Episode #280 – The Core Value of Enthusiasm in Your Animal Health or Veterinary Career
Caleb: Welcome to “The Animal Health and Veterinary Employment Insider,” brought to you by The VET Recruiter. In this podcast, Animal Health executive recruiter and Veterinary recruiter Stacy Pursell of The VET Recruiter provides insight and practical advice for both employers and job seekers in the Animal Health and Veterinary industries. The VET Recruiter’s focus is to solve talent-centric problems for the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession. In fact, The VET Recruiter’s mission is to help Animal Health and Veterinary companies hire top talent, while helping Animal Health and Veterinary professionals attain career-enhancing opportunities that increase their quality of life.
Today, we will be talking about the core value of reliability in a person’s Animal Health or Veterinary career. Hello, Stacy, and thank you for joining us today.
Stacy: Hello, Caleb. As always, I am glad to be here with you.
Caleb: Stacy, this is the next episode in our series about core values, is that correct?
Stacy: Yes. So far, we have covered integrity and reliability, which are two of the most important core values that a person—or an organization—can have.
Caleb: What is so important about enthusiasm?
Stacy: Enthusiasm is important for multiple reasons, but before we explore them, I would like to present a definition of the word.
According to the dictionary, enthusiasm is “having or showing intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.” Being enthusiastic about something means to feel strong excitement about that something. It means that you are eager and passionate.
Caleb: So, what does enthusiasm have to do with a person’s Animal Health or Veterinary career?
Stacy: As is the case with most of the core values that we are exploring, enthusiasm helps your career not only in your current job, but also in any potential future jobs.
Caleb: Can you explain how that is the case?
Stacy: Certainly. Let us start with a person’s current job.
We have talked before on the podcast about value, specifically the value that a person can offer to their employer. An employee who is enthusiastic about their work is more valuable to an employer than a person who is not enthusiastic about their work. And there are two main reasons why.
First, the employee is more productive, which makes sense. People who are more enthusiastic about their work are more productive because they enjoy what they are doing. They like going to work and they like the work they do on a daily basis. Their enthusiasm motivates them to do more and be more productive. They are intrinsically motivated, as opposed to extrinsically motivated.
Second, the employee is a motivating force for their coworkers. Enthusiasm can be contagious, so to speak. When one employee is enthusiastic, it increases the chances that others will be, too, simply because they are in close proximity to that employee.
Caleb: So, these other employees might be more productive, as well, is that right?
Stacy: Yes, that is correct. That is how one very enthusiastic employee can make a big difference within an organization.
Caleb: Stacy, what are the traits or characteristics of an enthusiastic person?
Stacy: That is a great question, and there are multiple traits of an enthusiastic person.
First, they are energetic. Enthusiastic professionals outwardly express energy in everything they do.
Second, they are passionate. Passion is the fuel that enthusiastic professionals use to get the job done with energy and desire.
Third, they are happy. And this brings to mind the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Caleb: What do you mean by that?
Stacy: In this case, it would be what came first, an already happy person who is enthusiastic or an enthusiastic person who became happy because they are so enthusiastic. It speaks to the self-perpetuating nature of enthusiasm. The more enthusiastic you are, the happier you will be. The happier you are, the more enthusiastic you will be.
Caleb: So, enthusiasm sort of feeds off itself to generate more enthusiasm?
Stacy: Yes, that is right! That is one of the things that makes enthusiasm so important to Animal Health and Veterinary career success.
The fourth characteristic of an enthusiastic person is that they go the “extra mile.” They do whatever is necessary to get the job done, and they can do that because of their enthusiasm and the energy they have. And of course, employees who go the “extra mile” are more valuable to employers. They will be recognized more often and rewarded more often.
The fifth trait of an enthusiastic person is that they’re more likely to be successful. Can a person be successful without being enthusiastic? Sure, it has happened. But those people would have been even more successful if they had been enthusiastic about their work and their Animal Health or Veterinary career.
Caleb: Stacy, how can a person show enthusiasm at work?
Stacy: That is another great question, and the answer illustrates something else that is positive about enthusiasm, which is that it does not cost anything to be enthusiastic. You do not have to go to school for it or pay for it. You can express it simply because of your desire to do so.
An enthusiastic employee will typically show up to work on time and show interest in his or her job. They will also demonstrate a willingness to listen, learn, and try new things.
Caleb: Stacy, is it true that some people are just naturally more enthusiastic than others?
Stacy: Yes, that is true, because everyone is different, and everyone has different personalities.
Caleb: So, if a person is not naturally enthusiastic, can they become more enthusiastic in the workplace to help their Animal Health or Veterinary career?
Stacy: Yes, and I have some steps for doing just that. Something to keep in mind is that having enthusiasm in your life is like learning how to walk. It is a discipline of intention and effort, and because it is a discipline, the more you work at it, the better you will become.
