If there’s one thing that unites all veterinary practitioners, it’s understanding just how challenging navigating your career can be. From choosing your niche to balancing your workload, there’s a lot to figure out without someone helping to guide you. This is where veterinary mentorship comes in. Not sure where to start? This article will provide you with guidance to decide whether veterinary mentorship is right for you, and kick-start your unique journey.
So, what is a veterinary mentor?
A veterinary mentor is somebody who helps to guide you in your veterinary career, whether you’re a new graduate figuring out your goals, or an experienced professional looking for a change of pace. They are there to guide you, advise you, and, most importantly, help you meet your personal goals.
Veterinary mentors can be…
- Clinical mentors - coaching you on how to get the most out of your career
- Wellbeing mentors - helping you navigate your stress and confidence in the workplace through guidance in topics such as time management
Or a mixture of the two!
Benefits of veterinary mentorship
These are just a few of the reasons you might benefit from a mentor relationship.
- Improving your clinical skillset
- Reducing any burnout you might be feeling
- Developing your career
- Building your confidence and happiness within the workplace
- Making the most out of your role
Who needs a veterinary mentor?
Some people think that mentoring is really only for entering the profession, but in fact many people can benefit from a mentor, no matter their stage of career.
New graduate vets
New graduates can benefit hugely from a mentor-mentee relationship. Graduates get a GDP Advisor to support them in their first practice role as part of their VetGDP.
Vets returning to practice
Coming back to work after an extended leave of absence can be daunting. Having someone to help build your confidence back up can make a world of difference to your experience reintegrating back into the workplace.
Those who want to specialise or find a niche
When trying to break into a specialism, having a mentor who is highly regarded in that particular area of expertise can be invaluable. Not only can they guide you into the field, they can also provide you with encouragement and knowledge backed by personal experience.
You can read more about how one of our surgery alumni recommends combining formal education - like our certificate programmes - with finding a mentor in this interview.
Those who feel lost
Feeling unsure where to take your career? Overwhelmed or stressed by the pressure of your role? Veterinary mentorship could be right for you, too. Having a mentor to remind you why you do what you do could be just what you need to bring back the spark that inspired you to go into a veterinary career in the first place.
How to find a veterinary mentorship
Don’t know where to look for a veterinary mentor? Here are some places you can try to help you find the mentor you need:
Formal mentorship
This type of mentorship is usually delivered via an organisation that specialises in providing vets with coaches. These are usually paid programmes but can be well worth the investment if you need some expert guidance. An organisation to have a look at could be the VSGD platform, which helps vets explore their potential.
In-practice mentorship
These types of mentorships are carried out by a senior within your veterinary practice. Fostering a face-to-face mentor relationship can mean having observation of your day-today activities and challenges, leading to a more personalised and well-rounded experience. This sort of mentoring is rare outside of the VetGDP, but can be worthwhile for vets at all stages of their career – you'll just have to do more of the leg work yourself.
Speciality mentorship
Delivered by a vet who has experience within the discipline you wish to build your career, a speciality mentorship can help you embark on your personal journey and build cases for your postgraduate certificate. These types of mentorships can be found online, in your practice, in a neighbouring practice, or through networking in your field.
Vet and nurse career guidance
Did you know we offer free careers advice? Our CPD advisors can help you map out your dream veterinary career and how to get there. You can schedule a call here, or find out more about the free veterinary careers advice they offer.
What does a healthy mentor relationship look like?
Mentor relationships will look different to everyone, but there are a few things you should keep in mind as a baseline for what you should be taking from the experience.
- Feeling supported, but not overpowered. A good mentor should guide you to the right answers without needing to provide a quick solution. Remember - the mentorship experience is all about learning.
- Developing pride in your work, and excitement around your role. If you weren’t already feeling enthusiastic about being a vet, a great mentor should be sharing their passion for the work they do, helping you overcome barriers to your contentment in the workplace.
- Professional, but friendly. A mentor should be approachable, communicative and understanding, while also challenging you to become the best vet you can be.
- Goal-oriented. A mentor should help you set goals to work towards. This means you’ll be focusing your learning and feel accomplished once your targets are hit.
Summary
In short, most veterinarians could benefit from guidance at some point in their career, whether that’s a formal advisor, a helping hand from someone respected in your field, or even a colleague who can be your cheerleader. Deciding on the best way to approach your career journey is difficult, but if you fall into any of the categories discussed above, a mentor could help you achieve your long-term and short-term goals. After all, investing in your future is never a waste of time! Don’t forget, our CPD Advisors are specially trained to help you figure out what you want to do with your career, and help you get there.
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