Before fully convincing you that this is the road you should take, you should definitely check out some of these other posts to make sure that becoming a Travel PT is right for you!

• The FAQs About Travel Physical Therapy
• Is Travel Therapy Right for You?
• A Student’s Guide to Becoming a New Grad Travel Therapist
• Travel Therapy Recruiters: Choosing Whose Right for You
• Travel Therapy Housing Pros & Cons

#1 LIFE IS SHORT, TAKE THE LEAP!

It doesn’t matter how old you are. If you have been in the same job for 1 year or 10 years, it’s never too late to change gears. Becoming a travel PT lets you see the world in a way you can’t do over 2 week vacation periods in a normal job. You get to live in an area for months at a time and really explore every nook and cranny that place and surrounding places have to offer.

You can choose to live by the ocean, in the mountains, downtown in New York City, or anywhere your heart desires. That’s what is so AMAZING about becoming a travel PT! You can literally go anywhere you have dreamed and soon you’ll find out that this is your reality and it’s pretty incredible to be living your dream life!

#2 FORM GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS

The hardest part about being a travel PT is being away from family and friends from back home. Luckily, I travel with my wife. She’s my best friend and we have so much fun together every day, every weekend, all the time. But as much as I love my wife, it’s nice to have other friendships and relationships outside of my marriage. But how do you meet people and form those relationships if you are leaving in 3-6 months? By the time you finally get to know someone, you have to say bye to them. It was hard in the beginning until I changed my mindset.

It’s very easy to have the mindset that it’s okay to be alone or with your partner all the time. You love them, so why bother meeting new people if you’re leaving soon anyways? Well, that can get a little lonely even when traveling with your partner. But once you switch your mindset to allow yourself to be fully invested in someone else’s life because you know that you won’t get much time with them, you actually can form a deeper connection a lot faster than you think! Having that mindset has allowed me to form countless relationships with co-workers and patients of mine.

Once I made that shift, traveling got exponentially better! I put myself out there in hopes to attract like-minded people. I’ve gone to dinners, special events, birthday parties, etc with co-workers and friends because I truly valued our relationship and our time together. Becoming a travel PT I knew I would meet new people and hopefully make friends, but I didn’t know the impact that those people would have on my life. Even for a short period of time, knowing I may never see them again, I created genuine relationships with people that I will cherish forever. And I’ll be forever grateful for having met them on this journey.

#3 BRANCH OUT OF YOUR NORM

All grad programs are different, but mine consisted of having to take clinical rotations in multiple settings. So ideally you should know what you like and dislike about certain settings before you graduate. However, things change, your interests change, and that’s OK! Coming out of grad school, I knew I wanted to work in an outpatient orthopedic setting. My first three jobs though, mid-pandemic, were in skilled nursing facilities. Those were really the only jobs hiring at the time. At first, I was nervous, and yes I was still itching to get into outpatient. However, looking back it was kind of nice. This forced me out of my comfort zone and this is where the most growth as a person and clinician will take place.

Since then, I mainly work in outpatient settings, but I’ve also done home health. I’ve learned so much more about what I like and dislike about different settings, different companies, and different managerial styles. Not all jobs are created equal and I think that is something that has really played a huge part in a lot of my decisions. I’ve worked in multiple different clinics and seen how a great clinic can be run. So if you’re stuck at a job that you don’t particularly like, just know that your contract will end soon and you can change things up!

That’s another AWESOME thing about becoming a travel PT. If you’re not happy with where you’re at you don’t have to stress about finding another job right away. Your contract will end soon enough and you can change settings, clinics, and even STATES! Now you have even more questions to ask during an interview, things to look for when searching for your next job, etc. And hopefully, your next contract will be better!

#4 IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE

Most contracts start off at 13 weeks long. What do you do when a contract ends? Whatever you want to do! If you’re ready to hop right on into the next contract, great! Do you want to fly home and visit family for a week, great! Or how about taking a month off and going backpacking through Europe, GREAT! The point is, you get to choose! You have complete control over your time off. Depending on what companies you work with, you may even have built up a few days for PTO.

We like to take at least one week off in between our contracts. Most of the time our commutes from one contract to another have been quite a journey anyways. So we take it slow and visit any National Parks, State Parks, popular destinations, or anything that piques our interest! That also then leaves a few days to get moved in and settled before starting work again. It’s just another added benefit that travel PT provides. An exceptional work/life balance that is strictly up to us!

#5 MAKE MORE $$$

Okay, the last one’s a no-brainer, you make more money! Who doesn’t love more money? Whether you are trying to pay off your student loans, save for a future home, or just simply want more money to spend more money, becoming a travel PT will help you do all of that!

