisting with management and admin duties is an invaluable asset to a practice owner, helping ease some of the load of responsibilities. What’s really rewarding about this role is that you will have the opportunity to shape the practice, from putting systems in place to make this run more efficiently to making decisions on marketing, business development and client communications. In reality, the focus of this role can be built entirely around your interests and the needs of the practice so there is a lot of flexibility.
Client Manager – in addition to consulting there may be the opportunity for a senior vet to take on a more client focused role. An important part of growing a practice is finding ways to engage with customers and build a good reputation in the community. If you enjoy interfacing with customers you may consider hosting client information evenings or starting up pets clubs or puppy classes. All of these things add value to customers and help to keep them loyal to a practice. There are also opportunities to integrate with digital tools such as creating videos for Youtube or writing articles for social media.
What we are really trying to demonstrate through these examples is that there is a lot of opportunity to focus on what you really enjoy and making a purposeful contribution without having to own your own practice. Whether you’re a mum returning to work part-time or an experienced vet who is simply looking to give more into the lives of others, there are positions that can be shaped according to your interests and strengths.
For further information and inspiration, check out our Leadership Discovery Masterclass: https://simplyveterinarycoaching.mykajabi.com/leadershipdiscoverymasterclass