There are very few things more important to a healthcare traveler than their recruiter. A good healthcare staffing recruiter will help you find new opportunities that align with your specific needs and goals. However, in a highly competitive landscape, it can be difficult to find the right recruiter for you. Ventura MedStaff’s Head of Sales and Training, Brian L., gives some advice and strategies you can utilize to find the best healthcare recruiter. This way, you can start your travel career the right way with a recruiter you trust.
What are the first steps to finding a good healthcare staffing recruiter?
First, travelers should research different healthcare agencies in the industry. Brian advises this as the first step because this is how you will ensure that the company and recruiter you work with will have the benefits that are important to you. If a retirement plan is a priority for you, you don’t want to find a recruiter you trust just to turn around and realize the company they work for doesn’t offer a 401k.
The next step Brian recommends is interviewing multiple recruiters. To get the right match, you must do your homework. Talk to other travelers, see if they have any recommendations, and be sure to ask any recruiters you talk to questions.
What questions should I ask a healthcare recruiter?
Brian recommends asking the following questions when interviewing healthcare recruiters. Their answers will be very telling and give you a better insight into who they are, their working style, and if they will go to bat for you.
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Why are you a recruiter?
Getting to know why a recruiter is in their line of work, why they do what they do, is important. You want to make sure that your success and happiness are a priority for them. This way you know they will have your back and work hard to find you the assignment of your dreams.
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When can I reach you?
You’ll want to find out the recruiter’s communication style and set an expectation of how you like to be reached. Do you communicate mostly by phone calls? Are you more of an email person? You’ll want to know the best way to get ahold of each other and see if it’s compatible. This conversation can help you avoid awkward situations and scenarios in the future.
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How do you break down your pay packages?
Asking them to explain the difference between your hourly rate and what your stipends are is a good indicator of their expertise. It is important that they are able to break it down and easily explain it all to you.
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Do you have any testimonials or reviews from other travelers you’ve worked with?
There is no better sign of a great recruiter than other travelers who recommend working with them. Asking if you can talk to one of their previous travelers, or seeing if they work with a review platform like Great Recruiters, can get you some great insights.
What qualities make a good healthcare staffing recruiter?
When you’re asking all these questions, what qualities are you trying to find? As far as Brian is concerned, you want to find a recruiter who is honest, hard-working, responsive, and detailed. As the old saying goes, the devil is in the details. Brian says you want to find someone who will catch all those small details and little things ahead of time. Those details can be the things that ultimately hinder or help your success.
For example, if you are going to a facility and it’s required that you float, you want to make sure that you know that. This way if you aren’t willing to float, your recruiter won’t even set up the interview. Detail-oriented recruiters also ensure you have the right certifications for all the jobs you’re applying for, and that the assignment aligns with what you want to get out of a job.
What red flags should I look for?
Brian says the biggest red flag a recruiter can display is not keeping your happiness and success a priority. This can mean a lot of different things but ultimately boils down to them getting upset when you make the best decision for yourself. Your recruiter should always root for you and want what’s best for you.
You also want to keep an eye out for dishonest recruiters. Whether it’s something good or bad, you want a recruiter who will give it to you straight.
How is having a good healthcare recruiter beneficial?
As a traveler, your number one priority is patient care. Brian insists that you want a healthcare staffing recruiter you can trust and rely on – that way they can help cover you. They are the ones who will be finding you the jobs you want to apply for, they will make sure your timesheet information is correct, and they’ll take care of researching any certifications you need – they’re in YOUR corner.
It makes a world of difference to know someone has your best interests at heart, and the only thing you have to focus on is doing what you do best – your job.
Here at Ventura MedStaff, we pride ourselves on hiring the best recruiters – recruiters who C.A.R.E. They would love to help you find your next adventure, and answer any questions you may have. Find a recruiter perfect for you today by contacting us!