A huge factor when it comes to pay is location. Depending on the area that you signed a contract can depend on how much you make. California pays pretty well, but housing will be more expensive there. Contracts in the middle of nowhere Kansas will pay well, but there won’t be anything to do. We try to go with medium pay and a highly rewarding location. Location is everything to us! We want to see as much as we can within a 4-6 hour driving range of an area. So, if that means we aren’t getting paid the most, that’s okay because it’s worth it! And even a lower-paying travel job is typically (not always) more than you’d be making as a permanent employee at that location. But one of these days we may just take a contract in the middle of nowhere, save up, and do nothing. Sounds kind of nice too.

DID I CONVINCE YOU??

I don’t know about you, but I just convinced myself to continue to keep doing travel PT for a few more years! In all seriousness though, there are a lot of things to consider about becoming a travel physical therapist. And hopefully, with the other posts I recommended, this one was the cherry on top for convincing you to take the leap and join us! I would love to help get you started and answer any more questions you might have! Contact me for any recommendations on travel PT or just travel in general! Good luck and have fun!!

The post 5 REASONS YOU SHOULD BECOME A TRAVEL PT TODAY! appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

As I got over halfway through my 3rd and final year as a PT student, I finally decided that I was going to pursue travel PT upon graduating. At the time, there was no sort of framework on where to get started in this vast, endless world of travel recruiters and recruiting companies. Furthermore, as a type A planner person, I wanted to ensure I was doing whatever I needed to do as a student to prepare myself to become a highly efficient and marketable travel candidate upon graduation. 

Thus, I wanted to create a guide for all PT students who are planning on diving into the world of travel PT as new grads. I want to give readers a perspective on the route I took to prepare myself to secure a travel job as a new grad in the middle of the COVID pandemic, a time when jobs were slim and new grads were being overlooked. Come along with me as we explore how to become a great new grad travel PT. 

TIMELINE OF EVENTS BEFORE BECOMING A NEW GRAD

I personally used the timeline below prior to graduation to become a new grad PT. I will expand on each point below. Remember this is not necessarily the ONLY or BEST way to prepare to become a traveler PT. However, this timeline gave me plenty of time to ease into the process. And it helped me feel very prepared as a new grad traveler. Keep in mind that I graduated in May, thus the months I reference are with the idea that graduation is in May.

• 1st-Most of 3rd year during PT school
  • Get variety with clinical experiences
  • Test out the travel life
  • Get extra certifications
  • Build your network
  • Find a good mentor(s)
• January (4-5months out of graduation)
  • Reach out to recruiters and get your on-boarding done over the next couple of months while you’re prepping for boards
  • Choose which state you’ll be taking your boards through
• April
  • Take boards, dominate, and await results
• May
  • Graduation
  • Become licensed in the appropriate state and begin the job search!!!

WHAT TO DO WHILE IN SCHOOL

As I mentioned, I’m a planner and like having structure in my life. This includes my time as a student. In general, most of your time in school should be dedicated to learning and absorbing as much as you can to become a great PT. But there are some things you can do during your time in school to prep for becoming a new grad traveler, as well.

CLINICALS

My PT program had clinicals spread throughout the program starting at the beginning of the 2nd year. We applied for clinical spots several months ahead of each clinical but did not know where we were going way ahead of time. Many programs dedicate most of the 3rd year to clinical experiences and know exactly where they’re going for clinicals SUPER early. Regardless of how your program is set up, you can follow these guidelines to prepare yourself for becoming a new grad traveler.

TEST THE WATERS AND TRAVEL

When choosing clinicals, I personally wanted to test the waters on what it’d feel like to travel. So, I went out of state for several of my last clinicals to see what they would feel like. To be in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people and quickly assimilate to a new environment, is the nature of a traveler.

Now, just based on the extra cost, I don’t think this is completely necessary; however, having done it the way I did, I enjoyed it and it gave me the confidence that I could run with the big dogs as a new grad traveler.

VARIETY, VARIETY, VARIETY

The most important thing when it comes to clinical experiences is just getting as much variety as possible. The more variety of experience you get, the more likely your experience level will line up with some sort of available job opportunities as a new grad. It is harder for new grads to get jobs in general, but there are lots of jobs out there right now and new grads are doing just fine getting jobs for those with good experiences upon graduation.

FYI- Most outpatient settings are a bit more selective than any other setting. They typically want 2 years job experience, but that is not always the case. I got an outpatient job less than 1 year out of graduation because of the great experiences I had in outpatient clinicals. So, never say never!

EXTRA CERTIFICATIONS/SPECIALTIES

Getting certifications beyond the standard education makes you more marketable as a new grad. Examples of certifications to get may be dry needling, Rocktape/KT tape, IASTM/Graston, Blood Flow Restriction, LSVT Big and Loud, Vestibular Rehab, Fall Prevention Specialist, etc. Whatever you’re interested in, get a couple of extra certifications and build that resume. That way when you’re a new grad you can separate yourself from others with similar experience levels. Also, if done during school, you’ll usually get a student discount for CEU’s too vs paying double when you’re a licensed therapist.

