Being a new or recent graduate is one of the most exciting (albeit somewhat terrifying) times of our veterinary career. After years of dedicated study and sacrifice, you are finally in possession of that degree that opens so many doors, provides a wealth of opportunity and grants you entry into one of the best professional vocations. Hopefully your early career is filled with lots of new experiences and exciting challenges, although I am sure you will encounter some less fun times; so from someone about to embark on their 16th year in practice, here are a few little words of wisdom that I wished someone had passed on to me in my first couple of years out.
Square peg, round hole? If it’s not working out, do something about it!
Searching for your first job is somewhat akin to shopping for that perfect pair of heels. You are wanting to find something that feels comfortable, offers great support and gives you that little boost of confidence. It’s a process that takes time, and whilst rushing to accept the first job that is offered to you without doing your due diligence (or being attracted to that higher salary whilst sacrificing on support or mentorship), might work out ok, more often than not it will result in a partnership that is not quite the right fit. If this is the case, and you find yourself feeling like you made the wrong choice, that this job is not the one for you, it’s absolutely ok to acknowledge the fact. As hard as it might be, and as much as you might be feeling you have somewhat failed (which you haven’t by the way), you need to acknowledge the fact. For your mental health, your career satisfaction and for those that you work with. Provided you reflect on your time and can appreciate the lessons you have learned (both good and bad), then you should be able to leave in an amicable manner, maintaining relationships and knowing you have done your best.
It’s ok to not be ok, but please let somebody know!
With all the excitement and perks that come with being a recent graduate, there will also be a number of difficulties and challenges. That first case that doesn’t quite go to plan, the first client complaint, a run-in with a colleague, a hectic weekend on-call, or the fact that you may no longer be surrounded by your university mates. Being a veterinarian is full of hurdles, and it is 100% ok to feel emotional about them; to feel disappointed, hurt, upset or even angry. What is not ok though, is keeping all of those feelings inside. For many of us, it can be really difficult to talk about how you are feeling, but especially as a recent graduate, when you are trying to hold it all together in order to make a good impression on your boss, your colleagues, your clients, and often your friends and family. After leaving vet school, it can be really helpful to try and identify someone you feel comfortable talking too. It might be someone you connect with via a mentorship program, someone you have previously done extramural prac with, one of your new colleagues (don’t forget, veterinary nurses are great sources of support), or even a past lecturer or clinical instructor. Whatever you do, please know it is absolutely ok to feel under pressure, overwhelmed or even a degree of anxiety; just don’t try and deal with it all on your own.
Invest wisely!
Hooray! You are no longer a poor student having to live on 2-minute noodles! Finally you have a good, steady income - and it feels amazing! But how do you spend your new-found wealth? I am no financial advisor, but full disclosure - I have been pretty irresponsible when it comes to money in the past, which means I have learnt some valuable lessons. If I knew then what I know now, what would I have done differently?
#1. Avoid consumer debt as much as possible. If (like me) you love shoes and handbags, don’t have a credit card! Or if you do have one, keep it in the freezer, where you can access it in case of emergency but it is not readily accessible. Even better, direct 5-10% of your salary into an emergency fund the minute it hits your bank account, so that you never have to rely on a credit card or loan to get you out of a jam.
#2. Save at least 10% of your salary. Religiously. You will be amazed at how quickly your savings will grow, especially if you invest in a share fund where you can reap the benefits of compound interest.
#3. Don’t ignore your superannuation. You will get old and things are going to be really expensive by the time you retire. So do your homework and make sure you are enrolled in a good super scheme.
#4. Read The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape and Mindful Money by Canna Campbell. The advice they give is invaluable and it will change your life.
Time goes really fast, so ladies think about freezing your eggs!
During your first year or two of practice, thinking about starting a family is probably the furthest thing from your mind. That was certainly the case for me. In fact, it wasn’t until I had done a couple of years in general practice, an internship, 3-year residency and then established myself in an academic hospital that I stopped to think about pregnancy. When the time was finally “right”, I found myself in my late 30’s, with rapidly waning egg quality; and a number of failed IVF attempts soon followed. The subject of young professional women freezing their eggs is not something that is widely nor openly talked about, but it should be. There is no question that your career is an important part of who you are, and you shouldn’t have to put it on hold nor postpone the things you want to achieve. However, to ensure you are positioning yourself as best you can for the future (and your future family), it is important to be aware of your fertility and the options available to preserve it.
First impressions are not always what they seem:
Yes, first impressions are important, but in my experience, they are not always what they seem. For me, this has been especially true when it comes to certain veterinary nurses and a number of clients. In fact, several of the nurses that I was initially very intimidated by (I’m sure you know the ones I mean) ended up being my most favourite to work with, not to mention great friends. Same goes for some clients. Sometimes (usually in our haste to clear our consulting schedule) we forget how emotionally charged our clients can be, and how scary some veterinary situations can be for them. Which means they may come across as distrusting (usually because they are very worried and haven’t met you before), questioning of your methods, high-maintenance or even a little aggressive. Of course, there are those clients who are exactly as they appear on first encounter (ie. total nightmares), but I will always give them a second chance to show their better side.
Maintain a sense of humour and believe in yourself:
I will never forget my first week in practice. On day 2, a client saw me walking through reception to the treatment room, and actually asked the receptionist “Is that child the vet?”. No joke! On day 5, whilst taking a history from a client, they asked me “Do you want to be a vet when you finish school?” To which I promptly replied, “No, no - I am the vet”. How embarrassing! Thankfully I managed to find the humour in their comments, and subsequently have some great anecdotes to share. As veterinary professionals, it is really important that we try to maintain a sense of humour; but more importantly, you must always believe in yourself. Trust your instincts. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
You survived vet school - that was no mean feat! You have all the tools you need to become a great veterinary surgeon and make a difference to so many pets and people’s lives. So, what are you waiting for? You’ve got this!
