I applied online. The process took 5 days. I interviewed at Suffolk Animal Hospital (Suffolk, VA) in Jan 2023
Interview
I applied online then I received a message a few days later to schedule a phone interview. Phone interview was easy, standard questions about who I am and my background. Then I was asked to come in person to shadow for 2 hours. That's when I knew the position really wasn't for me. When I was shadowing I saw how everything was insanely disorganized, the building is extremely old with narrow hallways and it's hard to get around with people and animals all over the place. It is also EXTREMELY loud in the areas you will be working in, especially with the boarded dogs. You WILL get hearing damage and leave with a headache. Ive stood next to concert speakers that were quieter than this place. I couldn't even hear what the Senior ACA was saying 95% of the time. Some animals there that were staying overnight looked so overstimulated and sad from the sheer volume. That aside, you will 100% be overworked in this position for a mere $12 an hour. There are customer service jobs that pay more than this. So unless you REALLY love animals, are going to veterinary school, really want to get into this field etc - reconsider your choices. The Senior ACA told me that she often has to drop by on her days off just to help out the one other ACA which I find baffling. You will be exposed to aggressive and huge dogs, sometimes completely by yourself. I feel like the Senior ACA is stretched thin because of a lack of support, despite being amazing at her job. You need to be physically and mentally capable to handle a lot of stress, and you need to be quick on your feet.
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Suffolk Animal Hospital in Feb 2023
Interview
I thought it went well so I was surprised when I was ghosted. I first had a phone interview which went great. I got along great with the office manager. She invited me for a working interview. I had to show up at 7:50 in the morning wearing scrubs to observe for two hours. Everyone was nice but I did feel like I was in the way the whole time. A lot of customers were looking at me funny because they had a line and I wasn't doing anything. I couldn't though because I wasn't getting paid. I was told at the end of it that she would contact me the next day. I never heard back. I send several nice emails and called. I was initially told she was out for an emergency but that was a month ago. I figured now I was ghosted. I think it's super unprofessional of them. I could understand if it was just a phone interview or an application but I drove 40 minutes when I could have been doing work at my current job. If someone shows up for an in-person interview, have the courtesy to at least email them a rejection.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
If we offered you a job tomorrow, what would stop you from accepting?
