A Veterinary Care Assistant position is a wonderful way to begin a rewarding career working with animals. We have put together some tips on how to prepare for a vet assistant interview so you can give yourself the best possible chance at success.
1. Research the veterinary practice
When you have been offered an interview, the first thing you should do to prepare is to thoroughly research the practice you are applying to work in. You may have already done some research to know that it is somewhere you want to work, but learning more about the business will show eagerness and enthusiasm that will work in your favour during the interview.
You should try and find out how long the practice has been open, who the key figures are, the type of work they do (for example if they specialise in a specific area of veterinary care), any community projects or charities they are involved with, and any key achievements or awards the practice may have won.
2. Thoroughly study the advertised position
Hopefully, you will have familiarised yourself with the job advert before you applied, but it is worth revisiting it to prepare for your interview. A Veterinary Care Assistant position doesn’t always require prior experience in the role elsewhere, so the questions the interviewer asks will likely focus on the responsibilities and desired traits listed in the job description.
When studying the job advert, try and write down examples that you can give that demonstrate your suitability for a certain quality. You should also make a note of any work or volunteering experience you have that provides a good foundation for the job role.
3. Practice your answers to common questions
From your research on the advertised position and the practice, you should get a good idea of the type of questions you will be asked. For a Veterinary Care Assistant position, the employer will be looking for someone who is hard-working, punctual, eager to develop their skills, and with a genuine love for animals.
Below, you will find some common interview questions you may be asked, so start by jotting down some answers to these and then practice reciting them so you feel comfortable when it comes to the interview itself.
4. Dress the part
First impressions count for a lot, and while it doesn’t matter how expensive or stylish your clothes are for an interview, you should dress smartly to show you have made an effort and want to be taken seriously as a professional. This would usually mean a shirt and tie or a blouse with smart trousers and shoes, but your outfit doesn’t need to be too formal.
5. Arrive early
Our final tip on how to prepare for a Veterinary Care Assistant is to give yourself plenty of time to get there and arrive early. Arriving early shows eagerness and punctuality, both of which will be traits the employer is looking for. Arriving late or cutting it fine, on the other hand, comes across as unprofessional and shows a lack of organisation.
Familiarise yourself with the route to the interview location in advance and decide on the best method of transport to get there, booking tickets in advance for public transport if needed.
Questions you may be asked
Each employer will have its own set of questions and methods of interviewing, so there is no guarantee the following questions will be asked. However, these are some questions that commonly come up in interviews for Veterinary Care Assistant roles, and you should prepare an answer for each just in case.
- Why do you want to work with animals?
- What previous experience do you have working with animals/in a similar role? (such as volunteering)
- How would you try and soothe an aggressive patient?
- How do you cope with working under pressure?
- Why do you want this position?
- What are your career goals / where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- What is your biggest strength/weakness?
- What can you bring to this position?
Hopefully, this guide has helped prepare you for your vet assistant interview. Do your homework on the practice and the position, be professional, and show your genuine passion for animals and you will be off to a great start. Good luck!
If you are currently looking for a position in a veterinary practice, you can read more about our services for candidates.