What do I need before my first call with a Healthcare Recruiter?

So, you’re ready to finally take the plunge and begin your lucrative and exciting career as a travel healthcare professional; amazing! Embarking on a career such as travel healthcare is full of exploration, earning, and networking opportunities, all while providing essential healthcare services.?

However, before those bags are packed and you're ready to hit the road, a moment of preparation from the start can make your traveling career a breeze for many contracts to come. All that starts even before the first time you pick up the phone with your recruiter. We want you always to be putting your best foot forward; here are some key things you should have in hand before the first time you pick up a call from a healthcare recruiter.

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1.???? Resume: Seems like a no-brainer, right? You would need a resume for any job, but it’s how you write your resume and what to put on it that is most important for traveling clinicians. Your resume, at minimum, should have the entire summary of your clinical career. Oftentimes, facilities looking for travelers are aiming to get right to the point, so removing any unrelated work experience creates room to put the relevant info.

Facilities also want to know about all credentials, certifications, licenses, titles, degrees, etc. Go ahead and brag!? We know all those credentials weren’t easy to get! Since you are traveling now, it’s important to note locations of past jobs or educational institutions attended.

Dates. Your recruiter, and subsequently the facility you wind up at, is going to want to confirm that all your stuff is up to date and not set to expire during the onboarding process or while you are on assignment. Be sure to check the awarded/issued date and expiration/renewal dates on every credential relevant to your role and include them on your resume.

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2.???? References: As the industry grows, the number of facilities that do not ask for a minimum of 2 references is shrinking quickly. It is best to have two supervisor references ready to go for your first encounter with a recruiter, as many facilities ask to have references for candidates they are considering for an assignment. This is to vouch for someone they haven’t worked with before. Your references should be from a job you have worked recently, the past year or so, and most facilities will request 2, both being supervisor or higher. Have at least one reliable way to contact each of these references, whether it be by phone or email, and be sure to include their official titles when submitting your references.

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3.???? Copies of Documents – Professional: It is strongly advised to keep a secure folder digitally on a computer or smartphone with copies of all the documents you may be asked to produce throughout the process of applying for and onboarding onto a travel contract. For professional documents, this includes a copy of the diploma(s) or degree(s) obtained for your profession/specialty. Copies of licenses, certification cards, credential verifications, etc. You’ll also need a copy of your driver’s license and social security card.

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4.???? Copies of Documents – Personal: In that same folder with your professional documents, as a healthcare provider, there is certain healthcare information you will be required to produce to prove you are cleared to provide care for vulnerable populations. These include copies of immunization records; Hepatitis, COVID-19, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Influenza are just a few of the immunization records you may be asked to have to accept/work a travel contract. You will also need a copy of your most recent tuberculosis test and the results of that test, as well as a professional physical with a physician signing off on “Clear to work.”

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5.???? Badge Photo: An easy one! Many facilities will request a photo of you facing straight on and in the center of the frame with a light/neutral background. This should be a very recent photo of what you currently look like and should never be a photo of another picture.

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6.???? Wishlist: Want to be a dream candidate? Have some research on hand for your first conversation with your recruiter about some of the key things you want in a travel assignment. Take a look at cities or states that look interesting or are paying well, have a couple of “Plan B’s” or options that your recruiter can look at if your first choice doesn’t work out, and look at postings for jobs similar to what you are looking for, so you have a realistic number or range you are expecting for compensation. If you have pets/additional people traveling with you, it’s always helpful to mention that during your search.

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The first phone call, and every conversation following that you’ll have with your recruiter serves as a foundation for your upcoming travel experience. Being prepared to jump into the process with the essentials listed above can set a positive tone for all your assignments to come. Here at Ardor, we do our best to ensure that you make the most of your experience and start your travel adventure on the right foot. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just beginning your journey in the world of travel nursing, we hope these tips and insights help you navigate this pivotal conversation with confidence.