Sure, you could roll the dice and select the first healthcare staffing company you see, but if you’re going to get the most out of your traveling healthcare profession and your experience, you should be picking an agency that fits your style and has your best interests in mind. Here’s how to choose the right healthcare staffing agency for you in just four easy steps.
Just like you wouldn't eat at a restaurant with a ton of bad reviews, you wouldn’t work with a healthcare staffing company who gets negative comments. Do they have Marketplace ratings and reviews? What do their online ratings look like? How about their social media interaction? If they are actively engaging with their followers, and they've got some gold stars on the books, they're worth considering.
Don't just keep your inquiries to Google searches and reviews. Go straight to the review source! Ask others who have worked with the company, both internally and as a healthcare traveler. What's the word of mouth? When a healthcare staffing company does well, other travelers and employees will rave. If you can't find someone who has worked with them, it's time to do some snooping. We're talking online research, not camping out in a tree with binoculars. Hit up their Marketplace profile or scout out different online forums or traveler groups for honest reviews.
When you're screening a healthcare staffing company, it's a good idea to browse through their website. Not only will you get key info from taking a virtual stroll their site (benefits, perks, top cities to travel to, etc.), a website will reflect their brand and style, so you know what to expect. Is their site updated? Do they have a friendly, laid back style? Do they look fun or more serious? If they're a reputable company, their website will reveal it.
Pay close attention to and take note of what the agency has to offer healthcare travelers. Do they provide their travelers with:
Whatever it is that’s important to you, ensure the agency you work with can deliver. A little research goes a long way to learn what’s meaningful to a staffing company.
If you're in the area, visit their headquarters and gauge the company atmosphere that way, as well. Choosing a healthcare staffing company to work with is just as important as choosing the job you're taking.
It's also important to look at the company logistically. Beyond the benefits and the awesome recruiter-turned-friend that you have, are they able to fulfill your needs? If you're a travel nurse, do they provide locations for nurses? If you're in a different field, do they offer travel jobs in your specialty?
A recruiter is your compass to your next travel assignment, so you want to have a good rapport with them. More than that, you want them to have your best interests in mind. Whether you're a new or seasoned traveler, you have goals and ideas of where you want to be. A good recruiter will listen to you and find you the best travel job for what you're looking for. That means if you're like, "Hey I'm not into coastal environments," they're not going to try and sell you on surf country. A recruiter is a trusted reference to the travel lifestyle, and they'll put your needs first.
It’s never been easier to find your perfect staffing agency match than it is now with Marketplace. Build your traveler profile and gain exclusive access to tens of thousands of travel jobs across multiple staffing companies across the country. Not only does your traveler profile make your job search process more efficient, but it also helps you narrow down agencies so you can find your best fit.
As you browse travel jobs, peruse agency profiles to learn more about each staffing company. Within each agency page, you’ll notice complete information on bonuses, reimbursements, insurance, housing options, and other benefits, as well as individual profiles for the agency’s top healthcare recruiters. Use the enhanced transparency of Marketplace to easily compare companies, their jobs, pay packages, recruiters, and more until you’re sure you’ve found the right agency for you.
When looking for the right healthcare staffing company, remember to check their reputation, consider the company vibe, and ask yourself if they are willing to go to bat for you. Save yourself the headache and time of multiple agency interviews and instead, use Marketplace to find out all you need to know about the staffing company. With a strong focus on traveler transparency and autonomy, Marketplace helps you choose the jobs and agencies that fit your career goals and travel dreams. Instead of waiting for an agency to come to you, make the first move, and start your healthcare travel journey on your own terms.