Agencies
Locum veterinary agencies are recruitment-like businesses that find work for locum vets and vet nurses. Their job description is to place locums at vet practices. They usually work by charging a fee per candidate they place in a practice, on a daily/weekly rate. Some recruitment agencies even offer to pay the locum staff themselves by putting the locum vet staff on their own payroll.( As a locum, this may have implications for you, so make sure this is acceptable and suitable for your own personal circumstances.)
Which agency?
Although recruitment agents will generally have a good to excellent knowledge of the job market out there, very few will have any hands-on experience of what it is like working as a vet/ vet nurse locum, or working in a veterinary practice. As a result, few will fully appreciate the potentially hazardous and arduous working conditions and expectations veterinary professionals can be exposed to.
It is therefore vital to make sure the agency/agencies you choose have a real understanding of your professional and personal needs.
Registering with more than one agency may improve your chances of securing continuous work. However, try not to register with too many as this may jeopardise your chances of finding work too. Having said this, remember, you are under no obligation to be registered with only one agency and should never be made to feel guilty if you choose to be registered with more!
Some criteria on which to base your choice of locum agency should be:
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Quality of service Are they generally approachable, friendly and efficient.
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Contact Do they keep in touch with you
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Accuracy of information Have they correctly informed you about the job specifications, working conditions, staff, hours of work, weekend and after-hour requirements?
It is always recommended that you speak to the practice yourself prior to accepting a placement. When speaking to the practice, always mention the agency that has referred you.
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Are they able to find you work? It would be unrealistic to think that there will always be work available when we want it, however, on the whole, if you are not location bound, work should be available at most times.
Generally, agencies are very useful and helpful, and building a good working relationship with them is important and advisable when working as a locum.
To avoid any confusion or miscommunication, ALWAYS speak to the practice first before accepting work. This way, nothing can be lost in translation and all your questions can be answered directly! Obvious, but unfortunately not always done!
