13 Sep What are the Best Ways to Work with a Locum Agency?
Whether you’re a physician dipping your toe into the locum tenens waters for the first time, or an experienced healthcare traveling professional, having a proven locum agency in your corner can make finding the right assignment much easier.
That’s because an experienced locum recruiter will get to know a candidate’s career goals, background, motivations, and intangible needs. They’ll understand the current labor market, including what locum opportunities are available. And, physicians are covered under the recruitment agency’s malpractice insurance – which is negotiated on your behalf with the hospital or office.
So here are some insights on how hitching your wagon to an experienced locum agency can benefit your career path:
1. Their Network is Extensive
Recruitment agencies have wide-ranging networks, with access to opportunities that aren’t posted for general consumption. As a locum job seeker, this translates into enormous potential – instead of limiting yourself to a few positions you might hear about, you’ll have access to all of the relevant jobs in your recruiter’s rolodex. This saves a lot of time and helps to “de-stress” the process.
2. You and Your Recruiter Work as One
Typically, a locum recruiter will perform a screening interview to ensure a good match. Once they understand your capabilities, the agency will work with potential employers to introduce you, present your skillset, set up the interview, and provide contact information.
Because you’re pre-screened, a locum recruiter can match you with an appropriate opportunity a lot faster than if you were searching on your own. They’re also able to match your talents with the right jobs so you’re not spending days or weeks talking with hospitals or health organizations that aren’t a great fit. That saves valuable time and helps ensure you’re only talking with the right companies for your skill set.
3. Fewer Competitors
With high demand, doctors can run into high competition for the best locum opportunities in the best locations. But when working with a recruiter – once your resume has been presented for review to the hiring company, you’ll be part of a much smaller pool of applicants giving you a leg up in a highly-competitive job market.
4. The Agency Negotiates Salary
If salary negotiation scares you, count on your recruiter. Since their commission is tied to your salary, they have a built-in incentive to get you the highest wage possible for your locum assignment. It’s in their best interest to help you put your best foot forward and they also want to place candidates in qualified roles where they’ll thrive.
5. You’ll Get Great Feedback
Most healthcare recruiters will provide feedback throughout the job application process. Before an interview they might give you tips on how to revise your resume or provide advice on how to play up certain areas of your background. Post-interview they can provide comments from the employer on your performance and let you know if you’re still in the running. Whether you get the assignment or not, this kind of feedback is invaluable.
Contact Annashae Today
At Annashae Healthcare Staffing & Consulting we’re dedicated to the placement of highly-skilled clinical practitioners in short and long-term positions. As a nationwide medical staffing and consulting firm, we provide a range of services that enable our candidates to quickly find the career opportunity that fits their needs. For information on how you can further your clinical career, contact us today. We look forward to working with you and furthering your career!