Interviews - A 10 Point Plan of Action

Careers expert John Lees FREC offers you a 10-point plan for interview success:

1. Plan carefully. Do you know where you are going and how to get there? Who are you seeing?
2. Make sure you know the names of the people who will be interviewing you. Practice saying them if they are difficult to pronounce.
3. There's no such thing as enough preparation for an interview. Find out everything you can about the company and what it makes or does. Look for current news - show you are up to date.
4. Why does this job exist? What problems will it solve? What are the Key Result Areas?
5. Remember: employers buy experience. Think about what evidence of achievement you can talk about in the interview; rehearse your success stories.
6. Work out what is appropriate in terms of everything you present, including yourself. Look the part, and you will feel it. Dress as if you are already doing the job.
7. Second guess the employer's "shopping list" from the job details - what skills / qualities / experience do you have to match?
8. Be your own worst interview nightmare. What is the most difficult question you might have to face? Practice the answer. Practice again.
9. Be upbeat. Employers latch on to negative messages, so don't give them any.
10. Prepare for rejection. On balance you will be rejected more times than accepted. Even if you don't get the job, you can learn a huge amount about your perceived market value. Remember - there's a job out there for you somewhere - more people are working in the UK than ever before.

For more details see http://www.johnleescareers.com/

So you want to be a locum?

Introduction

Becoming a locum, or freelance worker, brings risk - but it also brings benefits. If your thinking about locuming, it is important to think about all aspects of the way of working.

Advantages of becoming a locum include:

• Being your own boss
• Greater flexibility about when and where you work
• Building up useful experience working by for a variety of employers
• Financial benefits, including better pay rates and opportunities to reduce your tax bill

Some of the disadvantages are:

• Reduced job security
• Uncertainty about where your next contract will come from
• Lost income if you are ill or on holiday
• Working away from home

If you think locuming is right for you, it would be wise to seek advice from professionals experienced in this field about the options which are best for you.

If you are planning to source your own work, rather than going through an agency you will want to start thinking about and organising potential clients well before you take the decision to give up your job.

However if you decide to use an agency speak to them first, they should be able to give you a good idea of work availability and likely rates of pay.

What business structure is best for me?

There are a number of business structures available to locums. Traditionally the most popular and tax efficient are:

Limited Company

The finances of a limited company will be seperate from your own personal finances. This means that you are not personally responsible for any company debts, except in exceptional circumstances.

Limited companies have certain responsibilities, including registering with, and submitting annual accounts to, Companies House, along with an annual return to Companies House updating your company details.

Limited companies pay corporation tax and employees pay income tax and National Insurance contributions. You must also register for VAT if your turnover reaches more than £73,000 within 12 months.

A company must have one Director, whose job is to make sure the company is run in accordance with company law, for example recording company meetings. There are different ways to form a limited company, including setting it up from scratch, buying a ready-made company off the shelf or converting an existing business or partnership.

You can find out more about limited companies by visiting the Companies House website at http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/

Umbrella Company

Umbrella companies operate on behalf of several locums at the same time.

The locums become employees of the umbrella company and contracts of employment are made between the locum and the agency or client and the umbrella company.

The umbrella company will issue invoices on the locums behalf, collecting payments from the client or agency, calculate their tax and national insurance contributions and pay them directly into their bank account.

Umbrella companies may particulaly suit:

• First time locums who want a quick and easy start
• Locums seeking a simple, cost effective solution when they take on short-term contracts between permanent assignments
• Locums caught by IR35 tax regulations.

Self Employed

Self employed or sole trader status as a locum is not recommended. This situation has the potential for significant tax liability and many clients are now refusing to engage self employed locums because of the tax liability risk

Do I need Insurance

Some practices will offer insurance whilst a locum is working on an assignment but you may not be covered if a claim is made after you finish the assignment. We strongly recommend therefore that you have your own insurance cover.

RCVS VN Diploma to transfer to City and Guilds

The intellectual property and equipment relating to the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing currently awarded by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons will transfer to City & Guilds, effective from the 2012 academic year.

The move follows the decision from RCVS Council in November 2011 to close the College’s awarding body, in order to avoid a potential conflict of interest between the RCVS’s role as regulator of veterinary nurse education and assessment, and as an awarding organisation.

The transfer of information and materials to City & Guilds, an awarding organisation well established in the land-based sector and with whom most veterinary nurse colleges already have a relationship, will ensure that there remains a choice of awarding institutions in the veterinary nursing sector.

“In November last year, RCVS Council agreed a list of criteria that any awarding organisation taking over the VN Diploma must meet, including a demonstrable track-record in awarding, experience of awarding veterinary-related qualifications and a diverse portfolio of qualifications. City & Guilds fits the profile well,” says Neil Smith, Chairman of the RCVS Awarding Body Board.

“Cooperation with VN training centres and the wider veterinary profession will take place over the coming months, to ensure a smooth transition for those current RCVS candidates who wish to move to City & Guilds,” he adds.

