January Isn’t About Rush… It’s About Clarity

For many veterinary professionals, the start of the year isn’t about jumping into the first vacancy that appears. It’s a time for sensing the market, exploring options, and asking deeper questions before making a decision that impacts your career satisfaction and wellbeing.

At Menlo Park Recruitment, we often hear vets say that just having clarity around what matters most to them is one of the biggest wins – even before they decide to move.

Here’s why that clarity matters, and why thinking beyond the job ad itself is crucial.

✔1. Sense-check What Else Is Out There

Looking at the job market isn’t just about finding roles. We know that for vets, it’s about understanding your options. So, what’s realistic in terms of salaries, rotas, benefits, and culture.

All too often, vets rely solely on advertised vacancies. These simply do not show the full landscape of what’s available or where demand is highest. By understanding the breadth of opportunities (not just the highlights) gives you agency in your career choices.

But it’s not just the roles that matter, it’s where and how you feel you’d thrive.

✔2. Understand Market Salaries & Rotas

Salaries and rotas vary widely across practices and regions. Being informed helps you:

• Know your worth.
• Avoid undervaluing yourself.
• Align work patterns with your life priorities (e.g., family time, wellbeing, study).

Whether you’re considering a move now or later in the year, this insight helps you set realistic expectations and avoid burnout.

✔3. See Which Practices Align With Your Values

Job titles and pay aren’t enough if the practice culture doesn’t match your values. For many vets, the biggest contributor to job satisfaction isn’t the role itself, it’s the team you work with. Also about how leadership operates, and whether the practice supports your long-term wellbeing.

This is where understanding behavioural insight and team fit comes into play.

Why Behavioural Clarity Matters

Traditional CVs and interviews tell you what a candidate can do. But this is only what they want you to see. They often don’t show what really matters when you’re in the role day-to-day. That’s where behavioural profiling makes a difference.

By using behavioural insight, we help vets discover:

• What kind of team you genuinely thrive in
• Which leadership styles support you best
• Work patterns that genuinely support your wellbeing

This isn’t about scoring you or fitting you into a box, it’s about helping you make informed decisions about your future.

Clarity Isn’t a Commitment, It’s Confidence

One of the reasons we encourage vets to talk with us in January is because clarity builds confidence.

You don’t need to commit to a role just because you’re curious. An informal, confidential conversation can help you:

✔ Understand what really matters to you
✔ See whether specific practices could be a cultural fit
✔ Avoid moves that look good on paper but feel wrong in practice

Sometimes, people tell us that they stay in their current role longer simply because they finally understand what’s most important to them. That’s not indecision, it’s strategic clarity.

Final Thoughts for Veterinary Professionals

We do understand that moving jobs is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your professional life. But we can help you to make this decision with confidence, not haste.

January gives you a window for introspection rather than pressure.

Use it to explore, ask questions, and build a vision of what you want in the year ahead… even if you don’t make a move just yet.

And if you ever want a confidential conversation to bring that clarity into sharper focus, we’re here to help.

We welcome you to drop our team a message here and we will be in touch to arrange a call. Click here to contact our team.