As for how I get CEUs now as a practicing PT, I love to use Medbridge. Tons of great applicable online courses to keep me updated on new research and treatment strategies. Use my referral code for 40% off your annual Medbridge membership!

NETWORKING

During school, you will have the chance to do lots of networking. Chances will include clinicals, job fairs, and conferences like CSM. Take advantage of these moments! Establish relationships and get your name out there. The first recruiter I worked with as a new grad was with a group that I met at a job fair.

Networking opportunities allow you to not only establish potentially useful relationships as a new grad, but also allows you to practice marketing yourself. Practicing making a great first impression will be extremely useful as a new grad traveler since you will frequently be interviewing and meeting new people during your travels.

FIND A MENTOR

Let’s be honest. Being a new grad therapist is a bit scary. You’ve put in all the work to finally be licensed, countless hours of studying and working under the supervision of a CI all coming to the climax of FINALLY getting to work as your own independent PT. Furthermore, you no longer have a CI or professor by your side holding your hand through treating your patients. This lack of support can be a scary thought for many new grad therapists, especially those that are new grad travelers.

I’ve been fortunate to have some great professors during my schooling. I’ve also had some extremely supportive CIs. Both of whom now fill the “mentor” role as I travel. Oftentimes, you’ll have some great coworkers you work side by side with during your travel jobs who you will be able to bounce ideas off of; however, many people get great comfort from knowing there’s a consistent mentor there for them when they hit a roadblock on how to treat a difficult case.

MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT

During school, search for those people who can fulfill this role for you in the future. Ask them questions and develop a relationship that can be sustained during your travels. Be direct and ask them if they’re willing to fulfill a mentor role as needed while gaining experience as a new grad PT and beyond. The nature of most people in the therapy world is one of teamwork, compassion, and empathy. So, most people will be willing to fill this need of yours as needed during your travel if you ask. That being said, I’d be more than willing to fulfill this role for anyone in need of a mentor while traveling. Feel free to reach out via our email, DM on Instagram, or comment below.

Lastly, some travel companies boast that they will have a mentor set up for you as needed through the company. This was not a top priority of mine when searching for a recruiter. I feel that a better mentor is someone you’re familiar with that you found and established a connection with already. However, this is an option that is out there for those interested.

GRADUATION APPROACHING

FIND A RECRUITER

As most travelers would agree, finding a recruiter and recruiting company that is right for you is the most important step in beginning your travel journey. There are many ways to find a good recruiter. My first recommendation is to reach out to current travelers (LIKE ME!) on recommendations for travel recruiters. Send me a message, email or comment below and I’ll gladly send you my 2 phenomenal recruiters’ info. You can also search through your network of people you’ve connected with in the past (as discussed above) and move forward on conversations about working with them as a traveler upon graduation. Check out my blog post TRAVEL THERAPY RECRUITERS: CHOOSING WHO’S RIGHT FOR YOU for more info.

After you find a recruiter, they’ll then begin getting you set up within the company. This is called the on-boarding process. Typically it is just lots of online stuff for you to fill out to get set up prior to them being able to start finding you jobs.

WHICH STATE SHOULD I GET LICENSED IN?

Have an idea of what states you may want to work in after graduation. Furthermore, consider taking the boards through a state that may have job opportunities for you when you graduate. DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR RECRUITER WHEN THE TIME COMES. THEY WILL TELL YOU WHICH STATES HAVE THE MOST LIKELIHOOD OF JOBS.

I took the boards before graduation. Little did I know only certain states allow you to take the boards early before graduation. Thus, I highly recommend looking into this super early because you have to declare the state you are testing through way ahead of time. Check out the FSBPT website here to see which states do or don’t allow early testing.

For example, I’m from Missouri. When I was graduating, Missouri did not allow us to take the boards prior to graduation. Thus, I had to take the boards for another state. This doesn’t mean you have to physically be in said state during the exam. This just declares what your first original license will be after you pass the boards.

So here’s what I did…

I knew I was going to want to travel to the state of Maine at some point. And Maine allows early testing. It is super cheap and super quick to get a license in Maine. This makes it a great option for someone just looking to get licensed anywhere. So when I passed the boards I was licensed in Maine. After passing boards, I then immediately applied for a Missouri license so that I could utilize the PT compact.

So, having a MO license then gave me an opportunity to very easily get 20+ other licenses quickly if needed. Therefore, there was a higher likelihood of someone wanting to hire me on short notice if needed.

