The Office of Professional Success 

The Office of Professional Success at the College of Veterinary Medicine is committed to assisting veterinary medicine students, alumni, and employers in all areas of career management and development.

Our Mission

  • To provide highly personalized services to students and alumni to develop their professional competence and prepare them for the successful pursuit of their veterinary career.

Our Vision

  • To empower and support students and alumni in pursuit of their career and professional goals.
  • To deliver quality veterinary professionals in efficient, practical, and effective ways.
  • To foster meaningful connections among students, alumni, and employers. 
Student pointing to a poster, showing another student

Available Services

Through personal career advising, professional development lectures, career events, employer outreach and professional networking opportunities the Office of Professional Success helps students reach their career goals. We are committed to supporting students and alumni from the initial self-assessment and exploration stages through the interview and final negotiation.

What we offer to students and alumni:

  • Assistance with the review of employment documents (resume, CV, cover letter, internship/residency personal statements)
  • Evaluation of employment offers and coaching on negotiation strategy
  • Guidance on career exploration and building a professional network
  • Developing effective strategies for interviewing and other professional communications
  • Delivering key content and managing the Professional Development Core Curriculum
  • Access to mentorship opportunities through our Alumni Village Platform

What we offer to employers:

  • Assistance in writing effective job postings
  • Access to the online Job Posting Board (for externships and internships too!)
  • Guidance on best practice for recruitment and hiring
  • Opportunities to connect with current students through networking events

 

Make an appointment with the office

“I originally came in for help with my resume, but the career advisor gave my contact information to a veterinarian who was looking for help. The very next day I had an email and an interview from the veterinarian. I got the job later that week. I owe the Office of Career Management and Professional Development everything for helping me get the hands on and out of classroom experiences I have now.”

- Christine Danish

/ Class of 2021

Christine Danish in graduation regalia

“Career advancement can be challenging in smaller veterinary fields such as laboratory animal medicine, and yet the Office of Career Management and Professional Development offered me an incredibly wide and helpful network of student/career opportunities. The career advisor guided me to both clinical and research opportunities, helping me tailor my experience and prepare me for not just residency, but also as a future veterinary specialist.” 

Jeffrey Kim

/ Class of 2020

Jeffrey Kim in a red polo

Resources

Tab of

CVM Community

  • Students can find the Office of Professional Success in the CVM Community portal and access :
    •  Job Seeking Resources, including cover letter, resume, interviewing, and networking guides
    • Your Veterinary Career (YVC), a comprehensive career exploration resource
    • Employment sites and resources

CVM Community Link

 

Job Posting Board

  • View job listings, post a job, post your resume, get job alerts

Job posting board link

With our alumni practicing in all 50 states and 59 countries and nearly 85% of all veterinarians in Ohio being graduates of the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, the Office of Professional Success is excited to build relationships and connect alumni with our current students. We have several programs that will allow our students to work with - and learn from - you and your experiences. Thank you for being a dedicated and involved member of the CVM community! 

Ohio State Veterinary Alumni LinkedIn Group

Ohio State Veterinary Alumni Facebook Group

OSU CVM Alumni Office

Job Posting Board

Get Involved

“I have had four great new hires in the last five years from graduating classes because of the opportunity to be involved with the Office of Professional Success’ programs.” 

Dr. R. Tod Beckett

/ DVM '89

Dr. R. Tod Beckett

Employer Frequently Asked Questions

Our students have unique opportunities throughout their veterinary medicine education that prepare them to be leaders in the field of veterinary medicine and assets to your practice and business.

  • Robust pre-clinical curriculum including six semesters of professional development 
  • Access to a state-of-the-art Veterinary Clinical and Professional Skills Center which provides a realistic training environment for practicing simulated skills in surgery, dentistry, bandaging and ultrasound 
  • Students perform up to 20 spay and neuter surgeries in their clinical year 
  • Three years of hands-on, practical application of professional skills including contract negotiation and progressively difficult client communication role-playing scenarios 
  • Clerkship program that provides practical experience for a well-rounded clinical year

Post a job on our career site

Visit https://osuvetjobs.org/employers to create an account and post jobs for Ohio State students and alumni. For further assistance, please use this how-to guide: go.osu.edu/howtopost

Start making connections early

  • In the current market, we recommend building relationships with students earlier than their fourth year.
  • Participate in career events like our Fall Externship Expo or Homecoming Student-Alumni Networking Luncheon
  • Register your practice as an off-site elective/externship location:  go.osu.edu/offsiteelectives
  • Serve as a contract negotiation coach for current third-year students
  • Collaborate with student organizations for programming and presentations: go.osu.edu/findastudentorg

 

Off-Site Elective Guidelines & Suggestions for Employers

  • To start the process of becoming an off-site elective, please fill out the Create Offsite Elective Form
  • You will receive a confirmation email once your form has been submitted.
  • In the “Description of Elective Experience” we suggest being as detailed as possible so students understand your practice or business, the types of species you treat, and the overall goal of the elective experience. Examples include:
     
    • Our four-doctor mixed animal practice treats patients ranging from cats and dogs to horses and other farm animals. The student will ride along during farm calls, treat patients, and have daily discussions with the veterinarians. We serve a diverse clientele and are located in rural Pennsylvania.
    • Veterinary externs at will spend time on the production facilities learning health management and production practices. They will be involved with fish health exams and treatments on the farm in addition to spending time at the Diagnostic Laboratory participating in fish necropsies as well as performing bacteriology, virology, and molecular biology assays. Externs may also be involved with research projects that could include disease investigation, vaccine development and delivery, nutrition, brood fish selection, and others.
  • In the “Student Responsibilities” section, please list what the student will be responsible for and what they will learn at your place of business.  Examples include:
     
    • Student will be responsible for assisting at all farm calls, and taking primary case responsibility when deemed appropriate
    • Student will be responsible for charting medical records and communicating medication needs with clients
    • Students will participate in daily case discussions
    • Students will be allowed to assist in surgeries
    • Students will develop diagnostic plans
    • Student will be expected to perform physical exams
  • Off-Site elective locations may offer housing, a living stipend, or a scholarship. As of November 2019, students seeking off-site electives at approved sites that require student to be employed as a condition of their agreement, are able to be hired and paid while receiving academic credit, as an employee if the supervisor is a licensed Veterinarian or approved by the Associate Dean for Professional Programs.  The College of Veterinary Medicine will not participate in the employment agreements, as the agreement is between the student and the employer.  Students are encouraged to seek support from OSU Student Legal Services (student fees applicable) or other legal review before signing any employment contract.   
  • After a student has completed a rotation at your place of business, you will need to fill out the electronic evaluation form they provide. Instructions are included on the form.
  • If you have further questions regarding the off-site elective process, please email cvmpps@osu.edu or call 614-688-2437

“They have done an excellent job at matching our veterinary hospital with “practice ready” doctors. The thing that sets them apart is their emphasis on getting to know the individual students and employers on a personal level. This allows them to match both the students’ capabilities, as well as their personalities, with the practice they are entering. I always turn to them first when our practice is looking for a qualified practitioner.” - Dr. Anthony Potorti, Alumnus ‘87

Anthony Potorti

/ DVM '87

Anthony Potorti

Contact Us

Gena Grant is the Assistant Director of the Office of Professional Success and joined the college in June 2019. She provides one-on-one career counseling for both students and alumni, manages the online job posting board and employer relations, coordinates events, serves as the Team Leader for the professional development curriculum, and develops and manages marketing and online resources.

Gena Grant, MA, CPRW
Assistant Director/Career Counselor
Phone: 614-292-1556
Email: grant.387@osu.edu