“City & Guilds is delighted that we shall be offering the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. It’s a welcome addition to our portfolio of land-based qualifications and will enable further progression for our learners who are already working towards our Animal Care qualifications,” says John Yates, Product Development Director for City & Guilds.

Meanwhile, those students still in the process of completing the old NVQ qualifications, the accreditation of which is due to expire in 2013, will continue to be serviced by the RCVS.

As the professional regulator, the College will continue to issue RCVS certificates and badges to those who have successfully completed a registerable qualification – such as an RCVS-approved vocational qualification, or veterinary nursing degree.

The Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing will be unaffected by the change, as the qualification is awarded by the College under its Royal Charter powers.

Highest Increase in enrolment of VN students

Last year saw the highest ever increase in the number of people enrolling as veterinary nursing (VN) students on vocational courses, according to figures released by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

In 2011, some 1,041 students registered with the RCVS to pursue vocational VN qualifications, compared with 809 in 2010 - a 29% increase.

The total number of people enrolling as student veterinary nurses on either vocational or degree courses in 2011 was 1,439, compared with 1,083 the preceding year - an overall increase of a third.

Libby Earle, head of the RCVS VN Department said: "The overall increase could partially be explained by degree students seeking to avoid increased university tuition fees. However, although there is a noticeable increase in enrolments linked to higher educational courses, this does not explain the increase in further education students.

"A more significant factor is likely to be the inception of the Level 3 Diploma, as this can be undertaken as a full-time programme," Libby continued. "As Colleges running such programmes arrange the practical training placements for their students, this opens up opportunities for the considerable number of people who want to become VNs but who are not employed by a training practice. When we introduced the qualification in 2010 we hoped that this would help to increase the number of VN students - so it's great to see this is happening already and with such a marked increase."

Student VN enrolment figures for 2010 and 2011:

                                                                          2010       2011
RCVS Level 3 Diploma                                       647        1,041
RCVS NVQ/VRQ (now suspended)                   162            -
Higher Education Students                                   247          398
Total Student VN Enrolments                             1,083        1,439

New arrivals to the UK

The UK locum veterinary sector is extremely bouyant with a real shortage of qualified veterinary professionals.

A high proportion of the locum market is serviced by non-UK veterinary professionals who provide an invaluable service to the sector. Each year around 700 veterinary surgeons from within the EU, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the US register with the RCVS, many on a Working Holiday Visa, and find both locum and permanent work within practices throughout the UK.

Working as a locum in the UK is a great way to experience working in many different practices whilst getting a chance to visit this historic and diverse country.

At recruit4vets we have helped 100's of overseas Vets and Nurses secure work in the UK and we work hard to ensure your time in the UK is as rewarding and enjoyable as possible. We can provide advice and assistance on RCVS registration, opening a UK bank account, UK tax, relocating, life in practice and much more.

If you are interested in locum work through recruit4vets and would like further information you can either call us on 0044 1423 739 010, email info@recruit4vets.co.uk

RCVS Registration

The first step for any overseas vet will be registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Applicants must allow adequate time to register with the RCVS before they intend to start work, straightforward applications generally take between six and eight weeks. Eligibility for registration is based either on having a recognised qualification or passing the RCVS Statutory Exam.

Qualifications currently recognised are:

• Degrees awarded by the six veterinary schools of the UK  
• Graduates from the European Union and Accession Countries
• Graduates from Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland or Murdoch)
• Graduates from New Zealand (Massey University)
• Graduates from South Africa (Pretoria University)
• Graduates from USA and Canada whose qualifications have been accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association

Registering with HM Revenue & Customs

If you are a worker who has recently arrived in the UK you will need to complete a HMRC P86 form. This helps the HMRC to decide your residence treatment for income tax.

Obtaining a National Insurance number

In order to work in the UK you will need to obtain a National Insurance number. To obtain a National Insurance number you will need to book an appointment with the 'Job Centre Plus' office, for more information click here

Opening a bank account

At recruit4vets we can assist you in opening your first UK bank account. For further details please contact recruit4vets

Work Visa's

Youth Mobility Scheme - The Youth Mobility Scheme this year replaced the Working Holiday Visa and will allow young people to come and experience life in the UK for up to two years. If your country joins the scheme and you meet the criteria to participate in the scheme, you will be free to do whatever you like during your stay in the UK. You will need to be aged between 18 and 30 and have sufficient funds to support yourself from when you first enter the UK until you start earning.

For further information visit the UK Border Agency website

Highly Skilled Workers Visa - The Tier 1 Highly Skilled Workers Visa has replaced the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme and is designed to allow highly skilled people to come to the UK to look for work. To be eligible for this visa you must pass a points-based assessment. Points are awarded based on your qualifications, previous earnings, UK experience, age, English language and available funds. You must score 75 points based on your age, qualifications, previous earnings and UK experience, 10 points for your English language skills and 10 points for available funds.