Someone who has experience as a veterinary assistant understands that a vet’s office is an ever-changing environment. They face upsetting situations when pets are euthanized or die in the office. They understand that animals react differently during visits. Sometimes, the patients are challenging. You want a vet assistant who maintains control over his or her emotions and provides fast assistance for the vet, the staff and pet owners. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience handling challenging pets
• Has exceptional problem-solving skills
• Handles detrimental circumstances without becoming too emotional

Someone who has experience as a veterinary assistant performs several cleaning duties for the vet’s office. They understand that it is necessary to keep all rooms, including the kennels, clean at all times. You want a veterinary assistant who knows that bacteria spreads quickly and presents a risk to the animals. Pay attention to the candidate’s attitude about the cleaning duties. What to look for in an answer:

• A positive attitude about the job requirements
• Understands the importance of sanitation services
• Experience with boarding services

Someone who has experience as a veterinary assistant has lifted heavy animals for treatment and during procedures. They are comfortable with most animals especially dogs and cats. You want an assistant who isn’t afraid of any type of animal and understands that patient care is their top primary. You want an assistant whom pet owners will trust will make them feel comfortable while their pets are receiving treatments. What to look for in an answer:

• The ability to lift at least 25 pounds
• Experience handling a variety of animals
• History of following safety protocol

Someone with experience as a veterinary assistant may have office skills. They may be needed, during busy times, to answer multiple line phone systems, transfer calls and direct calls to voicemail. They create invoices for pet owners, collect payments and print out receipts. You want an assistant with at least entry-level skills to perform these duties. You also want a candidate with a sunny disposition who makes pet owners feel at ease. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience with word processing and accounting software
• Possesses at least basic clerical skills
• Friendly and is a people person

Someone who wants to become a veterinary assistant has at least a high school diploma and experience with animals. They don’t need a degree to qualify for an entry-level position, though some degrees exist for this position. At a minimum, you want someone who has some experience even if it was as a volunteer at a shelter. You also want a candidate who is empathetic and loves animals. What to look for in an answer:

• A high school graduate or graduate of a vet tech training course
• Experience working with domesticated pets
• Some on-the-job training and experience

Veterinary assistants are responsible for helping veterinarians keep animals calm and still during appointments. This question allows an interviewer to gauge a candidate's previous professional experience with animals and their strategies for helping animals feel comfortable during appointments.

A candidate's answer should emphasize:

• Empathy for animals
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving skills

Here is one example of a quality candidate answer: