Two Critical Questions New Locum Physicians Should Ask Their Medical Staffing Agency
As a locum worker, developing a good relationship with your recruiter is important. They can help you book assignments, of course, but they can also provide valuable insights into the locum market. By asking them questions, you’ll gain a better understanding of the market and what employers are looking for. Armed with this knowledge, you can be more strategic in your job search and have a better chance of landing the assignments you want. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most important questions to ask when choosing a medical staffing agency.
What does the agency’s internal process look like?
As a busy healthcare professional, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not your staffing agency has your best interests in mind. Fortunately, by taking the time to understand the inner workings of your agency, you can get a better sense of the level of support and communication you can expect. For starters, most agencies have a team of internal recruiters whose sole purpose is to find the best-qualified candidates for open positions.
They will often start by reviewing your CV and requesting additional information such as references and explanations for any work gaps. The goal of the recruiter is to make sure you are positioned as competitively as possible so that you can land the highest-paying assignment. By understanding the process upfront, you can be better prepared to provide the information your recruiter needs in a timely manner. This will ultimately lead to a smoother and more successful relationship with your staffing agency.
How often do locum tenens jobs that match my preferences become available?
When it comes to locum tenens work, every provider has a vision of their ideal job. And while it’s a recruiter’s job to try and find that perfect fit, it’s important to understand that because recruiters only have specific client needs, locations, and budgets to work with, they may not always have the exact role you’re looking for available.
That being said, the most ideal roles – think Hawaii or the Virgin Islands in the winter – will go faster than others.
More frequently than not, your recruiter will have positions that are almost perfect fits, with a few exceptions. As a result, when considering a locum tenens opportunity, it’s critical to be open to various possibilities and work with your recruiter to locate a position that meets your requirements as effectively as possible.
Furthermore, the question of where the most significant potential matches are located helps you to consider which areas you’d want to work as a locum in, allowing your recruiter an opportunity to start positioning you for recurrent locum tenens possibilities before they even reopen by proactively obtaining additional state licenses for future use.
Conclusion
The locum world can be a fast-paced and ever-changing landscape, which can be both exhilarating and daunting at the same time. However, one of the best ways to stay ahead of the curve is by remaining in close contact with your recruiter. They will often have inside knowledge of upcoming opportunities that may be a perfect match for your skills and experience. But they can only help you if they are able to reach you, so remember to answer your phone and check your emails regularly.
Let us help you find opportunities to advance your career while providing value and earning a good living. In addition, staying up to speed on the most recent industry news is an excellent method to ensure that you do not miss out on any key chances.
