One of the most frequently asked questions we hear in Locate is ‘Why should I move from my locum role to a permanent position?’
Whilst being a locum can mean increased earnings, flexibility around your social life, travel and experiencing a range of roles and work environments. Locum’s miss out on some of the benefits permanent employment brings. No paid holidays or sick leave, no employer pension, few employee benefits and filing their own tax return.
So why permanent?
We carried out a recent poll on LinkedIn to understand the reasons why a locum would consider finding a permanent pharmacy role. Our top 5 findings are:
Getting married and starting a family Both are major reasons to celebrate, but they do bring a change to the pace of your life. Having a set routine can make all the difference.
Buying a house Yes it is possible to get a mortgage as a locum, however it is easier and potentially cheaper to get a mortgage with a permanent pharmacists role.
Financial stability Whilst permanent positions can come with a lower salary it will still ultimately make for more stable finances in the long run. There is a lot to be said about having a regular income and employee benefits (sick pay, maternity pay*) that help protect you. And there is nothing stopping you carrying out the odd locum shift for some extra income to fill that void.
Promotion As a locum you can gain a lot of experience and skills from the variety of environments you work in, but locums generally find it harder to get promotions and access senior roles. Employers love to see career progression in your employment record over time.
Settling down Being a locum can be challenging, you are often in multiple stores and covering vast locations. It can be difficult to establish a good work relationship with your colleagues. Permanent roles offer that stability and give you the opportunity to build relationships in your home away from home.
If this article has you thinking about your career, why not reach out to Melissa or Fiona, our fabulous career specialists in our permanent team for some free impartial advice today.
*Locum materinty pay, is dependent on any voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions