What to Ask When You Don’t Know What to Ask

Karen Belote — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:22:43 +0000

A question I get asked with some regularity goes something like this: “How does this whole locum tenens thing work?”

Admittedly broad and open-ended, it’s usually someone’s way of saying, “I’m interested in locum tenens, but I’ve never done it and don’t know what to expect.” It’s a conversation starter that often leads to a series of more specific questions about pay, travel, insurance, credentialing—you name it.

The reality of my job as a recruiter is that I provide a lot of education to our potential candidates. I try to help you understand whether locum tenens is a fit for your current or future situation, and then we’ll usually end up talking in greater detail about the specifics and logistics of a locum tenens assignment.

Resources for Research
If you’re just starting your research on locum tenens, let me recommend a few resources. For starters, check our website and our Frequently Asked Questions page. Other great web-based resources are NALTO, the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations, and LocumLife, a publication dedicated exclusively to locum tenens physicians.

Another tip: talk to someone who does locum tenens. You may know a friend or someone at your current workplace and they can be a good resource for advice.

The bottom line is, don’t worry if you don’t know the right questions to ask—just start asking. I’m here to help, so call or email anytime and let’s get started!

What should I include on my CV?

Karen Belote — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:49:55 +0000

This is a common question for locum tenens job seekers and the good news is that you needn’t worry too much about this part of your application—as long as you follow some basic guidelines.

Start with the basics. Your CV should lead with your name, degree and any relevant credentials (e.g. Mary J. Smith, MD, FACP). Put your contact information next, including your mailing address, day and evening phone numbers (usually a work and home/cell number), and email address. Be thorough and current: one of the quickest ways to miss out on a great opportunity is to leave off up-to-date contact information.

Education and training come next. List your experiences chronologically starting with the most recent. A typical CV might list in order, fellowship, residency, medical school, and college. Put the complete name of the institution, location, dates attended and relevant degrees.

After your education, list where you’ve worked next. Again, starting with the most recent practice experience, list these in chronological order giving the name of the facility, the location (address and contact phone/fax) and dates (month/yr) you were there. Even if the position was short-term or a locum assignment, you should list it. A CV that lists locum experience shows an understanding of the requirements for locum tenens work.

Other important elements that should follow your practice experience include current information on state licenses, board and other certifications, BCLS, ACLS, ATLS, PALS, Medicare and NPI number, DEA, and any applicable state controlled substance numbers. List other relevant skills, such as foreign language fluency, when they may be important for a recruiter to know about. Finally, a list of research, publications, and presentations can be listed. These may hold added importance when seeking work at an academic institution.

Don’t get hung up on font or formatting styles, but neatness and readability are important and help make a good impression. And remember, we’re here to help. If you ever want feedback on your CV or sample CV templates for your use, we’re glad to assist.

Locum Link » recruiting

What to Ask When You Don’t Know What to Ask

What should I include on my CV?