There’s a light at the end of the tunnel—after years of schooling and working grueling hours in a healthcare facility as a resident, you’re finally almost ready to start your career as a physician. But what comes after residency? The world is wide open for you, however, if you’re not entirely sure what you want to do as a newly-minted doctor, taking a locum tenens job—a temporary assignment at a short-staffed facility—is a great way to gain experience and refine your professional goals. Thinking that the locum tenens lifestyle is the path you want to take after residency? Here’s some more about what happens after residency, with some crucial tips you’ll want to follow to get a locum tenens job after you’ve finished.
What happens after residency?
After completing residency, new doctors can either choose to sub-specialize by taking a fellowship (which can add another one to three extra years), find a permanent job at a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility, start their own practice, or take locum tenens jobs.
Taking a locum tenens job is a great idea for new doctors who are looking to expand their horizons and gain experience while also making more money. In the next section, we’ll discuss the benefits of taking a locum tenens job in greater detail.
Why take a locum tenens job?
As a locum tenens provider, you’ll be given the opportunity to travel across the country, working temporary assignments at short-staffed facilities and gaining new insight into different practice environments. Not to mention, you’ll typically make more money as a locum than if you chose to take a permanent position.
In short, the main benefits of taking a locum tenens job with Barton Associates are:
- Increased pay
- Greater schedule flexibility
- New travel opportunities
- Travel and housing assistance
- Complementary malpractice insurance
- Licensing and credentialing assistance
3 Tips for Getting a Locum Tenens Job After Residency
If you’ve decided locum tenens is what you want to pursue after residency, here are three tips that will help you secure a job:
1. Start Looking for Locum Tenens Jobs Early
Typically, you should begin thinking about what you want to do after your residency before it ends. That means putting some serious thought into finding a locum tenens job in the last year and a half of your residency.
Start by thinking about where in the United States you’d like to live and work, and in what practice settings. Reach out to a recruiter as early as you can, as they can help you identify locum tenens opportunities that meet your professional goals and personal needs.
The sooner you begin the process, the sooner you can get into a locum tenens job; the process of getting accepted for an assignment can take a while so it’s best to be proactive.
2. Get Your Documents in Order
To get a locum tenens job quickly, you’ll need to make sure all of your documents are ready to go, so that your recruiter can find you a job as soon as possible.
That means getting your educational documents, CV, references, medical license (if you have one—some states allow residents to apply for licensure during your residency), and credentials together so that they’re easily accessible.
3. Network with Other Providers
While you’re working at your residency, you may come across locum tenens providers working assignments at your facility. Ask them about their experience working locum tenens, trade contact information with them, connect with them on LinkedIn, or do all three!
Let them know you’re looking to go locum tenens after your residency—who knows, they might have connections at a staffing firm that may lead to you getting an assignment faster than if you did it on your own.
Find a Locum Tenens Job with Barton
About to finish residency and want to become a locum tenens provider? We can help you with that. Reach out to us today or apply to one of our open jobs to get started.
