By FlexMedStaff
Job hunting is all about differentiating yourself. Contracting directly with facilities for locums-type work is no different. Facilities have many avenues to find practitioners for locums coverage or part-time positions, whether through job board postings or locums companies. Competition is fierce as multiple practitioners will apply for each position. Alas, this is nothing new for doctors who went through medical school and residency applications, facing competition and finding ways to differentiate themselves. In this highly competitive environment, practitioners must find ways to stand out from other candidates in the application pool. Traditionally, facility recruiters have ranked candidates based on their CV, cover letter, and references. Whether or not you submit the best CV or cover letter, it is essential to ask yourself – what are you doing to separate yourself?
In baseball, every pitcher learns to throw a fastball. Most pitchers become successful based on throwing a baseball at high speeds with accuracy. What separates most pitchers is how they throw the off-speed pitches or their second type of pitch. This could be a change-up, curveball, sinker, or knuckleball. The ones that can throw a great fastball and have a tremendous off-speed pitch are likely to be successful in the Pros. The same can be said about practitioners applying for locums opportunities. Even with a great CV, you must have a great off-speed pitch to stand out.
A written CV is expected of all practitioners when applying for a locums position, but providing a video CV may be the off-speed pitch that makes you stand apart from the other candidates. A video CV allows you to speak directly to the facility. In a minute or two, you can convince the facility of what makes you uniquely qualified for the role. A video CV can be an impactful addition to your application, making you stand out from others and “humanizing “yourself.
To enhance the chances of landing an opportunity to contract directly for locums-type work, this article will discuss how to make a video CV and what should be in it.
What should be in the Video CV?
A video CV is good when it can introduce you, summarize your skills, and provide an adequate reason to contract directly with you. Here we discuss the five sections of a Video CV.
Introduction. Formally introducing yourself is the best way to initiate the video. This includes your full name, specialty, and any relevant education or training worth mentioning. It is also essential to include the number of years you have been practicing or what year you graduated residency so that the facility can determine how many years of experience you have. For example, “Hi, I am Mike Smith, and I am a board-certified anesthesiologist that went to the University of Alabama for medical school and completed my residency at Emory in 2016.” To make the introduction more personalized, you can mention the name of each facility you send your video to. This would require you to send different videos to each facility.
Experience. Experience is the second thing that every employer looks for in the CV. Throw some light on what skills you have, your passions within your specialty, and your relevant practice history. You can also add some detail about previous roles and achievements to add value to your video CV.
Preferred locums arrangement. Inform the facility about the type of arrangement you are looking for to contract directly. This is where you mention how you might add value to their facility. For example, “I am looking to contract directly with a facility for ten days of call per month. Beyond taking call, I am also looking to do clinic and elective procedures.” If you have a unique skill or specialty, you might add what that is and how you might be able to serve their patient population and “add value” to their facility.
Personalize. You want a personal touch to your video to give the facility a sense of who you are. Discuss a little about your family life, hobbies, passions, and why you are looking for a new opportunity. You may also consider including something not found in your written CV that you think the facility should know about you.
Call-to-action. This is the last and part with the highest impact. After your introduction and experience, the decision is in the facility’s hands. Leave them with a good reason to contact you. You can end the video with the words, “I would love to share more about myself, but I wanted to keep it short. I hope you give me a chance to learn more about your facility. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime.”.
Tips for making a Video CV?
A video CV is a different process from writing a CV. It requires preparation, proper setup, and technical skills. Here we will discuss the steps to follow to make a great video CV.
Write a script. Blind shots mostly miss the target. Write a script or create an outline of what you want to say. Make bullet points rather than paragraphs if you want to sound natural and conversational. Contrary, if you prefer to be rehearsed and polished, write exactly what you want to say. Consider using strong action verbs to make your speech more impactful.
Professional Video. The video does not need to be done by a professional but should appear as if you cared about it looking good. Only use a stationary camera or one that is secured to a tripod or mount. There is no reason to have a shaky video. In most cases, have the camera focused on your upper half. It should go from your waist to just above your head. Zoom in if you have to. You don’t want to appear as if you are miles away. If you want to shoot simply by sitting in front of the camera, select a place with a neutral background and adequate lighting. Make sure to have great posture while sitting or standing. You can arrange props such as plants, paintings, or a fireplace to provide a natural background. If you are recording your video thru Zoom or another website, you can use an established background. Ensure you have a high-quality microphone so there are no audio issues when the facility watches your video. The last thing you want to happen is for the facility to reject you for having poor audio. Lastly, take the time to edit the video if it is needed.
Dress professionally. Do not take a video CV for granted. Dress and look like you are going for an actual interview. Consider clean, neat, and appropriate attire, for example, business clothing. Moreover, the clothing color that goes with the background looks more promising and retains the viewer’s attention. Men should have their beards shaved or trimmed.
Promotional Video. For most practitioners, consider doing one recording lasting 1-2 minutes. Do your best to look natural and authentic in one long recording. If you are one for the dramatics or more technologically savvy, you might consider creating a promotional video of yourself. Like a tv commercial, it could be a more action-packed recording with multiple linked video clips with music.
Take Feedback. Review the final video a few times to ensure it is perfect, clear, and well-organized. Have your friends and colleagues provide constructive feedback to enhance your video CV.
Conclusion
Take the opportunity to separate yourself from the pack and throw that “great off-speed pitch.” With so many great candidates for every position, be the one that takes the extra effort to produce a professional appearing video. Create an impactful video CV that strengthens your case as the best candidate for the facility to contract directly with for locums-type work.
