Professional Development

CHAPTER 25


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Professional Development



Learning Objectives


Mastery of the content in this chapter will enable the reader to:


• Identify the importance of professional development.


• Identify skills that one possesses.


• Discuss career fields that are available.


• Explain how to develop an effective cover letter.


• Explain how to develop an effective resume.


• Discuss how to email cover letters and resumes.


• List methods used to prepare for an interview.


• List questions to ask a potential employer.


• Discuss how to follow up after an interview.


• Differentiate offers of employment.


• Discuss retirement savings.



Key Terms



Professional development is vital to every career. There are many aspects of career and professional development, and all are vital to an individual’s success. The successful development of an individual can lead to the development of a successful team. Individuals must first assess themselves and determine their strengths and weaknesses; they can then work on the weaknesses while striving to improve the strengths. They must determine what successes they want in life, define what success is, and set professional and personal goals. Professional and motivated individuals will seek out experiences to improve themselves as well as opportunities to improve others.


On average individuals will change jobs every 3.6 years and change careers three times before retiring. Training and development in areas other than veterinary medicine are essential. Training in leadership, management, creativity, diversity, communications, and analytical skills will help even the most experienced individual. Many individuals change careers to veterinary medicine after being in another field for years, and the skills and knowledge they bring from other professions is essential for practice development. Each team member may possess a set of skills another does not; therefore everyone can benefit from one other.


Career planning is often intertwined with individual plans, goals, and successes. Career planning is the ongoing process of making career choices; these choices should be reviewed from time to time. Individuals may need to analyze themselves, their environment, and their occupation to determine if and when a change is needed.


When changes are needed, it is often overwhelming to start the process of looking for new employment. Self-confidence may falter, and suddenly the skills that once seemed so strong now seem useless. It is common to feel this way, but fortunately it is easy to turn that mindset around. The skills that one has acquired over the years are essential for survival. Skills such as interpersonal and verbal communication, critical thinking, writing, and leadership are all valuable resources for any employer. In addition to these essential skills, self-discipline, excellent morals, outstanding ethics, and creativity are skills that should be reflected on to help rebuild confidence.



image PRACTICE POINT


Self-assessment tests help individuals determine their strengths and weaknesses, which will help guide them in choosing a career.



SELF-ASSESSMENT


Knowledge of oneself can enhance personal strengths while helping become aware of unknown weaknesses, tolerances, or risks (Figure 25-1). Personalities, styles, and accomplishments will help guide personal assessment. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Campbell Interest and Skill Survey, 16 Personality Factors, and transferable skills assessments are just a few self-evaluation tests.


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FIGURE 25-1 A self-evaluation form helps identify strengths and weaknesses.






Personal Skills


Team players seem to excel both more and more quickly than those who choose to work as individuals. This does not mean that people must depend on a team to succeed, but it shows that they have been successful in adjusting to a team environment as well as sharing and delegating responsibilities effectively.


Positive attitudes are contagious, and those with positive attitudes excel faster than those with negative attitudes. People prefer to be around happy, energetic, and enthusiastic individuals; they tend to be creative problem solvers and contribute well to a team environment.


A strong work ethic is an excellent attribute to possess. A strong work ethic is defined as striving for the best and excelling at finding tasks to complete. These tasks are completed quickly and efficiently, with excellent and consistent results. A strong work ethic cannot be taught; it is a trait that one possesses. Team members exhibiting a good work ethic in theory (and ideally in practice) should be selected for better positions, more responsibility and, ultimately, promotion. Team members who fail to exhibit a good work ethic may be regarded as failing to provide fair value for the wage the employer is paying them and should not be promoted or placed in positions of greater responsibility.


Education is essential for professional development. College courses enhance current skills, develop new skills, and teach independence. Continuing education is required of credentialed veterinary technicians and veterinarians to help them maintain the skills they have obtained as well as learn new techniques. Science and medicine continually change, and it is imperative to stay current with the new, up-and-coming trends and treatments.



image PRACTICE POINT


Family values may be ranked higher in importance than work and must be evaluated when choosing careers.


Evaluating the surrounding environment may also be essential when evaluating oneself. Personal issues, family, health, and finances have a heavy impact on decisions to change or advance careers. For many, family comes first, and it is important for those who feel this way to find an occupation that agrees with and allows this philosophy. Health can be of concern for many, as employment positions with a high level of stress can cause increased blood pressure and a higher risk for heart attacks. Finances may be the highest of all concerns, especially in the veterinary community. Veterinarians and technicians are not paid very highly, which forces many out of the veterinary health care profession and into sales, marketing, or research.


Questions may be asked and researched every so often to determine if a career change or advancement is needed. Further questions can be asked of individuals in the field when examining the possibility of change (Box 25-1).



Box 25-1   Questions to Consider Before Applying for a New Job




Individuals may reevaluate the positions they currently hold. A manager may look to become certified by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. A technician may become specialized within a field such as internal medicine or emergency and critical care. A veterinarian may become board certified in a specialty. The possibilities are endless; it takes a motivated leader to find a niche that is a perfect fit.



MARKETING SKILLS


All the above skills help individuals market themselves as they look for employment. Team environments are going to look for a team-motivated individual to join their staff. Potential employers want a positive, smart, and motivated individual to join their team; confidence and personality must be visible to the potential employer or a resume may be tossed aside.


Marketing starts with personal interactions within a profession or industry being investigated. Individuals must appear professional and confident as they explore employment opportunities (Figure 25-2). Many benign conversations can quickly change to an unscheduled interview once managers and representatives begin discussing employment opportunities.


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FIGURE 25-2 A professional appearance is a marketing tool that projects quality. (From Bassert JM, McCurnin DM: McCurnin’s clinical textbook for veterinary technicians, ed 7, St Louis, 2010, Saunders Elsevier.)


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES


Team members must have personal goals as well as employment goals. It is important not to forget oneself and one’s personal life, especially as dedicated and



image What Would You Do/Not Do?


Julie has been a full-time employee at ABC Veterinary Clinic for 5 years and has reached a plateau. She feels that her skills are not being utilized as much as they could be, which has made her resent her position. She feels that it is time to look for a position at another practice. Upon submission of her resume to several other practices, one in particular has shown interest and has called for an interview. The interview seems to go well for both parties. The potential employer asks for a list of references, and asks permission to call her current employer. Julie is hesitant to give permission to call her current employer, as she feels he may be upset with her for looking for other employment.


What Should Julie Do?


First, it would have been wise for Julie to discuss her job dissatisfaction with the current employer before she decided to look for new employment. If Julie is a great employee, the current employer may simply need to make changes to utilize Julie’s skills to their fullest potential. If a change does not occur, then the current employer has been made aware of Julie’s dissatisfaction and knows that she will be applying elsewhere.


Second, Julie should state to the potential employer that she prefer that the current employer be called as the last reference because she feels the he will be upset with her and she may suffer retribution as a result. It is important to be fair and honest with both individuals to prevent a shock to the current employer while impressing the potential employer.

Related posts:

  1. Veterinary Ethics and Legal Issues
  2. Controlled Substances
  3. Outside Diagnostic Laboratory Services
  4. Technology in the Office

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Oct 1, 2016 | Posted by in EXOTIC, WILD, ZOO | Comments Off on Professional Development

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