Remember, you can only use the compact if your home state is part of the compact. Missouri is part of the compact and I maintain a tax home in Missouri so I can claim that as my home state. THE COMPACT IS SUCH AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR TRAVELERS IF YOUR HOME STATE IS IN THE COMPACT. Check out my blog post THE PT COMPACT: HOW TO GET LICENSED IN UNDER 10 MINUTES covering all you need to know about the PT Compact for more info.

AFTER GETTING LICENSED

Typically ~3-4 weeks after taking the boards, you will get your results on whether you passed or not. After passing your exam, the Board will automatically send you passing test results to the state that you registered for. At that point, you will also have to fill out all other required application requirements for that state. Each state has a different processing time for licenses, but there are several states that are known for being prompt in their licensure processing. Check out my blog post LICENSING TIME FRAME FOR EACH STATE AS A TRAVEL PT for insight into which states process the fastest.

After passing the boards and beginning the licensure process, your recruiter can then begin the job hunt for you! This is when things get exciting! Be sure to make your priorities very clear. My priorities typically include location, setting, and pay, in that order. Everyone’s preferences are different but be sure to be VERY clear on your priorities with your recruiter.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!

There are many ways to become a successful new grad travel PT. I hope this at least gives you a general idea of what to get started on while in school. Having a general outline and being able to “check the boxes” on certain preparation aspects certainly would have eased my anxiety. As usual, I am also open to any other questions, concerns, or comments on further insights into what else should be included in this guide. So please comment, email, and check out our Instagram for more travel tips!

Good luck and have fun, new grads!

The post A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO BECOMING A NEW GRAD TRAVEL THERAPIST appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

TRAVEL JOB INTERVIEW PREVIEW

Before giving you interview tips for travel jobs, I wanted to cover what a typical travel job interview and the process of setting up the interview look like.

PHONE INTERVIEWS

First of all, every travel job interview I’ve had has been over the phone. Surprisingly with the growing popularity of video meetings like Zoom, this has never been utilized during a travel job interview. At least not yet in my experience.

For me, these phone interviews can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. It truly depends on the interviewer, the time they have, and what all they’d like to know about you outside of what your resume tells them.

PICK A TIME THAT WILL WORK

Usually, when the time comes to start interviewing, my recruiter asks for the best times that an interviewer may call me. Most interviewers let your recruiter know that they may be reaching out for an interview first, but there’s a chance that certain interviewers may call you during your previously specified time without letting your recruiter know they’re interested. This has seldom happened to me, but it could happen. So make sure you’re being honest when you give your available interview times so you don’t miss a call and miss your chance at a potential job!

I always try to select times either before or after work or during my lunch hour. I always make sure that during the times I request I’m always nearby a quiet and private area with minimal to no distractions. I’ve had to take interviews while driving and find a spot to pull off and that interview didn’t go nearly as well as those that were done in a nice, quiet, private room.

WHAT ALL DO YOU NEED?

Truly all you REALLY need is yourself and your phone to accomplish the interview. However, I try to have my laptop available and open to my checklist of typical questions I ask the interviewer during the interview. The checklist is discussed (and downloadable) below! So, having a place to comfortably have a laptop open is preferable.

Also, there’s been cases where I have difficulty hearing my interviewer over the phone or on speaker. Thus, I typically try to at least have a pair of headphones with a functioning speaker on hand if this occasion may arise. I actually prefer starting with the headphones on and switching to just my phone, if needed. This gives my hands a bit more freedom to scroll through my checklist and make notes about the job, as needed.

GENERAL INTERVIEW TIPS

30-second Elevator Pitch

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received when I was in PT school was to have a 30-second elevator pitch queued up for any moment you may need it. Imagine, you step into an elevator with the rehab director for YOUR ABSOLUTE DREAM JOB. You’re aware there’s an opening for the position and they are actively looking for candidates. You cannot pass up this opportunity to make your first and lasting impression. You have 30 seconds to make your pitch before they get off the elevator. What do you say???

Not only is this useful JUST IN CASE this insane scenario were to play out, but also to dial up what you feel like are the best highlights of yourself for a general job interview. In nearly every job interview I’ve had I’ve been asked, “Okay, first just tell me a bit about yourself.” 

Again, your real answer may be a bit longer than 30 seconds, but this is a chance to quickly make your pitch about what makes you special. I try to include something personal about myself, such as, where I am from, where I went to school, that I’m married, travel in an RV, love the outdoors and hiking, etc. Then, I tread into humbly “bragging” about myself and highlighting the features about myself professionally that makes me stand out, such as certain areas I specialize in, extra certifications I have, etc. This leads me to my next big interview tip.

BE YOU!

Some of the best advice I can give anyone on a job interview is to just be yourself! Seems obvious and redundant, but seriously…RELAX AND BE YOURSELF. The interview is the first and potentially only impression you may get to make, so how do you want the interviewer to perceive you? 

