Crafting the perfect locum tenens CV

As an experienced locum tenens recruiter, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with many healthcare professionals to help them secure their ideal roles across various specialties. At Aya Locums, we take a hands-on approach to support locums at every stage of their career, from finding the right assignment to navigating the intricacies of the job market. Because of this, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t when it comes to crafting a standout curriculum vitae (CV).

A recent Mercer report projects a nationwide healthcare worker shortage of 100,000 by 2028. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire from the field.

With this predicted shortage looming on the horizon, locum tenens roles are expected to continue playing a critical role in filling gaps across healthcare facilities. However, the job market will remain competitive, so having a well-crafted curriculum vitae (CV) is essential. We know the sheer number of templates can feel overwhelming, so we’ve teamed up with our recruitment experts to make it easier for you to create the perfect locum tenens CV.

Here, I offer suggestions to help you tailor your CV specifically for locum tenens roles, including:

• Key elements of a locum tenens CV
• Tips for new and experienced healthcare providers
• Common CV mistakes to avoid

Tips for new healthcare providers

The experience required to become a locum varies by facility, but most healthcare settings require at least one year of practical experience before taking a locum assignment. Once you accrue some time as a practicing provider, use these tips as you tailor your CV for locum positions:

• Tailor your summary: Highlight willingness to work in various clinical settings and learn quickly.
• Focus on rotations/assignments: Emphasize your most relevant clinical rotations or locum assignments.
• Keep it concise: Limit your CV to two pages, highlighting adaptability and eagerness to learn.
• Stay professional: Don’t include personal information like marital or family status, age or religious preference.

Optimizing your CV for applicant tracking systems

Employers use ATS software to streamline recruitment processes. By automatically filtering, organizing and ranking applications based on specific criteria, an ATS can quickly match keywords and phrases from job descriptions to submitted CVs. Most employers use ATSs to screen applications, so designing your CV with specific keywords, formatting and structure that align with the system’s requirements is crucial. Failure to do so could result in your application being filtered out before a human recruiter ever sees it.

Learn more about ATS optimization.

While it’s essential to familiarize yourself with ATS optimization, you don’t have to navigate this process alone. At Aya Locums, our strong relationships with hospital clients give us unique insight into how their systems work, and our recruiters are always available to assist you in fine-tuning your CV for maximum impact.

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