Veterinary Technician Interview Questions

"I love being a veterinary technician, but losing a patient is tough. I always comfort the owners before thinking about my own feelings. I try not to get emotionally attached to patients or bring work home with me. If I do, I talk to my therapist, family, or friends about the loss. Having a therapist is a great way to deal with my personal and professional emotions in a healthy way."

"I completed a two-year veterinary technician programme with Seneca College to earn my diploma. During the programme, I had field placement to work with established veterinary technicians, allowing me to get valuable on-the-job training. At the end of the programme, I passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination, allowing me to become a registered veterinary technician in Ontario."

"I did assist with surgeries in my previous role as a veterinary technician. Before or during surgery, I'd assist with drawing blood, inserting catheters, managing anaesthesia, administering medication, and monitoring vitals. I'd also assist the veterinarian with paperwork when necessary or deliver updates to the patient's owners."

"I have experience working with a wide variety of animals. During my veterinary technician programme, I interned with a veterinarian that treated show horses, so I learned how to assist with that. I've also been a veterinary technician for three years at a clinic that treats domestic pets, such as cats and dogs, which is where most of my experience lies. I'd love to learn more about treating exotic animals."

"I'd be happy to stay overnight with patients from time to time. I understand some patients need constant monitoring to ensure they're safe and I'm willing to do so. I'm committed to our clients' happiness and patients' health."

"I'm happy to take on any tasks or responsibilities you see fit. In my previous role, I always made work when we didn't have any patients. I'd clean the office, help with administrative work, keep the animals company, and take out the garbage. I want to contribute to a successful working environment, so I will take on any tasks necessary."

"I became a veterinary technician because I've always loved animals. I wanted a career where I could be around animals all the time, but the thought of being solely responsible for them didn't appeal. I thought assisting a veterinarian would be the perfect solution, and it was. I love being able to help animals every day!"

"I love working with dogs because they have such big personalities. It's usually easy to tell how they're feeling, and you can calm them down by petting them. They tend to be friendlier and more trusting than most other animals as well, so it's easy to work with dogs."

"As veterinarians have a legal obligation to report animal abuse, I'd bring up my suspicion to the veterinarian in charge at my clinic. I'd show them why I think the animal is being abused and discuss our clinic's process for reporting this. I'd help the veterinarian come up with a plan to contact the appropriate authorities."

"The biggest mistake I made as a veterinary technician was mixing up two blood samples we needed to send off to the lab. I put the wrong names on each sample and didn't realise until the results came back, so we had to do the blood test on both animals again. I learned to put the necessary information on test tubes right away so I don't mix them up."

"I've only had one disagreement, it was with a receptionist in my previous role. I asked her to make an appointment with one of our regular patient's owners. I provided the details verbally, and she scheduled the appointment. The wrong pet and owner showed up for the scheduled appointment the next day. The receptionist blamed me for providing the wrong details, and I believed she'd misheard me. I learned to write my scheduling requests down from that point on to avoid miscommunication."

"In my previous role, I, unfortunately, had to give owners bad news regularly. I'd always bring them to a private room to sit down for the discussion. I explained what happened, offered my condolences, and gave them some time alone if they wanted it. When they were ready, I asked them what I could do to help, and provided them with pet grief counselling resources."

"I've been a veterinary technician for the past three years. The constant lifting of heavy animals, walking around the office, and standing all day was a good workout. On my days off, I go for runs and to the gym to lift weights, helping me meet the physical demands of the job easily."

"I love learning more about the veterinary field, so I attend conferences whenever I can. I recently went to the International Conference on Veterinary Medicine and Exotic Animals in Toronto. I learned a lot more about caring for exotic animals, which was exciting. I also enjoy reading online magazines and journals when I can, such as the Canadian Veterinary Journal and Veterinary practise News Canada."

"In my previous role, I assisted the veterinarian with any tasks they needed. This included administering vaccinations and medicine, monitoring animals' vitals, cleaning the office, processing x-rays, drawing blood, and obtaining stool samples. I also covered light administrative work, such as updating patient files and preparing invoices for owners."