For me, I want my interviewer to know that I’m spirited and energetic, confident in my abilities, and adaptable/coachable. Everyone’s their own person and has different strengths. Thus, prior to an interview, do some true self-reflection on what you bring to the table for a job and try to embody and project those qualities during the interview. 

The interviewer has already read through your resume and if you’ve made it to an interview you’re likely qualified enough to get the job. Now it’s just a matter of holding a conversation, thinking on your toes, and answering any questions they may have about you or your experience. You may not have the perfect answer for every question, but as long as you’re HONEST and attempt to answer all questions to the best of your ability, the interviewer will notice the effort.

I’ve been fortunate to have the chance to ask my interviewers later on down the road some things they are looking for during interviews. A very common consensus is truly just whether you’re a good person and whether your personality would fit with the current team. I actually once had an interviewer say “I don’t know, I really just wanted to make sure you were a cool guy.” 

The interviewers have already read your resume and know your credentials. That’s how you got the interview. So you must show them a side of yourself and your personality that can’t be displayed on your resume.

BE PREPARED FOR GENERAL CLICHE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

I have not ALWAYS been asked these general “cliché” interview questions, but a majority of the time I have been. Thus, it’s good to have somewhat of a framework of how you’d answer these questions. 

Interview questions to be prepared for:

• “Name me a time you had to deal with a difficult patient and how you handled that situation?”
• “Why do you deserve this job over someone else with more experience/more qualified?”
• “What’s your biggest strength and weakness?”

BE PREPARED WITH YOUR OWN QUESTIONS!

Not only are they interviewing you, but it’s also an opportunity for you to conduct your own interview process. It’s just as important for you to be prepared with questions to learn as much as you possibly can about a job prior to accepting the position. Also, the more questions you ask about a job, the more you will be perceived as interested in this position, which may impact the interviewer’s likelihood of offering you the position. 

Having as much info about the job as possible will allow you to make a true assessment of whether it’s a good fit for you. Furthermore, when weighing your options between multiple locations/jobs a few key details that are important to you may help make your decision. But you won’t know these details unless you ASK!! Below I’ve broken down some common questions I ask during an interview.

QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING THE INTERVIEW

If given the opportunity, I always start with an open-ended question to allow them to naturally answer many of your questions, such as, “What will an average day look like for me at this job?”

Caseload and schedule type questions:

• What is the average caseload?
  • # of evals, # of treatments per day
• How much time do I have for an eval? Treatment?
• What is the general patient population I’ll be treating? (Ortho, neuro, post-op, etc., age range?)
• What is the schedule?
  • M-F? Option for working 4 10’s? Weekends? Holidays?
• How many hours per week and are these guaranteed hours? Is Overtime allowed?

At this stage of my travel career, I will never accept a job without guaranteed hrs, the closer to a full 40hrs guaranteed the better!

Orientation questions

• What type of training/orientation is provided?
• Is there a ramp-up period? What does this look like?

Facility questions

• What does the team look like? # therapists, assistants, aides?
  • How many of each will I be supervising?
• What equipment is available at the facility for therapy?
• What is the facility size/number of beds? (for acute/inpatient)
• What is the average length of stay (for inpatients)?

EMR/Documentation Questions

• What EMR do you use?
  • Will I have my own computer or tablet? Desktop?
• Will someone be able to train me on the documentation system or is there online training?
  • Is documentation performed at the point of service or is time allotted for documentation?

Miscellaneous

• What is the dress code?
• What are the productivity standards?
• What is the director/supervisor’s profession?
• Is there any mentorship available?
• Are there any places nearby for lunch? Or cafeteria? Any discount for employees? 
• What’s the area like? Are there fun things to do? Restaurants? Hiking? 
  • I try to look up the surrounding area on Google Maps to have a basic understanding of what’s around the area prior to the interview
• I typically do not discuss pay during the interview since they often make the official pay offer following the interview based on experience level and geographic area and setting norms
• *I always end with- “What else can I tell you about myself? Or “Is there anything else I can tell you about myself to help secure this position?”

To make things easier on you, click below to download either a printable Word and/or PDF Job Interview Question Checklist!

GOOD LUCK!! YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Like I said before, as a traveler you will get well-versed in the job interview process. Armed with these tips, you will feel more prepared, come off as more confident and competent, and more likely to secure that travel job you’re looking for! 

If you have any questions about the job interview process that were not answered in this post, please feel free to reach out and Contact Us. Or if you have any tips of your own to add to the list please comment below!

