by Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS
The VET Recruiter®
In the current COVID-19 pandemic, interviewing and hiring may not be at the top of your to do list, but it should still be considered a vital and necessary activity.
It’s human nature to avoid danger. Actually, it’s not just human nature to do so, since just about every animal species on the planet also makes it a priority to avoid danger.
Along that vein, you’ve probably heard that ostriches stick their heads in the sand when they sense danger, hoping that it will simply pass by. However, did you know that ostriches actually do NOT bury their heads in the sand? Below is an excerpt from the website of the San Diego Zoo, and it would be difficult to contest that organization’s knowledge of animals:
“Contrary to the popular myth, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand! When an ostrich senses danger and cannot run away, it flops to the ground and remains still, with its head and neck flat on the ground in front of it. Because the head and neck are lightly colored, they blend in with the color of the soil.”
Unfortunately, there are employers in the marketplace right now who are adopting the mythical stance of the ostrich in regard to Animal Health and Veterinary hiring. In other words, due to current conditions in this country and around the world, they’re metaphorically “sticking their heads in the sand.”
Animal Health and Veterinary hiring point of view
Yes, the world is changing rapidly right now, with a ton of uncertainty to accompany it. However, while it might seem as though there is danger and chaos all around, that perception is as much a product of a person’s mindset and viewpoint as it is a product of reality. Sure, it’s important to practice social distancing measures and also to follow all of the guidelines and suggestions of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). But while there are some who might see danger and chaos, there are others who see opportunity.
And that’s what I want to address in this article: the opportunity that currently exists for employers in terms of Animal Health and Veterinary hiring.
There are a couple of things that are being lost in the midst of this current pandemic:
- We as a nation (and as a world) are going to come out on the other side of the COVID-19 situation. There will be an end, and when that end happens, people will start to go back to work and resume their lives.
- When we do come out on the other side of this situation, employers are going to start interviewing and hiring again. In fact, those who have critical hiring needs and aren’t interviewing and hiring right now are going to do so almost immediately at that point.
This may come as a surprise, but there are employers who have not put a stop to their Animal Health and Veterinary hiring efforts. We at The VET Recruiter have clients who are telling us this is a great time to interview, since some of their competitors are laying people off. And when you think about it, that makes perfect sense.
Before this pandemic began, the battle for top talent was fierce. Superstar candidates were in great demand. That talent still exists in the marketplace, and if some employers have decided they no longer want to pursue that talent, then this is a prime opportunity for your organization to do so if you have a critical hiring need. This reminds me of an insightful quote by financial guru Warren Buffet, who said the following:
“Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful.”
This is advice from a man whose net worth totaled $71.5 billion at the beginning of 2020. (Yes, that’s “billion” with a “B.”) Clearly, if there’s someone whose business advice you should consider, it would be Warren Buffett.
The bottom line with Animal Health and Veterinary hiring
So what’s the bottom line with all of this? If you approach current events and the present situation in the correct fashion, you’ll see that there is plenty of opportunity in the marketplace right now for successful Animal Health and Veterinary hiring.
Animal Health hiring managers and Veterinary practice owners and managers should continue to interview and build your teams if you have hiring needs. If you’re not hiring additional employees or staff for your organization, this is a great time to replace underperforming personnel. At the end of the day, you’re not adding employees, you’re simply upgrading your team.
After all, you might be able to hire some talented people from your competition right now. As discussed above, your competition could be in “fear mode,” and if they’re in fear mode, they’re focusing more on perceived levels of danger and chaos and less on the actual opportunity that exists. While other companies and organizations are fearful, perhaps this is the time for you to scout some of their top talent and recruit these top performers for your organization.
To apply Warren Buffet’s quote to this situation, if your competition is fearful of current conditions, then you could be greedy when it comes to acquiring top talent. Some of the best talent may be more available now than at any time since the Great Recession of 2008.
The VET Recruiter has been helping companies and organizations with their Animal Health and Veterinary hiring needs for close to 23 years. We’ve successfully recruited in all types of economic conditions and have a track record of getting the results that our clients want, regardless of the situation or the circumstances. And we can help you now—in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic—to find, recruit, and hire top talent.
There is more than just perceived levels of danger and chaos in the marketplace. There is plenty of genuine opportunity.
Remember, ostriches do NOT bury their heads in the sand . . . and neither should you. Operating out of fear is not always the best approach.
You can click here to find out more about our services for employers. Click here to learn more about our recruiting process.
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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