My background has predominantly been in agency recruitment, this role is a first for me in terms of working in the veterinary industry, and in working in internal recruitment. I had previously worked in the healthcare sector, which is very similar in terms of the nature of the people you work with - you have a real level of care in these industries. I feel it fits me well because I find a lot of reward in knowing my work helps others, and that we are all contributing to providing that service of care for people’s animals.

I cover referral nursing for the South. In my work I get to see the passion the people I’m speaking to have for the work that they do, and it’s always nice to know you are part of helping them find the right next step in their career. It’s an enjoyable process.

Do you enjoy getting to speak to all the nurses you’re engaging with as part of your work?

Yes, definitely. All the nurses I speak to are empathetic and passionate about what they do, and the service that they want to give. They are people that are driven to grow and develop in the industry that they’ve chosen, which is always inspiring.

In our work, we want to ensure that people are getting the support they need, that we’re being mindful of what the candidate is looking for and that we are matching that to the perfect opportunity with us. It’s important to build an open and trusting relationship with the candidates. Establishing a positive candidate experience is at the forefront of what we do.

Can you tell us more about the work of the Talent Team?

We’ve got a lot of developments happening, including a new referral hospital, due to open in Birmingham this year, which is an incredibly exciting project. It’s a first for us, in building something totally from the ground up. 

What expectations did you have of this role before you joined?

I had an idea of what to expect but until you're in a job it’s difficult to get a real understanding of what it’s going to be like. I would say that the fundamentals of recruitment are the same, but here there’s a real focus on getting the right fit for the candidate and building relationships, we are always prioritising getting the right person for the right role. I find it really rewarding being part of IVC Evidensia, where we are all working towards the same goal. This sense of helping one another is promoted across the different divisions within the talent team, as well as the wider IVC Evidensia network.

What do you feel most proud of in your work?

I’m proud of my ability to successfully match candidates to roles, build relationships with stakeholders, and to work so closely with them that I become an extension of the clinical team, to ensure I’m getting that perfect match for both the candidate and the hospitals.

My friendly approach is something I’m particularly proud of. In recruitment everybody is different, but I've always focused on being myself and treating people with respect.  My focus is on making sure that I treat candidates well, I respect them, and I'm friendly and warm. Working with the practices, my goal is to hear their point of view, so I’m listening to what their needs are and I’m supporting them. Across both sides, my goal is to give the best support I can possibly give.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

As cliché as it sounds, the best feeling for me is when it all comes together; when the candidate has found what they've been searching for and so has the practice who know that they have the right addition to their team. Finding a real connection between practices and candidates has always been important to me.

I don't have animals myself so being part of this industry and finding out more about it has also been an eye-opener. You get a real insight into the emotional journeys that pet owners go through when their pets are poorly. Knowing that you’ve played a part in getting the right talent in place across our practices, who work towards providing the best level of care to those pets that need it, is rewarding.

What would you want someone thinking about joining IVC Evidensia to know?

It’s great to be a part of the work we do here, and if you work with us you'll be joining an extremely supportive group of people that are continually progressing.

When I first started, I found out about the Diversity Scholarship that IVC Evidensia offers and that was something that really stuck out to me. Coming from an ethnic background myself, it was great to see that this was being supported.

I think for anyone that's interested in looking to join us, there are a lot of things to be excited about.