You’ve filled out the registration form on the Locate a Locum website, you’ve applied for your first shift, confirmed your identity and you haven’t been accepted. This is the end of the world as we know it! Only, it’s not!
We’re good at one thing, and that’s making sure that pharmacists get regular locum work! So, how can you find more locum work using the Locate a Locum website or mobile app?
1, Apply for more shifts
Let’s get real. You’re not going to get accepted for every shift that you apply for. There’s other people applying on our website. One thing that we’ve found from speaking to our locums is that some of you guys have been worried about getting double booked if you apply for more than one shift on your available dates. This is not the case. This will NEVER happen. Our booking platform acts like a secretary and we’ll ensure that you never get double booked. If you’re not applying for shifts, someone else will be. You have to be in it to win it! So, apply, apply, apply! You will be contacted if you’ve been successful with your applications.
(Quick Stat – The average success rate for winning locum shifts is 23%. Meaning that you should be applying for at least 5 shifts at a time to maximise your chances of being hired by the pharmacy. We have shifts available throughout August & September, get applying!)
2, Send your CV so we can place you more effectively
Let us know your experience, where you’ve worked and what you’ve achieved. Let us know how enthusiastic you are when it comes to your career. We can work on your behalf to create opportunities in pharmacies on your behalf. For free! We can help you to find work that is suited to your level of experience.
3, Speak to an expert locum coordinator & let us know your availability
Using an online booking platform isn’t for everyone. We’ve put together a team of expert recruiters, amassing 30+ years of healthcare recruitment, to help you with your locum career. Get in touch and tell us your availability, let us know where you want to work, when you want to work and our guys will help you with shift applications. Give us a call on 020 7859 4613
4, Get accredited
Hiring managers love a bit of CPD. The more enthusiastic you seem on your Locate a Locum profile, the more likely you are to get hired. We advise all locums to complete their Dementia Friend Training. Many pharmacies see ongoing CPD as a prerequisite for any hire that they make, be it for permanent jobs or locum shifts. The most successful pharmacists who regularly win shifts have their MUR accreditation along with Level 2 safeguarding.
5, Get yourself a smart card!
Although this isn’t necessarily mandatory for locums, some of our pharmacy employers do require it. To be brief, they allow you to access certain pieces of information on pharmacy IT systems that could be related to patients or pharmacy practices in a timely manner. Check out our recent post about getting a smart card!
6, Be flexible!
We can’t have it all, and don’t we just know it! You’ll not always get the rate that you want, or be able to work in your favourite pharmacy, but being flexible with your working pattern allows you to learn new skills. The more shifts you work through Locate a Locum, the more appealing your applications become to our hiring managers.
If by chance you have not registered with us yet, you’re missing out on 5000 locum shifts every month. I’ll make this really easy for you, you can register right here!
If you have registered, get applying for more shifts on our locum booking platform, or give us a call on 020 7859 4613, we’re ready to help!