Choosing the Right Recruiter Makes All the Difference
By Susan Schneider, contributor
Renee Stoltz, RN, BSN, is a clinical liaison for staffing company American Mobile Healthcare. She worked as a travel nurse for 11 years before taking a position with her staffing agency and knows the importance of a good traveler-recruiter relationship.
She laughed as she shared an anecdote about the differences between recruiters and how you know when you’ve found one who is a “keeper.”
“I was on assignment in Miami when hurricane Andrew hit,” said Stoltz. “I lost everything. Everyone in the neighborhood was evacuated. I had no place to go and was on the phone for hours trying to find a place to stay.”
Stoltz said she called her recruiter for help and found out the staffing agency had closed because of Andrew, even though they were not in the storm’s direct path. They remained closed for four days. During that time, Stoltz never heard from her recruiter once.
But Stoltz’s former recruiter, from another staffing agency she had left only because they didn’t have any assignments in Miami, tracked Stoltz down through Stoltz’ mother, just to find out if she had weathered the storm safely.
Stoltz shared her predicament. Her former recruiter said she would find a solution. The recruiter called back shortly with the news that she’d found one of her own travelers who had room to share.
“Guess what recruiter and agency I went back to?” asked Stoltz rhetorically. “That kind of caring and concern is really wonderful when you’re on the road. I was really impressed and grateful.”
Stoltz’s advice is to look for a recruiter who really listens to what you are looking for and who is candid about each position, both the best things about it and the possible challenges.
“A recruiter should never try to sell you on the positions she has available if they don’t suit what you’re looking for. For example, if you want to work somewhere where you can develop specific skills and advance your training, then your choice wouldn’t be a clinical environment that requires you to hit the ground running. Or, if your main goals are financial one, that’s fine, but your recruiter should be candid about why some hospitals pay more than others; it could be because they are in a less than desirable location. That’s fine and your choice, but you should know all the facts. It’s your agenda that counts, not the recruiter’s.”
Stoltz said travelers should not be afraid to ask questions and share goals and/or very specific needs. The more a recruiter knows and understands about a traveler, the more success they can have as a team.
Stoltz said another important role a recruiter plays is in helping a traveler prepare for an interview with a facility to make sure every question is asked and answered thoroughly.
A good recruiter also checks in with her travelers throughout assignments, as a sounding board, confidant and advocate.
Angi and Tony Bono are married RNs who have been traveling together for three years.
“When I decided that travel nursing was for me, I phoned every company that I had heard of with specific questions in minds,” said Bono. “For example, when did the health insurance begin, how were travel expenses reimbursed, etc. I found the best way to get answers was to speak directly with several recruiters.
“Tony and I were lucky to find someone who told us flat out, ‘ You don’t have to pick me as your recruiter, call others and compare what they can offer you.’ We heeded his advice and did call others, but went with our first choice. That bit of honesty was all we needed.”
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