The post THE BEST INTERVIEW TIPS FOR TRAVELING THERAPISTS appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

Recruiters/Recruiting Companies Explained

So, first off, for those unfamiliar with how the travel world works, recruiters and recruiting companies must be explained. Recruiting companies find or are notified of travel job openings by clients who need outside assistance. Each recruiter, in particular, reaches out to the travelers they work with and notifies them of these job openings. And for each opening ask whether or not you’d like to apply for that opening. For each job that you then get hired for, the recruiting company gets a portion of the reimbursement you receive. This is how the recruiting company/recruiters make their money. Essentially, they are the middlemen/women between the job pool or travel jobs across the country and you, the aspiring traveler. 

With that said, one might ask, “Well can’t I just get these jobs on my own as a traveler?” The answer is no, not typically. Most of the clients looking for travelers prefer to hire from a trustworthy and qualified recruiting company vs searching through THOUSANDS of individuals. Also, many of these jobs are only sent out to recruiting companies and may not be publicly announced. There are many reasons why working through a recruiting company is beneficial, but from my perspective, the biggest reason is–>TIME. 

For me, the moment I move to a new area, I begin planning the free time I have with adventures, such as exploring National Parks nearby. With a recruiter, you can go about your business between working and enjoying your travel contracts all while the heavy lifting of finding jobs that align with your priorities is being filled by your recruiter. So, again, the question is, WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?

How I Got Started

I began getting interested in becoming a travel PT through my travels for clinical rotations during school; however, I did not begin the process of searching for recruiters until ~ 5 months before graduating from PT school. Upon beginning the search of finding a recruiter in ~January 2020, I very quickly found out that the number of choices of travel therapy recruiting companies out there is extremely overwhelming! A quick Google search will pop up with countless recruiting companies. Many of these offer very similar benefits and such, thus it’s hard to find one that truly stands out. The options of paths to take were seemingly endless but I started with some recommendations online.

Online Recommendations

Luckily for this particular circumstance, we live in the era of social media. Months before this I had already begun following many travel therapists and travel therapy couples on social media. These individuals were more than willing to help out, as they had already likely done for other aspiring travelers. With a quick DM, they shared specific recruiters they worked with and shared their respective contact info. This gave me a pool of recruiters to choose from who were “battle-tested” and recommended by those who were seemingly really enjoying their travel experiences. 

After receiving all the contact info I needed, I began reaching out to all these different recruiters. Each recruiter then set up a phone call to discuss what their company had to offer/what made them unique. This gave me a chance to make enough small talk and conversation to get a feel for whether I was getting a “good vibe” from each recruiter individually. The more recruiters I spoke with, the more I realized that there are really small minute differences between recruiting companies. The most important aspect is all about the recruiter and the individual and how well they work together. This was confirmed by my online social media travel therapy mentors, as well. 

Utilizing Past Networking

Around this same time that I was reaching out to recruiters recommended to me online, I also perused through contacts that I had met months before at a university-hosted job fair at my school. At the time, the job fair was more of a chance to practice my networking skills than it was truly searching for permanent contacts; however, I did make one meaningful connection with a recruiter at a travel therapy company. This relationship outweighed a few other recruiters I had spoken to on the phone. This was mostly due to getting to have a face-to-face conversation with them, which, in today’s society, cannot be overstated when it comes to developing relationships, professional or personal.

On this same note, I know others have developed contacts through old-school colleagues and companies they worked with on school clinicals. Therefore, there are many ways to find recruiter contacts. You just have to find what’s right for you and what makes you feel the most comfortable jumping into the travel therapy world. 

After many phone calls and trusting my gut, I had made my decision. I decided on choosing to work with one recruiter who was recommended online, and the other who I had already personally met at the job fair. Yes, I decided to work with two recruiters, again based on recommendations from more experienced travelers. Not all recruiting companies have the same job pools (though there definitely is some overlap). I wanted the best chance at finding the best jobs out there for me. 

FAQ: Is there an interview process for getting “hired” by a recruiting company?

No, not really. As I stated above, you will have some sort of phone call or another form of conversation to determine whether you and the recruiter will be a good fit and to give you a chance to ask any questions about the recruiter, the company, or travel therapy in general. After this phone call, if you are still interested in working with this company, they will begin the next steps of the “onboarding process.” This is a series of online forms to create a profile with the recruiting company and as soon as you are able they will begin finding jobs for you! The only “job interview/hiring process” only truly happens when you begin applying for actual travel jobs.

Recruiter Communication Tips

After you’ve chosen the recruiter you plan to work with and you begin the onboarding process it is ABSOLUTELY essential that you and your recruiter are on the same page when it comes to communication and your priorities. 

With my recruiters, I make sure to let them know exactly how I’d like to be contacted when upcoming jobs arise. This makes things quick and efficient for replying and submitting to jobs ASAP, which is very important. Before coming into each new round of “job submission time”, I sent my recruiters a list of “My top priorities”. This is obviously going to vary from person to person. Priorities can include just looking for the highest paying jobs, looking for a specific location, preference on job setting, etc.

