As an Animal Health recruiter and Veterinary recruiter for nearly three decades, I often come across stories that reinforce a simple truth: the landscape of employment is constantly shifting, and very few people see the change coming until it hits them. One experience I had illustrates this better than most.
I was searching for a Director of Marketing for a client, a company with a strong reputation and a compelling opportunity. As part of my outreach, I connected with a Vice President of Marketing at another organization. During our conversation, the VP shared something surprising: he was about to let go of his Director of Marketing. The company was preparing to reorganize, and the Director’s position was on the chopping block.
The VP suggested I reach out to the Director and speak to him about the opening I was working on. But he also asked that I not disclose that his Director was about to be let go. So, I made the call.
When I spoke to the Director, he was polite but firm. He said he wasn’t looking for a new position. He was happy where he was. From his perspective, life was good and his job was secure.
But here’s the thing: he didn’t know what I knew. He didn’t know his company was about to reorganize. He didn’t know he was days or weeks away from losing the job he felt so secure in. And he didn’t know that the opportunity I was calling about could be a step up in both scope and professional growth.
This Story is Not an Isolated Incident
Every day, I reach out to professionals who aren’t looking. They’re not on job boards. They haven’t updated their resume in years. They’re successful, content, and perhaps even thriving in their roles. But what they often fail to consider is this: just because you’re not looking doesn’t mean opportunity (or risk) isn’t looking for you.
In fact, some of the best career moves happen when you’re not actively searching. That’s because when you’re content, you evaluate opportunities from a position of strength. You can afford to be selective. You have time to assess fit, culture, and long-term alignment. The people who wait until they have to find a job often end up settling because they’re operating from a place of urgency or fear.
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
You may not know that your company is on the verge of a merger, acquisition, or restructuring. You may not be aware that your division is being phased out or that your role is quietly being made redundant. I get calls every week from people who thought their job was secure . . . right up until it wasn’t. They were shocked. They were loyal employees. They had strong performance reviews. But the reality is that business decisions are made at a higher level and often without warning.
When a recruiter like me calls, I’m not calling because your resume showed up in a database. I’m calling because I have been retained to find the best talent in the market, and I believe you may be one of those people. I’m calling because I have a client who is serious about hiring, and they’re looking for someone with your experience, your expertise, and your potential.
But none of that matters if you don’t take the call.
It’s understandable to be cautious. No one wants to be sold to. No one wants to waste time. But here’s the reality: exploring an opportunity doesn’t obligate you to anything. It doesn’t mean you’re disloyal to your current employer. It doesn’t mean you’re jumping ship. It simply means you’re open to learning whether there might be something out there that’s better aligned with your goals, your values, and your future.
Unsolicited Calls Bring Great Opportunity
Many of the professionals I’ve placed over the years weren’t looking when I first contacted them. They were successful and busy, with no plans to make a change. But they were also wise enough to take the call—to hear me out, to learn about the opportunity, and to consider how it might fit into their career vision.
Some said no after hearing more. Others found themselves unexpectedly intrigued. And some said yes and ended up in roles that propelled their careers to new heights.
The Director of Marketing I mentioned earlier ended up being one of those people who said yes and ended up in a role that propelled his career to new heights. He initially declined to engage because he felt secure. But security in today’s job market is often more perception than reality. And missing the window to explore an opportunity can have lasting consequences. He ended up engaging, interviewed and was selected for the position and it took his career to places he didn’t know he could go. It was a great career move for him.
What’s the Lesson Here?
If you’re a high-performing professional, especially in competitive fields like the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession, it’s important to stay open to the possibility of change, even if you’re not actively pursuing it. The best opportunities rarely wait for you to be ready. They arrive on their own timeline. Your willingness to listen, to explore, and to think long-term can make all the difference.
I’m not suggesting you jump at every offer or entertain every recruiter. What I am suggesting is that you take the call. Hear the pitch. Ask the questions. Evaluate the opportunity on its merits. Even if you don’t move forward, you’ll have learned something valuable. You’ll be more informed. And you’ll be better prepared should circumstances shift unexpectedly.
Because the truth is, you never really know if the next call could be the one that changes everything.
If you’re looking to make a change or explore your employment options, then we want to talk with you. I encourage you to contact us or you can also create a profile and/or submit your resume for consideration.
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.