How to Attract the Best Talent to Your Veterinary Hospital

The demand for veterinary services remains high, and many hospital owners are looking for additional doctors to meet clients’ needs and to grow their practices. While hiring doctors may seem like a simple enough task, many hospitals have struggled to compete with attractive bonuses and compensation packages offered by their competitors. Before you begin the hiring process, consider the following to help attract the best talent to your hospital:

1. Know your competition. Research the compensation packages being offered by your competitors. With consolidators promoting large sign-on and retention bonuses, it’s important to obtain an understanding of what candidates are being offered in your area. Even though you might need to increase your initial offer higher than you would like, this could help to reduce the time that you spend searching for a new doctor.
2. Promote flexibility. Many veterinarians today are looking for jobs that allow them to have a better work-life balance rather than the highest salary. While you may be looking for a full-time doctor, be open to considering a candidate at a reduced, part-time schedule. This may allow you to hire an experienced DVM who could transition to a full-time schedule in the future.
3. Be creative with benefits. It’s no secret that pay is important, but do not forget about the additional benefits and perks that can make up a compensation package. For instance, you could consider including wellness allowances or pet insurance benefits to differentiate your hospital from the competition. You could also establish student loan repayment or tuition assistance programs to assist with both hiring and retaining staff.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask. If you come across a candidate that you feel would be a great fit, ask them what it would take to bring them to your hospital. Once you understand what they truly prioritize, you can negotiate the best package for both the DVM and the hospital.

Hiring new doctors can be a challenging and time-consuming process. However, reviewing and adapting your compensation packages now can help to ensure that you are attracting the best DVMs to join – and grow – your hospital. For more recruitment tips, download the Veterinary Guide to Best Practices, Vol. 4, or contact KSM’s veterinary consulting team.