3 steps to starting your travel therapy career
First Steps
WOO! You have finally decided to hit the road as a travel therapist! But hold on fast, there are a few things that need to be squared away before you quit that pesky perm job!
1. Find a Recruiter (or 3)
When looking for a recruiting agency keep in mind that the relationship that you build with one specific recruiter is more important than the agency its self.
Many agencies are very similar. They all have about 80% of the same jobs, decent benefits packages, etc. Some offer a few perks that might stand out for you (our current company took us to Mexico for a week on their dime), but overall we have found them to be largely the same.
While a week in Mexico was pretty sweet, it is not even one of the top 5 reasons why we travel with this particular company.
It is our relationship with our recruiter.
Sometimes it is hard to find the right recruiter for you, but that is why initially taking the volume approach is effective. Talk with as many recruiters as you can stand, then pick your favorite 3-4 and move forward with them.
We have probably talked with 50 different recruiters over the years, but have stayed with the same core group of agencies because we have built a trust and understanding with them.
*Quick tip – having a travel buddy refer you to a specific recruiter might help to cut down on the “get to know you” time and build some trust quicker.
2. The particulars – Apply for licenses
Applying for PT licenses in other states is the only part of this process that truly is a drag. So make it as smooth as possible!
Begin this process about 4-6 months prior to when you plan on hitting the road. Some states require jurisprudence exams or just have pokey slow licensing boards.
Each new state you apply to will require license verification (for a fee) from every state you have EVER been licensed in. One great way to reduce the stress and cost of doing this is to apply for multiple licenses at once.
Say you’re are licensed in Iowa only and are super desperate for some warm weather. Apply for licenses in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina all at once! That way only one state verification form needs to be sent to each state (Iowa’s).
Otherwise if you took jobs in Florida first, then South Carolina, then Georgia, more verifications would need to be sent out at each step. Iowa first, then Iowa and Florida, then Iowa, Florida, and South Carolina…. you get the point. It’s more money up front, but if you know you want to travel to each state it’s worth it in the long run. It also opens up options for you when initially looking for jobs – you will have a greater available pool of jobs to choose from.
One other great piece of news is that the PT Licensure Compact should be going into effect in 2018. There is little description of how exactly the whole process will work, but if you are licensed in a participating state, that license will now be honored in any other participating state. Click here for a map of participating and nearly-participating states.
3. Dress up your resume
Hiring managers are often faced with stacks of resumes without piles of time. Your resume must stand out at a mere glance.
No, this does not mean covering it in emojis or writing it in all caps. That only makes you look desperate or angry.
What you need is a few clear and concise statements summarizing your skill-set, placed somewhere near the top. Managers do not have the time to pour through the first 500 useless words of your resume before spotting the one gem that will land you an interview versus the dozens of other applicants.
Be simple and be succinct. Currently my resume lists 5 key points, but has had up to 8 at one time. Remember, managers are looking to add value to their company, not fill seats with warm bodies. Phrase your statements in a manner that best conveys your unique “added value.”
For more information on resumes and winning any job you apply for, take a look at Make More Money posts 1 and 2 where I elaborate on these topics.
Written by: Stephen Stockhausen
