I have heard from many of you that interviewing with the healthcare facilities across the country can be a little nerve-racking!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Cirrus Allied has already sold your skill set to the healthcare facility for you. If you are getting an interview, most likely, they are checking to see if you have the personality that will fit with their current therapists.
2. Keep a positive tone of voice and be enthusiastic about the opportunity even if you have not decided to take it, it is better to get the offer and then decide which one you want.
3. Be confident in your skill set
4. Ask questions about the position, the facility the details of the contract assignment.
5. Bring up start date and any time off during the first interview, do not surprise them with that later.
6. Ask for the position!!

Good luck! Happy Interviewing!

Here are some fun interesting facts about our Travel Therapist Generation Xer’s:

The X’ers Fun Facts:

• Individuals considered to be within Generation X were born, and grew up during the later years of, and in the decade following the Vietnam War.

• We were shaped by the end of the cold war and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

• We grew up in a historical time we saw the inception of the home computer, video games (remember Atari!!) and the internet as a tool for social and commercial purposes.

• Remember MTV, Desert Storm and 80’s ROCK such as Van Halen and Bon Jovi?

• Maybe you were more interested in Hip Hop Culture and punk rock bands like The Ramones and Manga.

• The US Census Bureau cites Generation X as statistically holding the highest education levels when looking at age group.

What Motivates An X’er:

1.  Value in the Individual and Nurture Relationships – Xers watched their parents work overtime to be layed off or downsized by major corporations. They are not loyal to companies. They want to be looked at as indiduvals. They are however homesick for the home they never had due to both parents working. Their focus on relationships over achievement is key.

2.  Challenge in Work – We have short attention spans. We need and want new challenges and the opportunity to build new skills. Training is a big motivator for Xers. This is why healthcare travel is a great option for us! It provides constant challenge!!

3.  Freedom to Manage Time – We do not like over your shoulder in your face management. As a result of being independent at a young age (latch key kids) we like freedom and autonomy in our work.

4.  Feedback and Recognition – We like time with our bosses and leaders! This explains why many of our travelers are so close with their recruiters. Recruiters give feedback to the travel therapist and this is what the xer craves. Because of our short attention spans we have to get recognition and rewards quickly! The rewards in the healthcare travel industry never end!!

Happy Travels X’ers!

Employment of Speech-Language Pathologists is expected to grow 11 percent from 2006 to 2016, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As the members of the baby boom generation continue to age, the possibility of neurological disorders and associated speech, language, and swallowing impairments increases.

Employment in educational services will increase with the growth in elementary and secondary school enrollments, including enrollment of special education students. Federal law guarantees special education and related services to all eligible children with disabilities. Greater awareness of the importance of early identification and diagnosis of speech and language disorders in young children will also increase employment.   The long-run demand for therapists should continue to rise as growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function spurs demand for therapy services.

The number of Speech-Language Pathologists in private practice will rise because of the increasing use of contract services by hospitals, schools, and nursing care facilities. Job prospects. The combination of growth in the occupation and an expected increase in retirements over the coming years should create excellent job opportunities for speech-language pathologists. Job prospects also are expected to be especially favorable for those who are willing to relocate, particularly to areas experiencing difficulty in attracting and hiring speech-language pathologists.

Cirrus Allied has a number of options for speech pathologist positions across the country.  The jobs are high paying and give you the freedom to decide where you want to locate for a number of assingments.  Please check  for current available postions and apply today!

I thought I would take a different approach to my blogging this week and blog about Halloween!

Without a doubt the most recognizable symbol of Halloween is a pumpkin carved into a jack-o-lantern. To understand the origins of how pumpkin carving began and what it really means we must first take a look at the holiday itself.

It was the end of the Celtic year, starting at sundown on October 31st and going through to sundown November 1st. It was a night to honor loved ones that had passed on since the veil between their realm and ours is at its thinnest on that night.

Celebrated for centuries by the Celts of old, Witches and many other nature based religions, it is the most magical night of the year. It is the Witches’ New Year, and the Last Harvest. Although the religious significance of it has passed for the general public, Halloween is a “magical” night for all!

On this magical night, glowing jack-o-lanterns, carved from turnips or gourds, were set on porches and in windows to welcome deceased loved ones, but also to act as protection against malevolent spirits. Burning lumps of coal were used inside as a source of light, later to be replaced by candles.

When European settlers, particularly the Irish, arrived in American they found the native pumpkin to be larger, easier to carve and seemed the perfect choice for jack-o-lanterns. Halloween didn’t really catch on big in this country until the late 1800′s and has been celebrated in so many ways ever since!

Pumpkins are indigenous to the western hemisphere and were completely unknown in Europe before the time of Columbus. In 1584, the French explorer Jacques Cartier reported from the St. Lawrence region that he had found “gros melons”, which was translated into English as ” ponpions,” or pumpkins.  In fact, pumpkins have been grown in America for over 5,000 years. Native Americans called pumpkins “isquotersquash.”

