7 Tips for Finding an Amazing Veterinary Mentor

How many times have you heard the story of the new graduate being promised excellent mentorship in the veterinary practice, but when they begin working at the practice, the new graduate is thrown into things with very little direction and guidance? Or worse, the practice owner suddenly takes vacation leaving the new graduate to fend for themselves.

I work with many new veterinary graduates, and I can tell you that this happens frequently. Promises are made to the new graduate, but sometimes these promises are not delivered.

As a new veterinary graduate, how can you avoid this trap? In this article, I will discuss 7 ways to ensure you are finding an amazing vet mentor.

1. Never Skip the Working Interview

Is there a professional atmosphere in the practice? Does the practice appear to foster trust and collaboration? Do veterinarians discuss cases with each other? Look for these signs to gauge if it is a healthy workplace.

You can tell a lot about a practice if you spend the day there. Now, I’m not claiming that this will prevent all mishaps, but by spending the day at the practice, you will soon get a feel for the workplace culture. If anything feels off or you notice any toxic behaviors—yelling, excessive complaining, gossip—you will know that this practice is probably not going to have the best mentorship.

2. Ask to Speak with Other Veterinarians

Before you accept an offer to work at a practice, it may be helpful to speak with other veterinarians at the practice about their experiences. For practices that foster healthy mentorship, they should have no hesitations about letting you speak with other associates about their experiences.

Ask your potential employer for the name of an associate veterinarian that you can speak with regarding their experiences working at the practice.

3. If Veterinary Mentorship Is Promised, Ask Questions

If your potential employer states that there is a veterinary mentorship program or mentoring available at the practice, ask for more details. Consider what kind of mentorship you are seeking, and be sure to communicate this when you are negotiating an offer.

These questions may help you dig a little deeper into what the mentorship at the practice might entail:

• Is there a formal or informal mentorship program?

• How does your practice mentor new and recent veterinary graduates?

• Will there always be someone available to answer questions?

• Will there be someone available by phone if I am left alone at the practice?

• How long will a veterinarian work at the practice before they are left alone at the clinic?

• What types of resources, training, and support are available to veterinarians?

• Will there be time in the schedule to observe and assist in challenging surgeries?

• Who will be my vet mentor?

• Are new graduates given autonomy to make medical decisions?

• Are there any written protocols available?

• What will my schedule look like for the first few months at this practice?

4. Consider Developing a Mentor Agreement

If you were promised mentorship, it may be helpful to collaboratively develop a mentorship agreement with your practice. This mentorship agreement could outline the structure of the mentoring including a set time for regular check-in meetings with your vet mentor, an outline of how your appointment schedule will be structured, and how you will be supported in surgical cases. You could also consider having this mentoring agreement included in your employee contract.

5. Seek External Vet Mentorship

If you have ended up in a practice where you are not receiving the mentorship that you expected, don’t be afraid to reach out for assistance. Many veterinarians are more than willing to mentor new and recent graduates even if they aren’t working in the same practice. We’ve all been in your shoes and know how tough the early career can be! Finding a good vet mentor can potentially help decrease your risk of experiencing veterinary burnout early in your career.

6. Find a Veterinary Mentorship Program

Many structured veterinary mentorship programs exist and can be an excellent resource when you are starting your veterinary career. It can often be helpful to seek mentorship from veterinarians that aren’t in your practice because it can sometimes be easier to discuss the issues that you may be facing with your clients or colleagues and not risk impacting the relationship with your boss or your practice. MentorVet offers structured mentorship and support for early-career veterinarians.

7. Find Multiple Vet Mentors

Who says you have to have only one vet mentor? Seeking mentorship from multiple individuals can be extremely helpful in your early career. Is there a vet in your practice that is amazing at surgery? Consider asking them to be your surgical mentor. If you are interested in practice ownership at some point in your career, consider finding a business mentor. Consider establishing mentorship relationships with veterinarians within your practice as well as veterinarians outside of your practice. Each vet mentor can offer unique insight and advice to best support you in the transition to practice.

A Few Final Thoughts

Mentorship is vital for early-career veterinarians. If you have individuals to support you in the transition to practice, you may feel less stress and imposter syndrome, and a good vet mentor will help you gain confidence and connections. Also, remember that you can have more than one vet mentor to help you in your early career! Finally, there are training and resources available for veterinarians if you do not have good mentorship within your practices or if you are seeking additional support.