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Understanding the 'Delayed Start' on Messly

Abrar Gundroo avatar
Written by Abrar Gundroo
Updated today

If you’ve set a future start date for your locum work — more than 3 to 6 months from today — you might see a message on your profile like this:

“Your profile is currently NOT VISIBLE to recruiters. Your profile will go live in October 2025 for locum work starting in January 2026.”

So what does this mean?

What is 'Delayed Start'?

When your locum start date is too far in the future, your profile is automatically placed on Delayed Start. This means:

  • ✅ You can still browse jobs on your Discover page

  • ✅ You’ll be able to see rates, departments, and agencies

  • 🚫 But you won’t be contacted by agencies until you’re closer to your start date

Recruiters typically only want to speak to doctors who are available in the next 3 to 6 months, so this ensures your time isn’t wasted and you’re not overwhelmed with irrelevant messages.

Can I still use Messly?

Absolutely! Delayed Start is designed to give you a head start. You can:

  • Explore what kinds of jobs are available

  • Compare pay rates

  • Get a feel for what locum work might suit you

What if I decide to start locuming sooner?

No problem, just update your new start date on your profile and our system will automatically approve your profile. You can then choose to make your profile live immediately so recruiters can start getting in touch.

Why does this happen?

We do this to give doctors early visibility into the locum market, without recruiters jumping in too soon. It helps you plan ahead, while keeping things quiet until you're ready.


Need help or have questions?
Message us anytime using the Contact Us button on your profile screen — we’re here to help 😊

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