Choosing a career as a locum veterinarian can be an attractive option for those looking for flexibility, variety, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. While it offers several unique benefits, it’s not without its challenges. Let’s delve into the pros and cons of veterinary locum life to help you decide if it’s the right path for you.
Veterinary Locum Jobs: The Pros
Take Control of Your Work-Life Balance
One of the most appealing aspects of being a locum vet is the ability to take control of your schedule. Unlike a full-time position in a single practice, locum work allows you to decide when and where you want to work. Need a break? You can choose not to take on any assignments for a while. Want to work more during certain seasons? You have the freedom to tailor your work around your personal life, ensuring you achieve a work-life balance that suits you.
Variety is the Spice of Life
Working as a locum vet means you’re constantly encountering new environments, practices, and cases. This variety keeps the job interesting and allows you to gain a broad range of experience. You’ll get to work with different animal species, tackle diverse medical conditions, and use various equipment and methodologies. This can be incredibly stimulating and help you build a diverse skill set that makes you a more versatile veterinarian.
Good Levels of Remuneration
Locum vets are often well-compensated for their flexibility and willingness to step into different practices on short notice. In many cases, locum work can offer higher hourly rates compared to permanent positions. Additionally, some locum vets can earn even more by taking on weekend or emergency shifts. This financial incentive can make locum work particularly attractive, especially for those looking to pay off student loans or save for personal goals.
Explore the World
Locum positions can be found not just locally, but internationally. If you’re an adventurous spirit with a love for travel, locum work can be a gateway to exploring new places while still earning a living. You might find yourself working in a rural practice one month and in a bustling city the next. This lifestyle offers a unique opportunity to see different parts of the world and experience various cultures while doing what you love.
Career Diversification
By working in various practices, locum vets gain exposure to a wide range of veterinary services, from general practice to emergency care. This diversity can open up new career pathways that you might not have considered otherwise. For instance, after working in multiple settings, you might decide to specialise in a particular field or even move into a role that involves teaching or consulting.
Learn from New People
Each practice you work in has its own team, with members bringing different skills, experiences, and perspectives to the table. As a locum vet, you have the chance to learn from a variety of professionals, enhancing your own knowledge and techniques. You’ll also gain insight into how different practices operate, which can be invaluable if you ever decide to open your own clinic or move into a more permanent role.
No Practice Politics
One of the often-cited downsides of permanent veterinary positions is dealing with practice politics. Whether it’s office disputes or conflicts over management decisions, practice politics can be a significant source of stress. As a locum vet, you get to sidestep much of this. Your role is to provide veterinary care without getting embroiled in the long-term dynamics of the practice. This can lead to a more straightforward and less stressful working environment.
Veterinary Locum Jobs: The Cons
It Can Be Hard to Say No to Extra Work
While having control over your schedule is a benefit, it can sometimes backfire. Locum vets often face pressure to take on additional shifts, especially during busy periods or in practices facing staff shortages. The flexibility that attracts people to locum work can also lead to burnout if you’re not careful about setting boundaries and saying no when you need to.
You May Not Feel Part of the Team
Being a locum vet means you are frequently the “new person” in the practice. This can sometimes make it challenging to feel like a part of the team, especially if you are only there for a short stint. While most practices are welcoming, the transient nature of locum work can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation or being on the periphery of the core team dynamic.
You Don’t Know the Clients and the Clients Don’t Know You
Building relationships with clients is a crucial part of veterinary practice. As a locum, you may find it harder to establish these connections since you are not around for the long term. Clients may prefer to see their regular vet, and you might not have the chance to follow up on cases, which can be frustrating if you’re used to seeing patients through from start to finish.
Less Support
In a new practice, you may not have the same level of support that you would in a permanent role. You won’t be as familiar with the staff, the practice protocols, or the clients, which can make it more challenging to get the support you need in certain situations. This lack of continuity can sometimes feel like you’re working with one hand tied behind your back, particularly in high-pressure or emergency scenarios.
Being a locum vet offers a unique lifestyle that provides flexibility, variety, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. However, it also comes with its challenges, such as the need to navigate unfamiliar environments and the potential for feeling like an outsider in new practices.Overall, we think locum work is an excellent career path for a vet to take, filled with diverse opportunities. If you think this type of work is right for you, you can browse our locum vet jobs here.
FAQs
How do I become a locum vet?
To become a locum vet, you need to be a qualified and registered veterinarian. From there, you can either join a locum agency, which will help find placements for you and already have successful working relationships with the majority of Vet practices, and can offer you a choice of available roles, or you can work independently by contacting practices directly.
Can I choose how often I work as a locum vet?
Yes, one of the key benefits of being a locum vet is the flexibility to decide how often and when you work. You can choose to take on as much or as little work as you want, depending on your personal and financial needs.
Is locum work suitable for new graduates?
It can be, although many practices request a minimum amount of experience, so it’s essential for new graduates to gain a solid foundation of experience in a supportive environment first. Locum work can sometimes lack the support and continuity needed for those just starting in the field.
How do I handle the uncertainty of locum work?
Planning and financial management are crucial. It’s wise to have a financial buffer for periods when work is slow. Additionally, networking with practices and building a good reputation can lead to more consistent opportunities.