by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS
The VET Recruiter®
There is no doubt that we’re currently living in the Digital Age. The Internet and wireless technology have revolutionized the way in which people communicate with each other. This includes both personally and professionally. More and more, people do not have to talk with one another in order to communicate.
While that certainly has benefits, it also presents challenges and potential pitfalls. That’s why, even though the Internet and wireless technology have revolutionized the way in which we communicate, verbal communication is just as important as it ever was. And this applies to people working in the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession.
The reason is simple: employers want to hire people who have great communication skills, and that includes verbal communication skills. If you’re a professional who has strong verbal communication skills, then you have an edge over other professionals in the employment marketplace. On the other hand, if you believe that you’re somewhat deficient in this area, then it would be a good idea to commit yourself to improving so that you can position yourself for better career growth and advancement.
As is the case with many of my articles and blog posts, I have plenty of first-hand experience and related evidence to substantiate my claims regarding verbal communication. Specifically, what I’ve been witnessing is some job seekers and candidates not wanting or willing to have a phone conversation with either me, my client, or both. Instead, they’ve wanted to communicate through email and/or text messaging.
I can tell you without a doubt that if I or the hiring manager of one of my clients wants to speak with a candidate on the telephone and that candidate would rather communicate via email and/or text message, then it throws up a “red flag”about their candidacy. In some cases, email and text messaging are perfectly fine and acceptable. But there are times when I and/or my client needs to have a live phone conversation with a candidate.
And that phone conversation has to occur if the candidate wants to continue being considered for the position.
There is no getting around the fact that you must interact with people in your job or in your profession. After all, you have a boss. You also have co-workers and colleagues. If you work in the Veterinary profession, then the pets to which you attend will have owners. You’ll have to interact with them, too, and they won’t want to talk solely through email or text messaging.
There are two ways that improving and honing your verbal communication skills can help in your career:
#1—Your current job
As I’ve mentioned on previous occasions, everything in the employment marketplace and job market comes down to value. Specifically, it comes down to the value that you provide to your employer. This value includes your ability to communicate, both verbally and nonverbally.
If you improve your communication skills, including your verbal communication skills, then you’re increasing the amount of value that you provide to your employer. And if you increase the amount of value that you provide to your employer, then it increases the chances that you will be rewarded with a promotion and/or a raise.
#2—Your career (including future jobs)
If you improve your communication skills, including your verbal communication skills, then you’re increasing the amount of value that you could provide to a future new employer. As you might imagine, this serves to improve your candidacy and make you more attractive to other Animal Health and Veterinary organizations.
And of course, those professionals who change jobs every three to five years often earn more in compensation and benefits than people who stay at the same employer for 10 to 15 years. While your current employer might reward you with a 2% or 3% raise, a new employer might reward you with a starting salary that is 5% to 10% more than what you were earning at your previous employer to entice you to make a move.
So if you’re in the hiring process of an Animal Health organization or Veterinary practice and pursuing a potential new employment opportunity, be ready to showcase your verbal communication skills. Don’t shy away from talking on the telephone, especially if a recruiter, a hiring manager, requests a phone call. Remember: superior verbal communication skills can give you an edge over other professionals in the marketplace, so use that edge!
And of course, don’t be afraid to consult an Animal Health recruiter or Veterinary recruiter about the best ways to approach the hiring process, including what to do and what not to do to impress an employer and enhance your candidacy. Your recruiter should have the experience and expertise necessary to guide you through the interview process and help maximize your participation, including any phone calls or communication with the employer.
Even though we live in the Digital Age, you must still interact with other people, and the better you’re able to do so, the greater the chances that you’ll enjoy more career growth and satisfaction.
We help support careers in one of two ways: 1. By helping Animal Health and Veterinary professionals to find the right opportunity when the time is right, and 2. By helping to recruit top talent for the critical needs of Animal Health and Veterinary organizations. If this is something that you would like to explore further, please send an email to stacy@thevetrecruiter.com.
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