For us, we are traveling to immerse ourselves in areas of the country that we may never travel to again. Thus, location is always high on our list. So, I list out preferences on states, cities in those states, and even areas we are trying to avoid as well. This way I know my recruiter has a very clear picture of what kind of job I’m looking for next; however, no matter how clear you try to make yourself sometimes your recruiter may not be as good of a fit as you anticipated. This was unfortunately the case for me.

Changing Travel Therapy Recruiters

After a few travel contracts, I realized one of the two recruiters I had chosen was not a good fit. This recruiter had actually landed me my first travel gig. A job as a new grad in the middle of the COVID travel market drought, thus I was very thankful for this recruiter. Unfortunately, I had come to realize that no matter how much I liked this recruiter personally, it was not a good fit. They were not communicating with me as I had clearly stated I preferred. This “miscommunication” was limiting my efficiency in submitting for jobs quickly. At this time I was not on contract through this company. Which gave me the freedom to end all connections with this recruiter.

After cutting ties, I decided to again reach out to my online mentors searching for another recruiter recommendation. I immediately found a great fit with a great company. I have since secured several travel contracts in a row with my new recruiter. She has time and time proved she understands what I’m looking for in my travel experiences. So, even if you happen to misjudge your initial recruiter “partnership”, it’s easy to cut ties and find a better fit. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my travel career.

Summary

That is an overview of the framework of how I’ve gone about choosing (and re-choosing) a travel recruiter(s). I am always open to questions that one might have diving further into this topic. So PLEASE feel free to CONTACT US with any questions! I’d be happy to share my own personal recommendations for recruiters that I work with! Or check out the FAQs page for quick answers about travel therapy.

The post TRAVEL THERAPY RECRUITERS: CHOOSING WHO’S RIGHT FOR YOU appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

DO YOU LOVE TO TRAVEL?

Traveling and seeing the world was the most enticing aspect for me to become a travel therapist, as it likely is for most people. From mountains to beaches, cities to small rural towns, there are so many places to see and experience. Anyone who asks what my favorite part of being a traveler is, I tell them “I get to go on a mini-vacation every single weekend!” Going out and exploring a new area every weekend during a contract is truly a dream come true to me. Check out our Explore Local tab on the blog home page to keep up with everywhere we go!

ARE YOU FLEXIBLE? 

Flexibility in Your Lifestyle

Most travel contracts are ~13 weeks in length. While this may not ALWAYS be the case depending on the setting you’re working in or if you happen to accept an extension on a contract, this is the average starting contract length. This means that around every 13 weeks (~3 months) you will have to pack up all your belongings, move to a new city with new people, and start a new job. 

Unless you have housing provided for you or live in an RV, you’ll have to go through the tedious process of searching for housing at each new location. Oftentimes, you won’t get everything you may be looking for, such as a private unit, furnished living spaces, laundry facilities, and budget-friendly rent. Furthermore, depending on location, you may have to make sacrifices or alterations to your normal lifestyle, like working out at home vs buying a gym membership due to a lack of convenient gym facilities.

If you happen to be a homebody at heart who loves consistent routines and the ideas presented above sound horrendous, travel therapy may not be right for you. If these ideas intimidate you but do pique your interest, that doesn’t necessarily mean travel therapy isn’t right for you. This could mean that you are at a point in your life where a challenge like traveling and meeting new people in new places could be an opportunity for self-growth.

Flexibility in Your Career

Starting a new job every 3 months may sound exhausting and tedious, particularly after realizing that you will be leaving soon after you start getting comfortable there. It’s no walk in the park, but it’s another great way to challenge yourself and pick up better ways to handle things at each place you travel to. Additionally, not everything will be novel at each job. Of course, each therapy setting comes with a certain demographic that may be familiar, or you may have a documentation system that you are able to jump right into to ease the transition. Regardless, being a travel therapist requires a significant amount of FLEXIBILITY. 

TRAVEL THERAPY REQUIRES TRUST

Do You Have a Trustworthy Recruiter?

The nature of being a travel therapist is having to trust in someone else to help you obtain each new job assignment. This is where it is important to establish a solid bond between your recruiter(s). I am fortunate enough to have two amazing recruiters who know me better than I know myself. We have honest and open communication when it comes to my priorities on upcoming assignments, how I would like to be reached during the day, and my future goals.

For example, I originally passed on an outpatient job in St. Simons Island, GA, since I had no intention of traveling to Georgia; however, my recruiter reassured me that based on my interests, location preferences, and job goals this would be a great fit for me. I gave her my full trust, got the position, and ended up extending my original contract at that location because I loved it so much.

Do You Have a Mentor?

