Traveling healthcare professionals throughout the country are competing for great locations, settings, and pay for each 13-week assignment. Some travelers see an easy on-boarding process from resume to offer, while other travelers spend weeks waiting for things to fall into place. How can you work to make sure that when you start your job search, your profile is going to the right clients and you’re at the top of their lists?
First off, keep in mind that for traveling physical therapists, traveling occupational therapists, traveling speech pathologists, and some assistants, the job options are scattered throughout the country. If you have a good idea of a plan A, B, and C when you start a search, it will be easier to lock down an assignment within your time frame and by your rules – not your agency’s. Having a set plan in case plan A doesn’t work out will make sure you’re always in control of your search, and it will keep your agency from suggesting things they know will waste your time. For instance, if you are licensed in MT but aren’t interested in ever going back – tell your agency….otherwise, expect a call one day that goes like this “Hey traveler! I know you’re looking to go to SC for your next assignment, and we’ve been looking, but there’s not much available there. Would you consider going back to MT? I have this GREAT job in MT that is available ASAP!”
Second, plan your search around the seasons. Think about it – how many people want to be in FL or AZ during the winter? How many people want to be in New England during the summer. If you’re looking for an area that is seasonally popular, expect a lot of competition. It’s not hard to find someone who wants to find an assignment in south FL from October through February, but it is tough to find someone in FL for June through August. The same rule applies to areas that are known for harsh winters – a traveler can find a great assignment in northern OH during the winter, but will have a tougher time finding something in the summer when the weather warms up.
Third, think about what you may have left out and be flexible with your target location. In my experience, I have seen several travelers accept assignments in areas they didn’t originally consider, and these assignments ended up being some of the best! If you’re looking in MD, have you considered DE? If you’re looking in northern CA, you might want to consider OR. If you’re looking in AZ, you might want to look at NM. Sometimes a neighboring state offers everything you like about your target destination with a healthier travel therapy job market.
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