| FAQs. |
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I have a UK interview arranged - how should I prepare?
In advance:
| - | | Get directions to the interview and decide how to get there. |
| - | | Make sure you have a list of contact numbers and names, so you know who to call in case you get delayed or lost. |
| - | | Take a copy of your CV with you and review it shortly before your interview. |
| - | | Take copies of your qualification documents and/or their English translations. |
| - | | Take a pen and paper. |
| - | | Review all the facts you know about the workplace (remember - some practices/clinics have webpages which you might want to visit in advance). |
| - | | Read the VetRecruit Guidelines on "The UK Vet Profession" and "Working in the UK". |
| - | | Prepare a list of questions you might want to ask at the end of the interview (see below). |
DO:
| - | | Have a good night’s sleep and shower or bath before the interview. |
| - | | Make sure your hands are clean and your last hair trim wasn’t too long ago. |
| - | | Dress professionally in order to present a confident image; clothes should be well-fitting, well-made and clean but whatever you wear it’s absolutely vital that you feel comfortable and yourself. |
| - | | Be positive, confident, enthusiastic and polite – but not submissive. |
DO NOT:
| - | | Drink alcohol on the day of the interview or the day before. |
| - | | Put on excessive make-up or jewellery. |
| - | | Use first names, unless asked. |
| - | | Sit down, until invited. |
| - | | Look at your watch, frown or yawn. |
| - | | Discuss equal rights, race, sex, history, religion or age. |
| - | | Smoke. |
Body language:
| - | | Give a firm hand shake, but don’t squash the other’s hand! |
| - | | Keep eye contact, but don’t stare. |
| - | | Sit upright. |
| - | | Don’t fold your arms in front of your body. |
| - | | Breathe deeply and slowly – try to relax. |
Questions the interviewer might ask:
| - | | Whether you are qualified and able to do the job: tell them about your veterinary degree, thesis and postgraduate qualifications (if you have any) as well as your practical skills and experience. List the procedures you are able to perform - not only surgical procedures, but also diagnostic tests e.g. radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, ECGs, laboratory tests and necropsies etc. Mention if you are able to do sole-charge consults and home visits, have done out-of-hour coverage, are able to write letters, take money, answer phone calls and use computers etc. |
| - | | How motivated or keen you are to get the position: always try to be energetic and enthusiastic - even if you feel the interview is not going well. Think of examples that show how determined and dedicated you are in your job and how much you like being a vet. |
| - | | How well you would fit into the existing team: employers are usually looking for people who will fit into their existing teams, so emphasise your ability and willingness to work with others. Think of the teams you have worked with in the past and find some examples that show how well the team performed and what part you played or, if a team did not work well, what steps you undertook to improve the situation. Obviously some positions will require more leadership from you than others, but in the end it all comes down to how well you work with people. |
| - | | How good your command of the English language is: if there is the need you might want to freshen up your English skills by reading English books, listening to English radio or attending evening classes. You might even consider spending some time in the UK seeing practice before you go to the interview. However, once you have made it to the interview you have to use whatever language skills you have, so relax, concentrate, focus, listen carefully and speak slowly. |
Obviously your answers will depend on your individual background and expertise and the job on offer, so the above examples are only to give you a general idea of what to say. NEVER lie or PRETEND you are capable of things you are not. Even if you were to get the job, the truth would soon emerge and you would find yourself unemployed again and maybe even prosecuted.
Questions you might want to ask:
| - | | Salary, holidays, bonuses, benefits: it is generally felt that you should wait until the position has been offered to you before you verify these details. Once an offer has been made, you can decide whether to accept it as it is or else negotiate some parts of the package. |
| - | | Continuing professional development (CPD): you can ask what support is provided by the practice - this will show that you are interested in your work and keen to obtain further qualifications and expertise. It is also a RCVS requirement that vets undertake 35 hours of CPD per year in order to stay abreast of current developments. |
| - | | More details about the practice: enquire about the equipment in the practice (again, mention if you know how to use any of it), how many vets are working there, whether there any Certificate or Diploma holders, what the working rota is like, whether you would have to travel between branch clinics, whether the practice is a training practice for nurses, etc. |
Finally, you must ask for a tour of the premises and to meet other members of the team. This way you will see how clean and organised the place is and what the general mood of the staff is, i.e. whether you feel welcomed or not. Have a look at their computer system and see how busy the appointments are. Talk to as many people as possible, but in particular to the team member you are supposed to replace. Find out why they are leaving and how they found working at this practice.
After the job has been offered to you:
| - | | React with enthusiasm, but only accept straight away if you’re completely happy, otherwise sleep one night on it and check whether the salary and other conditions are realistic (you can always speak to us). If you are unsure about the place itself ask to spend a day or two at the practice before making your final decision. |
| - | | If you have not done it already, get your RCVS registration sorted as soon as possible - you’ll find the contact details on our web page. |
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