You’ve decided to travel … now what? Although you may have thought the biggest decision you’d have to make is simply committing to take the leap, there’s actually a lot that needs to happen once you’ve chosen to travel.
First: Where would you like to go?
Location is a BIG factor in travel. You need to think about where you can picture yourself traveling to. If you’re not able to commit to 13 week assignments outside of where you currently reside, travel may not be the best route for you and your career. The more locations you’re open to, the more options your recruiter will have to talk with you about, and the better chance you’ll have at stability while traveling.
Secondly: Licensing
For many of the specialties we staff, holding an active state license is key to unlocking to possibility of being qualified to travel to the facilities within that state. It’s important to be knowledgeable about which states are reasonable for your agency to see assignment openings for your specialty.
It also helps to familiarize yourself with what the state license process looks like in those states. Ask your recruiter for any reference guides or information they might have on the varying licensing processes. Don’t shy away from obtaining a hard-to-get state license, it could be the best job security you have as a traveler!
Next: Timeline
What’s your availability to take an assignment? If the answer is right now, recognize that this is not an instantaneous process. Assignments can be very competitive, and if you’re a first-time traveler the process to land your first travel gig can be a bit more involved.
The first step in the process to begin to talk about assignment openings is completing an application. In the application process we need to get in touch with your references. Obtaining references can often be the biggest hold up in being able to submit you for position openings. Make sure to reach out to your references so that they expect a call, and don’t be afraid to politely remind your references to call back if a call is missed.
Communication with your recruiter becomes even more important once your profile is complete to stay up-to-date about assignment openings as options open and close regularly. Being one of the first profiles submitted to an assignment opening will help your chances of landing an interview.
Speaking of: Interviews
You can expect interviews for travel assignments to take place over the phone. Be prepared for the interview with questions, and remain honest and upfront with the hiring manager about your skills and expectations. If the hiring manager doesn’t mention an offer for you on the phone, speak up and ask what the timeline looks like to receive one. A recruiter won’t always have direct contact with the hiring managers at a facility so this is your chance to be an advocate for yourself. If you want the job, do what you can to go out and get it yourself!
Lastly: Acceptance
Once you accept an assignment, things start to get real and it’s important to be prepared for what’s to come before you show up for the assignment. There are drug tests, background checks, and enough compliance paperwork to make your head spin. But that’s okay! At Aureus Medical, we’re here to help walk you through the whole process. You’ll have a dedicated compliance specialist to help you with every step in order to start your assignment on time. Typically it’s about a two week process from the time you accept an assignment to when you actually begin.
Are you interested in learning more about travel, but just don’t know where to begin? We’re here to talk you through this process. What questions do you still have?
Katie Lutmer is a Social Media Recruiter for the Cardio & Imaging divisions of Aureus Medical Group.