The first step to becoming more enthusiastic is to try to tap into your passions. What are you passionate about? Hopefully, you have chosen a career field that you are passionate about.
Second, commit to the job. It is difficult to be enthusiastic about something if you do not commit to it. Commit to making every day on the job the best day that it can be. Commitment is more important than some people might think it is.
Third, have a positive outlook. When you have a positive outlook, you think about the reasons why something can be done instead of looking for the reasons why it cannot be done. When you have the proper mindset about a situation, it becomes easier to be enthusiastic about that situation.
Fourth, consider different perspectives. This is critical all by itself, outside of our discussion about core values. When you gain different perspectives, you gain a wider understanding of knowledge, which can help you in multiple ways.
Fifth, spark innovative ideas. This goes back to thinking about the reasons why something can be done as opposed to why it cannot be done. When you think about reasons why it can be done, you begin to think in innovative ways that can help you meet whatever challenge you are facing.
Sixth, communicate positively. When you have a positive frame of mind, it is easier to communicate in a positive way with others. And when you communicate in a positive way, it is easier for your coworkers to also be positive and enthusiastic.
Seventh, help others. When you show your willingness to help others and people are able to see your enthusiasm, this is another way for your coworkers to become more enthusiastic.
And eighth, help to produce a positive culture. This is the culmination of all your efforts. You are helping to build and sustain a positive company culture for your employer. Once again, this makes you a more valuable employee.
Caleb: Stacy, we have discussed the importance of enthusiasm at a person’s current job. What about when someone is exploring another employment opportunity? What can they do to help ensure they get an offer of employment?
Stacy: Enthusiasm can mean the difference in not just getting a job, but also in succeeding in a job and even advancing in your Animal Health or Veterinary career. And to illustrate this point, I have a couple of case studies.
I once received feedback from a candidate following a face-to-face interview with one of our firm’s clients. In that feedback, the candidate said:
“Thank you for putting me in touch with [the hiring manager]. My fingers are crossed! I would really like this job!”
Caleb: That does sound incredibly positive and enthusiastic.
Stacy: Yes, they seem happy that they are being considered for the position. So, at the other end of the spectrum, I had another candidate who seemed much less enthusiastic about the same positon. She said she was interested, but she really did not show it. She did not seem excited about it, and she did not show any enthusiasm.
Caleb: Let me guess: the employer liked the first candidate more.
Stacy: That is right! The employer was more interested in the candidate who exhibited enthusiasm and indicated that they really wanted the job.
Caleb: So, having enthusiasm and showing it during the interview process is a way to give yourself an edge over other candidates.
Stacy: Correct, and every edge counts when you are competing against other job candidates. And when you think about it, there really is no downside to showing enthusiasm when you are interviewing for a new job. Enthusiasm produces positive things.
Caleb: Stacy, is personal branding involved in this discussion in any way? I know that we have discussed personal branding before on the podcast.
Stacy: Yes, personal branding is involved in this discussion, and it is another reason it’s recommended to express enthusiasm during the interviewing and hiring process.
I have two specific reasons why it is recommended to be enthusiastic when exploring other employment opportunities.
First, you might interview with the employer again for another position. If you act with enthusiasm during this interview and you do not get the job, there’s a good chance that the hiring manager will remember you if you interview for another position. They will remember how enthusiastic you were, and that could give you an automatic edge over other candidates.
Second, you might interview with that same hiring manager at another employer.
People don’t stay at their jobs forever. The hiring manager who interviewed you for one job may move to another organization. And if that organization has a job opening and you interview for that position, the hiring manager might remember you for the enthusiasm that you displayed when they attempted to fill a position at their previous employer. Once again, there is no downside to branding yourself as an enthusiastic person, and this includes when you are in the hiring process of a potential new employer. You never know where it will lead or how it might help you in the future.
Caleb: Stacy, we are just about out of time, so is there anything else that you would like to add before we wrap up today’s podcast episode?
Stacy: Yes, I would like to say one more thing about enthusiasm. When you are enthusiastic about your job and your Animal Health or Veterinary career, everything improves. One of the reasons why things improve is that enthusiasm helps you to build confidence, which is an essential element for success.
This is because self-confidence is a precursor to self-esteem. When you speak and act with more confidence, you will become more attractive to the people around you, including your coworkers, your boss, and even hiring authorities at another organization. People like to be around other people who are enthusiastic and who appear confident in their abilities. And since that is the case, it makes sense that employers want to hire people who are enthusiastic and confident in their abilities.
And once again, it does not cost you anything to be enthusiastic. It is free. So there really is no reason to not be enthusiastic, both at your current job and also when you are interviewing for a position with a possible new employer.
Caleb: Stacy, thank you so much for joining us today and for all this important information about the core value of enthusiasm and a person’s Animal Health or Veterinary career.
Stacy:. It has been my pleasure, Caleb. I look forward to our next episode of the Animal Health and Veterinary Employment Insider!