Ask almost any veterinary practice owner or manager what their biggest challenge is right now, and you’ll likely hear it: “We just can’t find good people.” The shortage of veterinarians, vet nurses, and techs has become the go-to explanation. Industry forums echo with frustration. Jobs sit unfilled for months. Applications are few and far between. And when someone promising does appear, they often vanish just as quickly. The idea that “there’s no one out there” has become a widely accepted truth.

But that truth is incomplete.

While many practices are struggling, others continue to hire well… consistently. They engage with quality applicants, including professionals who weren’t actively looking. And it’s not just luck or geography. These practices operate with a different mindset. They take a whole-of-practice approach to recruitment, one that starts long before a role is even needed or advertised and continues well beyond the contract being signed. They treat recruitment as storytelling – not just what they say, but how they say it, where they say it, and how often. They understand that being a great place to work isn’t enough if no one hears about it in the right way, at the right time.

The encouraging reality is that this approach is entirely within reach. Any practice can shift from reactive hiring to strategic attraction with a fresh mindset, approach and implementation. Great hires don’t just happen… they’re built through consistent actions and intentional moments. The practices that get this right aren’t just filling roles, they’re building a recruitment flywheel for the long haul.

The most successful veterinary career transitions happen when you’re fully prepared, even if you’re not actively looking. The goal isn’t to rush into a new position – it’s to build your preparation so thoroughly that when the right opportunity appears, you can move quickly and confidently. As an experienced veterinary professional, you already understand that preparation ensures great outcomes – and the same principle applies to your career moves. The reality is that practices are already looking for professionals like you, and when opportunity knocks (and it will), you want to be ready with a strategic plan, polished professional presence, and crystal-clear vision of what you’re seeking.

The best career opportunities often come when you least expect them. Whether you’re considering your next career step or simply want to prepare yourself for future possibilities, implementing one or more of these seven strategies will ensure you’re ready when that perfect job arises. You’ll be equipped to move with confidence and secure better opportunities…

You became a veterinary professional because you love helping animals and making a difference. But you also live in the real world where mortgages need paying, student loans keep demanding attention, and you’d like to afford that well-earned vacation. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting both meaningful work and fair compensation that lets you enjoy life outside the clinic. When you’re properly compensated for your expertise, you’re more energized and focused on providing excellent care.

Having conversations about salary doesn’t mean you’re being greedy or forgetting why you love this profession. You bring incredible value to your practice through your skills, dedication, and the trust clients place in you. When both you and your employer benefit from fair compensation, it creates a positive cycle where everyone wins. You feel valued and motivated, your practice thrives, and your patients receive the best possible care…

Smart technology is already saving veterinary professionals time, improving diagnostic capabilities, and enhancing patient outcomes in ways that seemed impossible just two years ago. From AI scribes that complete SOAP notes in seconds to predictive algorithms that detect early kidney disease patterns, artificial intelligence has evolved from experimental concept to early adoption across progressive practices.

As a skilled veterinary professional, you understand that better tools combined with your own veterinary expertise and experience create better outcomes for your patients. Over your career, you have already seen that advances in equipment and practice software have significantly improved the quality of veterinary care – from digital imaging through to inventory management – think of Artificial Intelligence as another advance, to be considered and applied in a similar manner…

There’s a moment in nearly every veterinary practice where things start to feel tight. Consults are booked solid, weekends are full, the team is stretched, and the idea of growing starts to flicker. It might be a bigger team, more space, or even a second location, but before you dive in, it’s worth pausing to ask… growth toward what?

Not all growth is good growth. Bigger doesn’t always mean better. The smartest practice leaders take time to understand what they truly want, and what kind of growth will support that vision. This isn’t about business plans or budget forecasts (that comes next). This is the groundwork. The real work. Here are seven essential checkpoints to help you figure out whether growth is the right move, the right fit, and the right time…

The veterinary professionals landing the best telehealth positions right now aren’t just clinically excellent – they’re the ones who recognized this career shift early and positioned themselves strategically. While many of your peers are still wondering if telehealth is “real,” smart veterinary professionals are already securing remote roles with companies like Televet and GuardianVets, plus opportunities with independent practices integrating telehealth to better serve their communities. These aren’t experimental positions anymore – they’re established career paths with employers of all sizes actively seeking the right candidates.

You already have the clinical foundation that telehealth employers desperately need, but the window for early-mover advantage is narrowing. From solo practitioners expanding their reach to multi-location clinics streamlining follow-up care, veterinary practices across the spectrum are discovering that telehealth capabilities give them competitive advantages their clients value. The veterinary professionals who understand this trajectory and build these skills now will have their pick of opportunities as the market expands…

The compensation landscape has fundamentally changed, and many veterinary professionals are missing it entirely. Here’s what’s actually happening: new graduates are landing $130,000 starting salaries with 61% getting signing bonuses, and experienced associates are working 7% fewer hours while earning 4% more. And forward-thinking practice owners have stopped participating in the old salary-versus-production debate entirely.

This isn’t just a market adjustment…it’s a fundamental shift in how the smartest practices think about paying you. They’re implementing equity stakes that build real wealth, team bonuses that reward collaboration over competition, or guaranteed salaries that let you focus on patient care instead of productivity spreadsheets.

While many in the profession are still debating whether ProSal is fair, these practices pose a completely different question: How do we reward people so well that they never want to leave? Understanding these emerging models now will give you a massive advantage in your career progression.

Protecting your team from burnout directly impacts your practice’s profitability, patient care quality, and long-term success. You already understand that your veterinary professionals are your most valuable investment. When they’re energized and engaged, everything from client satisfaction to case outcomes improves dramatically. The practices thriving right now aren’t just managing burnout; they’re preventing it entirely through strategic planning and smart operational choices.

You have the expertise to spot clinical issues in your patients within minutes. The same diagnostic skills apply to your team’s well-being. Successful practice owners and managers across the USA, Australia, and UK have shared their proven strategies for keeping teams healthy and motivated. Here’s what works…

You already bring skill, care, and commitment to every patient and every shift. But even the most dedicated veterinary professionals can hit a point where routine sets in and career momentum starts to plateau. The good news? There’s a smarter way to spark that next phase of your growth without burning out or spinning your wheels.

Whether you’re a recent grad keen to stand out, or a seasoned nurse or technician thinking about leadership, practice ownership or even a specialty path, there are practical ways to shape the career you want. Ready to get more from your career? Start here, with seven proven moves that will help you take real steps forward, on your terms…