Pitfalls to avoid as a new Healthcare Temp & maximising your earnings

Thinking of becoming a healthcare temp worker? Perhaps, you do not know what to expect or maybe you want to dip your toes into the water before giving up your full time job. In this blog, we discuss five pitfalls you should avoid as a new healthcare temp worker:

1). Create digital CV profile:

By creating a digital CV profile and listing your experience and qualification, it gives potential employers a glimpse of what to expect should they hire you. Also, after every job you undertake, get the hirer to rating your performance (preferably five star) and write a review. Remember, automated healthcare companies such as, healthcare-temps tends to be highly impartial and transparent. Thus, by getting great reviews from other employers will boost your likelihood of getting more job offers. 

Note also, bidding for numerous temp jobs can be very tedious and time consuming. A very good CV profile makes it easy for employers to discover your skills and offer you the right job and salary range. 

2) Highlight your skills & training:

When hirers post a job, they tend to get numerous bids, at various salary range. Some employers tend to go for the cheapest bids. However, the best paying employers tend to look for temps with the right experience, training and skills. According to Mr. Miller, head of temp recruiting, "When it comes to recruiting temp nurses, most employers would pay £13.00 phr for a nurse who has no experience of changing peg feed or cathetherisation. But can easily pay upto £17-£18.00 phr to temps with such skills and training".

3). Ensure mandatory documents are up to date & relevant.

By law, all healthcare temps must provide the employer with copies of their mandatory documents before they enter the premises / place of work (the basic document being CRB / DBS). Other mandatory documents include, training certificates, previous employer references, professional validation, identification, NINO and rights to work in the U.K.). Ensure you provide healthcare-temps with the relevant documents so you can pass their background check and vetting procedure. Verification check box appears on your profile and it tells prospective hirers whether or not it is okay to interview you and accept your bid. Not being verified tells employers not to waste time trying to offer you a job. So, think carefully and conscientiously. 

4). Be prepared for online interviews:

Online video interviews are generally more challenging than face-to-face interviews for the simple fact that employers cannot read your body language. Nevertheless, always be prepared, look professionals and answer questions as honestly as possible. Note further, first impression counts. A recent survey revealed that most living carers tend to fail online interviews for the simple reason is that they try to multi task at interviews. Recently, one manager declined to offer a living carer a job because they left a client on the toilet unsupervised whilst trying to do an interview. 

5). Hold reasonable expectations:

Unlike working for an agency, most automated healthcare procurement platforms give temp workers / locums the freedom to negotiate their own pay rate. Be reasonable and do engender unreasonable expectations. Instead, be flexible and negotiate a pay rate that reflects your skills, training and experience and not what other people are getting. In most cases, you are building a long term relationship and a client base for future jobs. So, the last thing you want to do is sabotage future opportunities by charging hirers a ridiculous rate. Overall, no one wants to hire someone who is out to get rich quick. If the pay rate on offer is too low, for your liking, do not simply reject the hirer, Consider alternative ways to offset your cost, such as bonus payments (which included paid mileage, paid accommodation and so on). Any job offer could be a stepping stone to a long lasting career.

To start applying for healthcare-temp opportunities, visit www.healthcare-temps.co.uk