To use locum agencies or not?

[Saffa]

Hi all,
I am a self-employed locum pharmacist who gets on average 3 days of work a week. I need to get extra work so am considering enlisting with a few locum agencies. The problem is that all of the agencies have clauses that do not allow me to book work directly with the companies once I get a booking through them(the agencies) for 12 months after that. Also the agency rates are lower than what I can earn on my own. What do I do?

[johnep]

Try some self marketing. Mail all pharmacies in your area, try to get a couple of references from those where you have a good relationship. Me, I just put two adds in the PJ. One in 1957 and another in 1986. That is all that was needed. These days you will need to find out all the locum coordinators. Go and see them, ask them what they are looking for. Be prepared to work OOHs,
johnep

[Saffa]

Thanks for the advice. I have already made a list of all the independants in the area, now just to work on the locum co-ordinators.