Jumping into travel therapy, particularly as a new grad, can be difficult. No matter how good of a student you were, no one has all the answers. Aside from your recruiter(s), you should look into creating a relationship with a mentor(s) that you feel you could trust and reach out to when in a pickle. Someone who will provide you with timely, insightful, and helpful responses to provide a sense of consistency and encouragement while you travel to each new job. I would be more than happy to be that someone for you! You can contact me anytime!

TRAVELING SOLO VS WITH A COMPANION

There are several different combinations of traveler companion scenarios: traveling with a companion who needs to obtain a new job in each location, traveling without a companion (solo), traveling with a fellow traveling therapist, or traveling with someone who can work remotely.

Traveler + Job Changing Companion

I travel with my wife whose background is in culinary. She is extremely flexible in attempting to snag a new job each place we go to. She’s been able to work at coffee shops and retail stores. When she wasn’t, she was able to bring in some extra cash by working online jobs. Thus, I do not have to travel alone so she can travel and explore the world with me. I do like to venture out on my own when she’s busy, but I most enjoy our time spent together. I’m not sure if travel therapy would be right for me if she couldn’t tag along. I’d personally likely get pretty lonely! However, a lot of people love to travel solo!

Solo Travelers

Solo travelers are often free-spirited, outgoing individuals who make friends easily, but are comfortable with their time spent alone and cherish their freedom to do whatever they feel like! Furthermore, If you are considering traveling solo, there will likely be more job opportunities for you than if you are attempting to travel as a therapy pair.

Traveling Therapy Pairs

As for travel pairs, I know of many very successful travel therapy couples, several of whom have a strong online presence. Many of the traveling mentors who gave me helpful advice when I was getting started are successful travel therapy couples. Thus, it is possible and there are jobs out there looking exactly for this scenario; however, there are oftentimes fewer job opportunities looking for 2 therapists at the same location. However, there’s a chance that if one person can snag a contract somewhere, the other may be able to snag a PRN job in the same area for additional income. 

Traveler + Remote Working Companion

If you happen to have a partner who can work remotely in their career and can travel with you on each assignment, that’s a fantastic setup. This allows for the increase in job opportunities available to you like a solo traveler, as well as having someone to keep you company along the way.

WANT GOOD PAY & BENEFITS? 

Travel assignments are often reimbursed with an hourly rate, a daily per diem, and a daily housing stipend. These all add up to above-average pay for that particular job when compared to the same job done by an employee paid on salary. The first on the list (hourly rate) is the only portion of your income that is actually being taxed!! That means a HUGE portion of your income is made TAX FREE. On average, most of my assignments thus far have come out to be a 45%: 55% ratio of taxed: non-taxed income. That’s awesome!! However, you must prove you are traveling away from a “tax home” to qualify for tax-free stipends. Download the file below to learn more about things to consider when determining your tax home representation.

When it comes to benefits, most travel companies you work through will have a day-one option for health insurance coverage. Meaning the first day of your assignment you will be covered by whatever benefits you elect. Most companies have options for medical, dental, vision, and potentially a small life insurance policy. If you’re single then the cost of insurance isn’t bad at all! However, if you were wanting to add a spouse/partner then their cost can become a bit excessive. But you can pick and choose what you would like to have covered. I cover my wife’s dental, but she was able to find cheaper medical insurance elsewhere.

WANT A CHANCE FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH?  

Networking

Getting to travel and working different jobs allows you to meet TONS of other professionals in your career field. Many of whom can be fantastic resources when it comes to bouncing ideas off of someone on a tough case. Or they could be a connection to tie you back into the local area for the future. Thus, being a traveler is a great chance to grow your network. 

Want To Explore Different Job Settings?

Travel therapy is a unique opportunity to grow your resume quickly. After graduation, I wasn’t completely sure of the setting I wanted to start practicing full-time in. While I got lots of great exposure during my clinicals during school, it’s still not quite the same as having full responsibility for your own caseload. Being a traveler has allowed me to experience what it is truly like to work as a full-time therapist in a particular setting, get a feel for it, and repeat that cycle every 3-4 months. You can stack up loads of experience for your resume to give you a better chance to land a job in any setting you may want to practice in later on (if you’re using travel as a stepping stone for later in your career). 

SUMMARY OF PROS & CONS OF TRAVEL THERAPY

PROS:

• Travel and see the world
• Personal growth 
• Good pay and benefits
• Network with LOADS of new people
• Lots of job experience in different settings (Resume builder!)

CONS: 

• Requires GREAT flexibility
• Not ALWAYS in ideal locations 
• Housing may be difficult and/or expensive at times
• Depending on your traveling companion scenario, jobs may be harder to come by

If you have any other questions about whether travel therapy is right for you, please Contact Us! I’d love to answer any further questions about travel therapy. Also, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter to keep up with all our adventures and travel therapy insights!

The post IS TRAVEL THERAPY RIGHT FOR YOU? appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.