Okay, you’ve got your paper work ready and you’ve decided what you need in your first assignment. Now what? Well, it’s time to start letting people know that you’re looking, and there are a couple of different ways to do that.
You can do a search online for Travel Nursing Companies, and contact them individually. You can visit on of the sites that submits you to MANY companies at once (I don’t recommend this unless you don’t mind getting dozens of calls from recruiters for years to come). Or, you can do what I do, and visit a web site where many recruiters post their available positions by specialty and location, and contact those recruiters that have what you’re looking for.
There are actually two different sites that I visit. They are both on Delphi Forums. One is for recruiters, and that is where you will find recruiters listing available positions. The other is for travelers to communicate with each other, and is a VERY valuable source of information about travel companies, our special tax questions, hospitals that other travelers have been to, and much more.
TNT Recruiting Board - This is the Delhi Forum board that allows recruiters to list their available assignments. Many of the posts will include information on the pay rate (remember, this is negotiable), what benefits they offer, and other information. There is also a section where you can post to all the recruiters, telling them what specialty you are, where you want to go, when you want to go, and what pay rate you have to have. Then you get responses only from those recruiters that have to offer what you're looking for.
Travel Nurses and Therapists - This is the board where Travel Nurses themselves post informtion about companies they've worked for, hospitals they've been to, and city's they've been on assignment in. You'll also find information on Taxes for Travelers, traveling with pets, and a lot more. Just remember when you're reading about companies and recruiters, that it's all subjective. Just because one Nurse had a bad experience, doesn't mean you will. Also, not all Nurses are the same. What one didn't like, you might just love. So take it all with a grain of salt, or post a question. It's been my experience that other travelers there are very responsive.
That's my best advice on finding your first, or next assignment. Find a company that is offering positions where you want to go, or has the rate and benefit package that you're looking for, and then contact them. If you find a recruiter that you like, give them the chance to look for that perfect assignment for you. Stick to your guns on what you need. If they won't budge on the rate, but you see other companies offering more, then move on to someone else.
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