10 Tips to Finding the Best Locum Doctors Recruitment Agency
Locum doctors are a crucial part of the medical industry and healthcare system, assisting facilities to be appropriately staffed, and allowing permanent doctors a break to avoid burnout. The COVID pandemic has created an increased demand by medical clinics and hospitals across the world for these locum doctors, as medical professionals work around the clock to give their patients the best care.
Working with a locum doctor recruitment agency is the most time-efficient and pressure-relieving way to find placement for doctors looking to move into locum work. These agencies have already done the groundwork research and have an established network and strong relationships with hospitals and practices across the country. These locum doctor agencies will take the hassle out of searching for specialised employment, specific roles or roles in locations that you may have no other contacts in.
With increased demand for locum doctors across the world, choosing the right medical recruitment agency to support you as you make the step into locum work is a priority to finding the perfect role.
Here are our Top 10 Tips to find the best locum agency to fit your requirements and lifestyle needs.
1. Determine Your Wants & Needs
Before choosing which agency you would like to work with, you first need to decide what you are looking for from your locum role. Some questions you may like to ask yourself first are;
- Do I want to travel?
- What is the desired salary I require?
- Which kind of facility or hospital would I prefer to work in?
- Is it just me, or am I bringing my family?
- When would I prefer to move, and how long am I willing to be assigned for?
- Where would I like to work? (Coastal, rural, remote, outback, snow etc)
- Is this a working holiday?
Having these questions answered makes it not only easier to find a locum agency that offers those requirements, but also helps the chosen agency to accurately find a role to suit your specific needs.
2. Word of Mouth Research
Word of mouth is a reliable and easy way to find the information you are looking for. Ask any locum doctors you know or have worked with which agencies they have had a good experience with. Learning from those around you and doing your research into these agencies will provide you with a wealth of knowledge and save a lot of time deciding.
3. Specialisation
Your specialised area of medicine should be as important to your recruitment agency as it is to you. The ideal recruitment agency will be dedicated to your area of medicine, understand the intricacies of your specialty or subspecialty and have an understanding of who is a desired, well-versed connection in your chosen location.
Each of the dedicated Jon & Jon Medical recruiters work with clients in one specialised field, knowing the ins and outs, and how to deliver to best opportunities related to your specialty. By using Jon & Jon Medical’s services and well-established networks across the country we can help you find the ideal role for you. Our job application processing time is efficient as we are very comfortable and knowledgeable in the varying qualifications and requirements needed by each of the hospitals and each role at hand.
4. Level of Service
Not all agencies offer the same level of service. It’s often the extra little things and the relationships doctors build with a recruitment agency that truly sets them above the rest. Often the most time-consuming and difficult aspect of applying for locum roles is the paperwork required by hospitals, including CVs, references, credentials and more. A good locum recruiter will guide you through this process, a great recruiter will do it for you.
At Jon & Jon Medical, we offer hassle-free credentialing and paperwork, assistance in processing and completing the paperwork and submitting it to you for your perusal and approval. We also go the extra mile and can assist with organising your travel arrangements, car hire, accommodation, even your loved ones and furry friends.
5. Salary & Payment Process
Understanding the payment processes in each individual hospital and through locum agencies can be important to ensure a hassle-free process. It is important to consider:
- How will I be paid for my locum work?
- Will I be paid directly by the locum recruitment agency?
- How often will I be paid?
- Does the agency advise on taxes, superannuation and worker compensation?
- What does the payment process involve?
With these questions in mind, it is important to choose an agency that makes the onboarding process easy and manageable. Jon & Jon Medical will liaise upfront with the hospital and at all times, making the payment process as hassle-free as possible.
6. Building Relationships
The best recruitment agencies will be looking to build a strong, long-term relationship and goals for you. When choosing your recruitment agency you want to look for a recruiter that looks beyond your current role and seeks to approach hospitals and clinics on your behalf to find the perfect locum assignment for your availability and requirements.
At Jon & Jon Medical we aim to build a personal relationship with each of our doctors. We communicate as much or as little as you like, and during our initial consultation with you we will establish your preference for desired forms of communication. We assist with whatever our clients need to ensure they know we are in their corner and part of their team.
7. Take Your Time to Find the Right One
When you first start your search to find the right agency you may have to deal with a few before you find the perfect fit for you. Once you find a great connection with an agent or agency, it is generally preferred to stick with one.
Take the time to research and enquiry with a range of agencies when looking for your next job, taking the pressure and stress out of finding one quickly. Consider building a trustworthy relationship with one recruiter who is dedicated to helping you find work and achieve the best in your career. Building this relationship can help you to accomplish your goals and meet some of your requirements discussed in Tip #1.
Jon & Jon Medical have a wide coverage of relationships with hospitals and clinics across the country in both regional and metro locations. After our introductory call with you we will gather all your preference information and copies of your core documents. From here, we can start searching for the best opportunities and apply for roles on your behalf. We are well versed in varying application processes and requirements asked by certain hospitals or clinics, which again takes the pressure of you as we handle this side.
- Good Communication
Communication is the key to success in many industries and professions, so building good communication between yourself and your agent is an important first step in moving into your next medical role. By keeping you up to date with each step of the employment process, your agent should involve you in the process from finding assignments, interviewing, negotiating and closing the deal. Beyond employment your agent should also be very involved and communicate the process of onboarding and throughout your assignment to ensure you have any support you need – 100% committed to helping you.
Your recruitment agency should be your biggest advocate and easily communicate with you, and easily communicate your needs and desires. This relationship with your recruiter, and them understanding you as an individual, is important while they keep your short-term and long-term goals in mind.
Jon & Jon Medical is renowned for the quality and caring team members who are here to be your biggest support and hype team. Our experienced team will make the process as smooth as possible, while being available for you every step of the way to ensure all arrangements are organised, and handling any issues that may arise during your employment.
- Travel Support
Generally locum work involves travel across borders, which sometimes can require proper passes to work in certain areas. Many locum recruitment agencies develop relationships with boards and facilities, making it easier for you to obtain all of the documents you need. At Jon & Jon Medical we like to keep our doctors in the loop with any travel or state restrictions (especially during the COVID pandemic). We can also assist with organising travel and supporting you in learning the best way to travel and explore your new location.
- Protect Your CV
The public hospital systems are now using more locum doctors to fill regular shifts. Some locum agencies will hand out your CV too as many hospitals as they can, which can sometimes not be in your best interest. You desire work the matches your needs and specialty, needs and desires.
While shopping around for locum recruitment agency to work with, make sure to get a written agreement in place between yourself and the agency stating that they will only offer your CV to hospitals that have been approved and discussed with you.
You’ll know you’ve found the perfect locum recruitment agency for you if:
- Finding and securing locum assignments is easy and stress free
- You find a consultant that spends time explaining information and has good communication skills
- You find a consultant with attention to detail at every stage of the process and walks you through every stage of your assignment
- They support you with everything from negotiating rates and extras, completing forms and ensuring prompt payment
- They are great with paperwork, booking flights, accomodation, vehicle hire and alike