Are you on the right path?
Vets explore the world of locuming for a variety of reasons, many are seeking a sense of freedom, flexibility or an improved work life balance. Some use the benefit of enhanced finances to save for specific events like weddings (££££!) or travelling, and others see the opportunity to locum as an exciting new challenge.
We are seeing an increasing amounts of locum vets now seeking a bit more of a sense of stability and grounding in their careers, and putting some thought into going back to permanent employment. Many miss the team bonds and camaraderie that one can only experience by being a consistent member of the team, and the opportunity to really kick start their clinical progression again by being embedded into a practice with an employer who is willing to invest in their further growth and development.
So which is more fulfilling?
Let's explore some common responses from vets about the pros and cons of locum vs. permanent employment.
"To be a locum, you need to be confident in your abilities".
In an employed role, your skills are often nurtured and developed, however as a locum there is an expectation for you to slot in and work independently. Locums can often be left to cover the more routine work – vaccinations, routine ops and consultations whilst the permanent vets in the practice get stuck into the juicier cases. It does mean that for many, being a locum vet is an opportunity to really put your skills to the test, be thrown in the deep-end so to speak, and many often realise they can work independently and that they have more skills, knowledge and confidence than they thought!
"You often feel like the new kid at school".
When we ask people what they most enjoy about their permanent jobs, the number one answer is 'my team'. As a locum, you'll do stints of work in a variety of practices and always be the 'new kid', and not form quite as many close colleague bonds perhaps leaving you feeling quite detached from your working environment and the team around you. For many though, working in a variety of practices means you’ll deal with a variety of clients, colleagues and pets. If you don’t mind being the newbie, it can provide some great vet and life experience.
"I struggle with the lack of client and case continuity".
Part of being a permanent vet is the satisfaction of taking the patient on their journey, from initial consultation through to diagnosis, treatment and post-operative care. As a locum, you'll often not finish your cases and experience a reduced amount of job satisfaction in this sense. This could also stunt professional growth for younger vets as they’ll not have the full learning experience from seeing their cases through to completion. However, you do have the potential to be exposed to cases you won’t necessarily have seen working permanently in one practice, if you’re travelling and experiencing different practices and client demographics.
"I enjoy choosing when I want to work".
Many choose to become a locum vet because it offers more independence to organise your time around personal commitments, studies or even hobbies! Some locums eventually seek out a permanent role again for the feeling of job security a permanent job provides and all the employee benefits that come with it, such as paid holiday and CPD. For those with regular locum work, ultimately you could earn more than you would in a permanent role.
If you’re at a crossroads and trying to figure out what direction you’d like to take next, request a call back from a member of our team for career guidance and valuable industry knowledge: https://www.simplyveterinary.co.uk/request-a-call-back