Dear Couch Traveler,
I am a Pharmacist exploring my options. I have never traveled for a job. Could you please tell me a little about how one gets started with this, what are the expectations, and general standards for those who travel? Also, how much notice in advance do you get before travel time, does one have to do this full time, and what are my rights as an employee in this position?
Thank you,
New To This
Dear New to This,
Thank you for your great question! My answer may be a little long winded so please bear with me...
There are obviously advantages and disadvantages with becoming a traveling healthcare professional so the first thing to consider is whether your career and life goals align with the travel company and recruiter you're talking to. As a traveler you will have a chance to visit new locations, work with various equipment and systems, meet a variety of associated professionals, and quite frankly the money isn't too bad, either! However like all great things, there can be downsides; work can be inconsistent and sometimes, you need to be flexible to location.
The first step I would recommend would be to talk with friends or colleagues that have traveled in the past. (Maybe they're not Pharmacists like you, but many Nurses and Rehab Therapists travel these days - we can refer you to some of our own travelers if that would help!) Many can lend very valuable insight into aspects of travel that you in particular may or may not like.
The next step is to speak with a recruiter, find out what the market looks like for your clinical niche (in this case Pharmacy) and the location(s) you are interested in. Many areas of the country can be "hotter" markets in travel for a variety of reasons. Also, this is a good time to get to know a recruiter or two and begin to establish a relationship. The biggest reason (in my opinion) for a good experience, or a bad one, is based around the relationship between the traveler and their recruiter. It is important that when you are in a new place that you have someone you can depend on to get you the information you need, fix any problems that may arise, and most importantly, be there to help whenever you need them.
If you are planning to travel I would begin this process sooner rather than later because its always good to have as much information as possible. I find that the best time to land a position is 3 weeks to one month before your desired start date which makes the best time to start looking about 4-5 weeks before you would expect to start traveling (that is just a rule of thumb, some positions can be locked up within days depending on the circumstances).
Many times a travel or contract position works perfectly as a de-facto "extended job interview," and at the end of your contract, clients may hire you full-time away from the travel company. Of course, you get to decide if you want to keep traveling or stay put, but its a nice option to have as a traveler that's important to remember.
You asked a question about "rights as an employee." I'm not quite sure what you're asking, maybe you can comment below and I'll follow up with another response!
Ultimately, you want someone you trust: someone that will explain the benefits and housing packages honestly and completely. You want a recruiter that will tell you where there are and where there aren't jobs - your recruiter has your career in his/her hands!
Have a very happy and safe holiday season! Best wishes to you in 2009, what ever you decide!
All the Best,
The Couch Traveler