I recently returned from a Physician Resident conference where I was able to speak with both residents and medical students at different levels in their education. It is interesting to me how each student or resident varied in so many ways. The biggest difference was their views on their future and where they wanted to go or what they wanted to do. I can’t say that I completely understand everything that is taught to them throughout their schooling and training but I feel it’s beneficial for their instructors to prep them for the “real world.”
I mainly work with locum tenens physicians and I, by no means, am an expert in the medical field but I like to think that I know what kind of opportunities are out there and what physicians are looking for when it comes to locum tenens. Everyone dreams about finding the best career and geographic location to grow in but sometimes you need to be able to figure that out by trying out different places. So when it comes to locum tenens out of your residency or even sometimes after you have been practicing for a while, there are a few things that you should consider. Here are a few things that I would give advice on when choosing a locum tenens position after graduating your residency:
- Be flexible in the practice or opportunity. Remember a locum tenens position is generally a short term opportunity and won’t necessarily be a permanent position
- Be flexible with compensation.You can make more money by doing locums but take into consideration what the position is asking from you. A busy workload will have higher pay as opposed to a lower volume workload.
- Be flexible in location. Understanding the licensing process for each state can help. Some states take longer than others to obtain a license. Be proactive if you want to work in those states and apply as early as you can.
These are the main points that I would like to be able to assist with when talking to students but more specifically residents thinking about where and what they want to do after they graduate. I talked to quite a few that wanted to do locum tenens to help them figure out what they wanted in a practice so they could find out the best fit for them long term. These key points will help them when they are selecting a locum tenens position after residency.
Jon Clay started with Aureus Medical Group in February 2013. He works as a Physician Search Consultant for the Physicians Division, actively recruiting and maintaining relationships with physicians in order to place them in locum tenens or permanent placement. In his free time, Jon enjoys singing, working out/running, and spending time with friends.