Locum work moves quickly, and the locums who get contacted first are the ones who keep their information up-to-date. That is why your IPU Jobs Toolkit should include two essential habits:

1. Keeping your Locum Availability updated; and
2. Setting smart job alerts so opportunities come directly to you.

Together, these two features make you visible to employers the moment they need cover and help you secure shifts that genuinely match your schedule and location.

Why this Toolkit matters

Pharmacies use IPU Jobs every day to source cover. When your availability and alerts are active:

• You appear in more employer searches;
• You get relevant shift offers faster;
• You avoid clashes, double‑bookings, and last‑minute panic; and
• You present yourself as organised and reliable — two things employers value most.

Think of it as keeping your ‘locum shopfront’; clean, current, and ready for business.

Keep your locum availability updated

Your availability is the primary way employers know when you are ready to work. A quick update makes you instantly more discoverable.

Where to update it

From your Candidate Dashboard, use:

Profile → Job Type → Locum Job

Locums → Locum Availability

What to include

• Specific dates or date ranges;
• Counties you can travel to; and
• Any changes as soon as they happen.

Submitting takes seconds and updates are just as easy. Simply delete an old entry and add your new dates whenever your plans change.

Why it works

Employers often filter candidates by exact availability. If your profile is not updated, you may fall out of their search results entirely, even if you are free that day.

Set smart job alerts

Keeping availability updated makes you visible to employers but job alerts make employers visible to you.

Job alerts notify you instantly when a role or locum shift matches what you are looking for.

How to set up a job alert:

1. Go to “Find a Job” on the top menu;

1. Apply filters such as:
   • Position;
   • County; and
   • Hours.
2. Look for the ‘Alert Box’ on the left-hand side;
3. Enter an ‘Alert Title’ (for example, ‘Dublin weekends’, ‘Cork locums’); and
4. Click ‘Save job alert’.

You can create multiple alerts based on different needs, weekend shifts, specific counties, or certain hours. This ensures you hear about opportunities the moment they are posted.

Build a weekly locum routine

Smart locums do not wait for shifts to appear; they prepare for them.

A simple weekly routine will keep you ahead:

• Monday: Review your availability for the next two to three weeks;
• Wednesday: Check that your job alerts still match your plans; and
• Friday: Add or adjust any dates that have changed.

It is a two‑minute habit with a major payoff.

Strengthening your professional profile

A well-maintained profile signals professionalism. Here is what pharmacies notice:

• Accurate availability → You can be trusted for scheduling;
• Up-to-date details → You are an active candidate; and
• Clear job alerts → You respond quickly to relevant opportunities.

The smoother you make the matching process; the more likely employers are to reach out again.

Get started today

Log in to your Candidate Dashboard at jobs.ipu.ie, update your Locum Availability, and set your Job Alerts. It is the smartest, simplest way to stay visible and get booked faster.

If you ever need help, the IPU Jobs support team is ready at recruitment@ipu.ie.