Summer months bring vacation to mind (whether you’re fresh out of school or not). Taking time off is important to work-life balance, but if you have student loans to pay off or you’re like the majority of Americans who leave vacation days on the table each year, maybe it’s time to try something different.
Picking up locum tenens work during paid vacation days can be a smart financial decision for physicians and advanced practitioners, so long as it does not interfere with any non-compete agreement in your current contract. Here are just a few of the many reasons to think about working locum tenens during paid vacation:
It’s simple—working a locum tenens assignment during a paid vacation day from your full-time position means double pay. This is a lucrative option no matter where you are in your career. For new grads, extra money from locum tenens can help pay down medical school debt, and if you’re nearing retirement but not ready to slow down yet, it can help you contribute even more to your savings.
In 2015, more than half of Americans failed to take all of their vacation days. And while we’re not advocating to continue this trend—we all need days off!—if you were expecting to let some vacation days go unused, locum tenens is a smart alternative. Planning a locum tenens assignment during even part of your vacation time can help you make sure you take that time and use what you’ve earned, while making some additional income.
Plan a locum tenens assignment around a real vacation, and it can act as a test drive for a new scene. For instance, if you take a week off, you can spend a couple of days working locum tenens and trying out a new facility, then spend the rest of your time exploring the area to see if it feels like a good fit all around. You never know—a locum tenens vacation could lead to an exciting next chapter in your life, for you and your family. And even if it doesn’t, we’re sure you’ll find something interesting along the way.
Just so you’re prepared—taking on locum tenens work during paid vacation from your full-time job might sway you permanently. You may find that while earning some extra money, you fall in love with the short-term jobs and flexible schedule of the locum tenens lifestyle. No need to panic. There are countless jobs continuously posted to our job board. Have questions or want to talk to a friendly recruiter? Feel free to contact us.