Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, Vol 35, Issue 1, 14-19
DOI: 10.3138/jvme.35.1.014
Copyright © 2008 by Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Veterinary Teaching Hospitals and the Future of Clinical Veterinary Medical Education |
Applicant Expectations and Decision Factors for Jobs and Careers in Food-Supply Veterinary Medicine
J. Bruce Prince•
Kevin Gwinner•
David M. Andrus
Correspondence: Address correspondence to Dr. David M. Andrus, Marketing Department, Calvin 201, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-0507 USA. E-mail: andrus{at}ksu.edu.
This article examines the job expectations of applicants as reported by recruiters interviewing food-supply veterinary medicine (FSVM) candidates and the career-choice decision factors used by year 3 and 4 veterinary students pursuing careers in FSVM. The responses of 1,047 veterinary recruiters and 270 year 3 and 4 students with a food-supply focus from 32 colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States and Canada were examined. Recruiters were asked to report the two most important job factors applicants took into account when deciding to accept an offer; students were asked the two most important reasons for choosing a career in FSVM and the two most important benefits of working as a food-supply veterinarian. Recruiters reported that high salaries and good benefits are the two most important decision factors. Interest in the food-animal career area and a desire for a rural, outdoor lifestyle were the top reasons students gave for choosing an FSVM career. Students saw the enjoyment of working with and helping producers and food animals as the most important benefits of a career in FSVM.
Key Words: career choice • person–job fit • food-supply veterinary medicine • veterinary students • recruitment
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