Vet Career Check - Moving From Veterinary Practice To A Commercial Role
4 years ago 
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Reposted. Originally posted 2017-04-27
Becoming a vet is no easy task. You’ve spent 5-6 years at university, more if you’ve gone on to achieve further qualifications such as a PhD or a Masters in a chosen specialist field. You’ve spent hours, days, weeks, months and years training, studying and dreaming about being a vet. You’ve made it. But then things just don’t quite fall into place.
Maybe you’ve not been able to find the veterinary job you’ve always dreamed of? Maybe you thought you’d found that job but the long hours, often inflexible work demands and associated drains on your family life are posing too much of a challenge? Or perhaps you’ve reached a stage in life when the physical demands of veterinary practice are no longer appealing and you’re looking to fresh pastures?
Whatever your reasons to consider moving out of traditional veterinary practice, it’s good to know that the industry is filled with possibilities and that the commercial world is your oyster. But it’s also important to recognise that working in industry is a whole new ball game.
We spoke to Tony Noble - MD at leading specialist recruitment consultancy Noble Futures - about why a vet might consider making such a move, how best to go about the transition and what factors a transitioning vet might need to consider.
When working with vets looking to make the move into the commercial world, we find there are generally two primary motivating factors.
The first is that life as a vet has not really lived up to their expectations, or they are finding it harder going than they had originally thought.
The second is that industry has always beckoned and the individual intended to use their veterinary qualifications to secure a ‘commercial’ career path from the very start. I use air quotes here because every business is commercial - vets must also consider the commercial aspects of their work (such as business management and client relationships) in every day practice and unfortunately this is something that I believe receives insufficient focus in core veterinary training. But that’s a topic for another day!
Commercial roles provide a lot of opportunities for someone interested in a specialist area (such as nutrition, pharmaceutical, pharmacology / efficacy, for example) and also provide the potential to impact many more clients and patients than in clinical practice. It could also be argued that certain commercial roles provide a lot more variety than traditional first opinion veterinary medicine, but obviously roles and sectors do vary so it’s important to do your research and try to pin down exactly what your dream career path looks like.
If you have always aspired to a commercial type role throughout your veterinary training, it’s important to bear in mind that many such roles ask that a candidate has a few years of clinical practice under their belt, so it’s good to spend some time in practice upon qualification. This will also have the added benefit of giving you the chance to make sure that you are making the right decision and you’re not missing out on a life in clinical practice. Such experience will also provide a good opportunity to solidify skills and allow you to start the research and networking process.
In looking to make the move, research and networking will prove to be time well spent.
Do your research into which industry segments most closely match your dreams, ambitions and desired lifestyle. Bovine, equine or companion animal? Pharmaceutical research, nutritional specialist or veterinary product sales? The possibilities are virtually endless.
Networking is an important step, not only in terms of the doors that could be opened for you by the right contacts, but also the insights you will glean about organisations, sectors and invaluable extra advice that you may receive along the way.
We find that many vets can experience a little bit of a culture shock when taking their first steps in the commercial sector, for a variety of reasons…
Even though commercial roles avoid the unpredictable nature of working hours that go hand in hand with being on call and emergency veterinary work, the job is not always going to be 9-5 and long hours and weekend work are often required for trade shows, exhibitions and important events such as the BSAVA Conference.
There’s also the fact that you’ll be losing direct contact with animals, which for many is the primary motivating factor to embark in a career in veterinary medicine in the first place.
We find that some vets that we have placed continue to maintain weekend work in private practice to keep their hand in and many companies are appreciative of this dedication. It’s a great way to keep up direct animal contact, it helps keep you abreast of modern techniques, drugs and medical advances and also gives access to CPD, which can be of great benefit in a new, professional role.
There are strong opportunities for vets to go into what are in effect ‘para-sales’ roles, where you provide technical and clinical support for front line sales staff. While such opportunities can be intimidating for vets that may feel uncomfortable in a sales type role, they provide great opportunities for those who like to deal with people and who would relish the challenge of a career supporting the human side of the veterinary industry.
In the move to a commercial type environment, as a veterinary surgeon it’s obviously crucial that you remain ethical and true to your qualifications. A commercial role will give you the opportunity to use your technical expertise in an interesting new environment and provide a commercial benefit to the business as well as the required results to the patient.
The last piece of advice we would have for a vet looking to embarking on new, corporate career is to think twice before you dress for an interview, or your first day on the job! While jeans, fleece and sturdy outdoor work boots may have been your daily attire in clinical practice, most commercial roles will require suit and shoes, or at least smart slacks. So don’t be caught out and fall at the first hurdle!
Noble Futures is a leading specialist recruitment consultancy for the Animal Health, Agricultural, Equine & Pet industries. With an emphasis on executive, management, sales, marketing, technical and clerical roles, Noble Futures has a dedicated network of expert recruitment consultants across the UK and Ireland. For more information or if you have any questions on how best to transition from a clinical practice to a commercial veterinary role, get in touch with Noble Futures on 0161 820 3510 or email: [email protected], www.noble-futures.com.
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