As a recruiter, I speak with all types of healthcare professionals new to traveling with staffing companies like Aureus Medical Group. From new graduates to those with more than 20 years of experience, they often tell me how overwhelming it is to select a staffing agency, not to mention navigate the number of recruiters that contact them.
Reasonably so, since what begins as a Google search, completing applications, and attaching resumes quickly turns into phone calls from many recruiters. There are hundreds of staffing companies out there, but they are not all created equal. Building a good relationship with a quality agency is not always easy. What I tell each and every traveler is the same, and I’m hoping you find the information useful, too.
Transparency
In my experience, transparency is the first building block of a good foundation with any travel healthcare agency. I firmly believe honesty and clarity are important qualities we can offer a prospective client. As a seasoned recruiter, I have heard countless horror stories about travelers’ experiences with other agencies that didn’t openly communicate. It absolutely pains me to hear this! More often than not, these situations are entirely avoidable.
I encourage you to look for a recruiter who is willing to take the time to speak with you about how the job search works. A good recruiter will be open and honest with you about their expectations, and you should feel comfortable doing the same! Transparency should be apparent from the time you start sending information to the time they are wishing you a good first day of work.
Trust
Trust sounds like an easy one, but it’s easy to lose and hard to build back up. If you feel you can’t trust your recruiter, do you want that person to help you in your search, represent you to facilities, or negotiate your wage?
Find a recruiter who is genuinely interested in getting to know you as a person. A recruiter/traveler relationship built on mutual respect strengthens trust. When you find that, you know your recruiter truly has your best interests at heart.
Size and Reputation
Though the size and reputation of your recruiter’s agency are not everything, they should be considered. What sets a good recruiter apart from the rest is their ability to offer that one-on-one service and care. A recruiter from a large company may be able to offer more contracts but might also be handling a large number of travelers. On the other hand, a recruiter from a smaller agency may have fewer contracts to offer but can devote the time to be with you every single step of the way.
What matters most is choosing an established healthcare travel agency with a good reputation that works with you. And don’t be afraid to ask questions as you search around and speak with recruiters from different agencies. In the end, we’re here to be your best advocate.
Written By: Senior Account Manager for Aureus Medical Group
This blog was updated in August 2022