How Important is it that the Recruiter my Company Hires has Experience in the Animal Health or Veterinary Industry?

It is highly beneficial and, in many cases, essential for a recruiter to have experience in the specific industry where your company operates.

Here are some reasons why:

1. They understand the nuances of the industry: Industry experience gives recruiters a deep understanding of the skills, experiences, and cultural nuances of the particular industry. This allows the recruiter to identify and attract the best candidates who will be a fit for the company and their needs.
2. Better sourcing of candidates and assessment: Recruiters with industry experience are able to leverage their network and knowledge to identify and source candidates from relevant companies, organizations, conferences and industry channels. They are also in a position to better assess candidate’s qualifications and experience.
3. Relationship building and effective communication: Recruiters from the industry can communicate with hiring managers, candidates, and stakeholders more effectively. This is because they speak the language of the industry, build stronger relationships, and understand the opportunities and challenges.
4. Enhanced candidate and client experience: Recruiters from the industry can provide a more meaningful, relevant and tailored candidate experience. They better understand the expectations of candidates and employers in the industry, leading to a better overall experience.
5. Streamlined hiring process: Recruiters with industry experience can develop more effective and efficient hiring processes to serve the specific needs of the industry. They streamline the interview process, identify the appropriate skills, and make better decisions to lead to the right hires.
6. Better improved retention of employees: By hiring the most appropriate talent, they can help with higher retention rates.
7. Competitive advantage: Recruiters with industry knowledge understand industry trends providing you with a competitive advantage.
8. Higher quality hires: The recruiter with industry experience is in a better position to attract candidates who are a better fit for the employer’s needs.
9. Quicker time to hire: They can navigate the process faster leading to reduced time to fill positions.
10. Reduced costs of recruitment: They make more strategic decisions and with their vast industry knowledge minimize the time and cost of recruitment and reduce hiring the wrong person.

Not too long ago a group of practices hired a recruiter not from the Animal Health industry or Veterinary profession. This person was placing human physicians. This recruiter called our firm to ask to “pick our brain. He wanted to know if he could recruit dentists, pediatricians, or optometrists for veterinarian positions.  He didn’t know a single veterinarian, knew nothing about the industry and had no network in our industry. I felt sorry for the Veterinary company who hired him. He clearly didn’t understand the nuances of the Veterinary profession. The time it was going to take him to get up to speed would have taken countless hours.

Another firm who placed accountants was hired by a Veterinary company to place veterinarians. They also called our firm to try to outsource the work to us because they said they had no clue how to recruit and place a veterinarian.  We told them we were busy with our own clients and could not help them. Months later they told their client they weren’t able to help them and were not able to find the client the people they need.

These stories explain the risks of hiring a recruiter outside of the industry. It will cost you time and most likely won’t produce results.  The Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession are unique and ideally you would hire a recruiter with expertise who could actually help you fill your most critical positions.

The VET Recruiter has close to 30 years of executive search and recruiting experience in the Animal Heath industry and Veterinary profession throughout the United States and Canada.