Stop Vet Resume Mistakes From Holding You Back
Identify and correct the critical errors that keep hiring managers from calling you back.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
- Hiring managers can’t verify you’re legally qualified
- ATS filters often require a license number
- Lack of licensure suggests incomplete credentials
- Add a dedicated "Licensure & Certifications" section
- List state, license number, and expiration date
- Include any additional permits (e.g., DEA, USDA)
Licensure: State Veterinary License
Licensure & Certifications • State Veterinary License – Texas, License #VET123456, Expires 06/2026 • DEA Registration – #AB987654 • USDA Animal Health Inspector – Certified 2023
- ATS keywords may not match generic titles
- Recruiters skim for specific roles like "Small Animal Veterinarian"
- Generic titles dilute your specialty
- Replace "Veterinarian" with the precise role you performed
- Add specialty modifiers (e.g., "Emergency & Critical Care Veterinarian")
- Align title with the job posting
Veterinarian, ABC Animal Hospital (2018‑2023)
Small‑Animal Emergency & Critical Care Veterinarian, ABC Animal Hospital (2018‑2023)
- Clutters the resume and lowers relevance score
- ATS may penalize for low keyword match
- Hiring managers waste time reading irrelevant info
- Focus on veterinary‑specific skills (e.g., diagnostic imaging, anesthesia)
- Remove generic office software unless directly used for clinical work
- Group skills under clear sub‑headings
Skills: Microsoft Office, Customer Service, Animal Care, Social Media
Clinical Skills: • Diagnostic Imaging (Radiography, Ultrasound) • Surgical Anesthesia & Monitoring • Laboratory Diagnostics (CBC, Biochemistry) • Emergency Triage & Critical Care Technical Skills: • Practice Management Software (AVImark, Cornerstone)
- ATS may misread bullet points or dates
- Recruiters struggle to scan achievements quickly
- Inconsistent layout looks unprofessional
- Use a consistent bullet style and date format (MM/YYYY)
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb
- Quantify outcomes where possible
- Performed surgeries - Handled animals 2019‑2022
Clinical Experience Small‑Animal Surgeon, XYZ Veterinary Clinic — 04/2019 to 08/2022 • Performed 350+ spay/neuter surgeries with a 99.5% success rate • Reduced post‑operative infection rates by 22% through protocol redesign • Trained 4 veterinary technicians in aseptic technique
- Veterinary field values up‑to‑date knowledge
- ATS often scans for recent CE credits
- Omitting them makes you appear stagnant
- Create a separate "Continuing Education" section
- List courses, providers, and completion dates
- Highlight certifications relevant to the target role
Education: DVM, University of Texas (2015)
Continuing Education & Certifications • Certified Veterinary Surgeon (AVMA), 2023 • Advanced Small‑Animal Dentistry Course, Veterinary Learning Center, 02/2024 • Pain Management Workshop, AAHA, 11/2023
- Include a clear contact header with phone and email
- Add a professional summary tailored to the target veterinary role
- List your state veterinary license number and expiration date
- Use specific job titles that match the posting
- Quantify clinical achievements (e.g., surgeries performed)
- Show proficiency with veterinary practice software
- Add recent continuing‑education courses and certifications
- Proofread for spelling of animal species and medical terms
- Insert a Licensure & Certifications section
- Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY
- Replace generic titles with specialty‑specific titles
- Add quantified clinical outcomes
- Insert high‑impact veterinary keywords