Now for easy tips to carve your pumpkin;

http://www.ehow.com/how_2094621_carve-pumpkin-easily.html

http://www.extremepumpkins.com/

Enjoy!! And Don’t forget to roast your pumpkins seeds…

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roasted-Pumpkin-Seeds/Detail.aspx

•    Rehabilitation Job or Assignment-Specific Goals
•    90 Day Goals
•    6 Month Goals
•    1 Year Goals
•    3 Year Goals
•    5 Years Goals

Rather than leave these vague references to time alone, pick some dates for each of them.  There’s tremendous power in attaching a deadline to a goal.  Deadlines force you out of procrastination and into action.  You’ve heard the saying ‘If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would ever get done.’  Setting deadlines helps you avoid operating in the last minute.

Do you have personal experience with applying deadlines to your goals as a rehab travel professional?  We’d love to hear about them.  Leave us a comment!

It’s time for you to design the life you want.  It’s your turn to build a career in Travel Physical Therapy, Travel Occupational Therapy, or Travel Speech Therapy that leverages your strengths and enables the pursuit of your goals and dreams.  To do that you must find the one thing.

The one thing is the type of work or activity that defines you.  It’s the one thing that may leave you physically exhausted, yet you just can’t get enough.  The one thing energizes you, ignites your passions, delivers immense satisfaction, exhilarates your soul and leaves you feeling magnificent.

Define exactly what that is for yourself, build your plan, and pursue it without compromise.

To work on rehabilitation jobs, professionals not only need to keep their work history current, but many potential employers want to see very detailed updates, including the types of settings in which you’ve worked, case loads you’re accustomed to, and equipment you’re trained on and have experience using. Of course, your license needs to be up to date and in good standing, but if you work Traveling Therapist jobs, you may need to maintain licenses in many different states. Once you have been confirmed to the assignment, new employees need to submit the following:

Medical Information

* Annual drug screen
* Annual physical
* Annual TB test
* Hepatitis B or signed Declination Form
* MMR shot record or titers showing immunity

HR Information

* Orientation Acknowledgement Form
* Orientation Review Form
* Policies and Procedures Checklist
* Employment Agreement
* Confidentiality Agreement
* Handbook Acknowledgement Form
* I9 Form
* W4 Form
* State Tax Form (if applicable)
* Copy of Driver’s License
* Copy of Social Security Card

Credentialing

* Copies of any active state licenses you hold
* National Certification Card
* CPR Card

Job Specific
Sometimes clients have specific requirements, such as:

* 2-step TB
* Varicella titer
* Drug screen within 30 days of start date

For the professional seeking out rehabilitation jobs it may seem like a lot.  However, if you create a reliable system for keeping your files up to date, you’ll find it to much easier than you think.  That’s the topic of my next post:  Tips for keeping your files up to date.

MDI is everything and more as a travel company. I have never felt like just a number with them, as I have with other travel companies. Recently, I learned that I needed to have a very important surgery at the end of my latest contract. The MDI team went above and beyond. They treated me like a member of the family and worked to ensure my health needs would be met. Companies that exhibit such a degree of compassion and care are a rarity these days. It is such a comfort to know that MDI is such a company.

Anytime I have ever called or sent an email, I get an immediate response and someone is always willing to help me. I have never had to wait more than an hour, much less days (as with some companies) to receive a response. 

MDI has allowed me to travel up and down the east coast and has worked diligently to find settings and locations that meet my personal needs and desires. They are upfront and honest about what they can do and consistently go that extra mile for their employees. They make them feel right at home from the very beginning of the contract.

MDI is timely and efficient. They do what they say they will and offer more than you would ever expect. You can always get in touch with your recruiter day or night. You don’t have to worry about there being a gap between assignments -unless you choose to take time off. They are also amazing at negotiating and helping you out if you have any problems while on an assignment. They will be there for you through the duration of the project.

After working with MDI, I would never choose to work for another travel company. They are the best because they have the best team in place—a team of recruiters that listens, understands and cares, as one would for a dear friend or family member.   If you are thinking of traveling or are trying to compare what’s out there, I strongly recommend MDI. Not only will your needs be met, but you will also be able to rest easy knowing you made the right choice with MDI. They are the one travel company that will always care and have your back.

Pack – develop a system to pack what you need & leave room to bring some new things home
Travel – arrangements to and from your assignment, and in between your shifts
Sleep – move in & out dates & procedures, utilities, contact info, emergency numbers, etc.
Work – map the location, determine travel time, your shifts, supervisor names, & contact information
Eat & Play – find the nearest supermarkets and restaurants you’d like to try before you leave
Stay Close to Home – Take care of the things that you can’t ignore for 13 weeks – family, finances, pets, etc.

In my next posts, we’ll go through each one and share a few tips our travelers have picked up over the years.  To read the full article now, click here.