What You Need to Know About Applying for Locum Pharmacist Jobs

*Collaborative Post

In the current job market, a lot of people are looking for a certain kind of career. Ideally, something that pays well, is intellectually and socially rewarding, and has a high degree of flexibility. 

While this sounds almost too good to be true, there are a few options that tick all of those boxes, with locum pharmacy work being one of them. As a locum pharmacist, you get to enjoy the pay and responsibility of a job in the medical profession, while also having the flexibility to work in multiple different settings throughout the year. Here’s what you need to know.

Qualifications

Before you can start searching for locum pharmacist jobs, you need to have the necessary qualifications. This tends to involve completing an MPharm degree, and then completing your training in a pharmacy. As a locum pharmacist, you’ll have the same responsibilities as a ‘normal’ pharmacist, and as a result, you’ll need to have the same expertise and qualifications. 

Work on your CV and cover letter

While your qualifications are obviously a base necessity, you also need to be able to sell yourself as a candidate in different ways. Locum pharmacy work will involve applying to different places on a regular basis, and as a result, you want to craft the perfect CV and cover letter. 

Keep them brief, and relevant. Depending on the position you’re going for, it might be beneficial to tweak either the CV or cover letter slightly, to ensure that it’s fully relevant to the role you’re applying to. 

Use locum agencies

Locum agencies specialise in finding the ideal placements for locum pharmacists. As a result, they’re generally the most effective way of finding locum work in the niche. 

You just send them your proof of qualification, along with your CV and experience, and they’ll let you know when opportunities come up that they think will be perfect for you. It takes a lot of the hassle out of locum work, making it an even more attractive employment solution. 

Develop your network

One of the best ways to get ongoing locum pharmacy work is by expanding your professional network. Attend professional events and conferences to meet more people in your field, and try to build some longstanding connections. Once somewhere has hired you once, they’ll know that they can rely on you, and will likely be more inclined to hire you again. 

Be adaptable

Finally, if you want to succeed as a locum pharmacist, you need to remain adaptable. Sometimes the jobs you’re offered might be located in areas which are awkward to get to, or at an awkward hour. You won’t always have to take on jobs like these, but sometimes you might not have a choice. Being flexible is key here.

These are the basic things you need to know about locum pharmacist jobs. You’ll find that there’s a lot of variety between the different roles you’ll likely find, from research settings to community pharmacies. Embrace the constant change, and you’ll likely find that it’s a highly rewarding career. 

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.