Where do I even begin?!
- alysssabrooks
- Mar 24, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: May 5, 2024
Travel Physical Therapy is a beast if you are just starting out. The field is constantly changing and morphing to new advancements, so there will always be more to learn and navigate. We are by no means experts, but we can at least share what worked for us and how we are now practicing as traveling clinicians.
There was a lot of research that occurred before we even reached out to our first travel agency. We read about every blog known to man, just trying to absorb all of the minute details that we would soon have to tackle. Licensure, compact, finances, taxes, investments, housing, tax homes, interview tips, agencies, recruiters, timelines – you name it, we read about it. But nothing actually prepares you until you are actually submerged in the task and navigating it yourself. We will list some of our favorite blogs and resources at the bottom of this entry.
Before choosing this career path, reading into what travel therapy entails is a good start.
Before the Beginning
Before I even attended my first DPT class, I loved the possibilities of expanding my knowledge and having new experiences as a travel healthcare worker. I read blogs and watched vlogs about being a traveler. These included; the recruiter process, travel agency, higher pay, and of course, traveling to experience new places! As I went deeper into my DPT program, I learned there are even more benefits to being a traveling professional! These included; being around different clinician practice styles, trial and error of a variety of practice settings, working with diverse populations and cultures, rural and urban communities… professional growth.
The Beginning
Alyssa and I started to read more about the “ins and outs” of travel PT when we were about 3-4 months from graduation and 6-7 months from taking the NPTE. We read other travel PT blogs, followed Instagram accounts, and watched live discussions (we’ll share some of our favorite blogs and resources at the bottom :) ). We read about the laws regarding tax homes, licensure compacts, and requirements. During this time, we created a 7-page Google doc and typed notes on everything we learned and did not want to forget. We both HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing the same! It was easy to “ctrl f” to review the information to get a thorough understanding. We even reached out to travel PT accounts, other travelers we know, and some that we ran into while getting a pump at the gym! Everyone is helpful, so please do not hesitate to reach out, because working as a traveler is unique.
Finding Recruiters, Companies, and the Right One for You
If you do a Google search for “travel PT companies”, or any search for finding a travel staffing agency, you will most likely become overwhelmed and close your computer (been there, done that). We created a list in our 7-page Google doc of companies that other travelers talked about. Sometimes they even listed their recruiter and recruiter’s contact information. We ultimately did not use that list, but thought of it as a back-up plan. As we read blogs, we found two that would help you get into contact with a few recruiters based on your preferences and personality. All you do is enter some information about yourself, and they would email you a list of recruiters that they think would match you. We think finding a recruiter that you understand, feel comfortable, and get along with is more important than a company you like in the beginning. Someone to guide you through the process, be transparent, and feel as if they have put your needs first and not just trying to lock you into a contract. Overall, find a recruiter that will give you a great experience with that first travel assignment. From what we read, it was recommended to begin to contact recruiters 2-3 months before taking the NPTE and when you want to start working.
Out of those two resources, they supplied six recruiters: three recruiters with three different companies, and three that were from the same company. We reached out to all six, but ultimately only four of them responded back to us via email. Alyssa and I set up phone calls just for introductions and for us to interview them during April (one month before graduation). These phone calls are important to find your recruiter match and to see if you vibe with them. Before we spoke to any recruiters, we created a list of what we wanted, especially for our first contract. After our phone calls with the recruiters, we ranked them based on our list.
Later on in April, a travel team that we ran into referred us to their recruiter. We had our introductory interview phone call and were on a good path at first. Ultimately, our communication styles were very different and we decided to part ways. Do not be afraid to speak up if things do not feel right, it is important for you to feel confident and comfortable with this process.
The First Assignment
We decided to wait until after taking the NPTE to begin the job hunt, which was advised by most of our recruiters. We were looking to start our travel careers in Virginia, near the Virginia Beach area. We had 4/5 of our recruiters (all from different companies) start searching for jobs for us (even the recruiter who was a bad fit). From what we read, it was recommended to only use 2-3 recruiters at a time because it can get wild and confusing. We browsed options on the travel agency websites, as well as options the recruiters would send to us for close pairings in our desired area. In the first week and a half, we were submitted by two separate recruiters to two jobs and never received interview offers. Then, we were submitted for a pair of jobs with another recruiter on a Friday morning, received our first interview offer Friday afternoon, video interviews the following Monday morning, job offers Monday afternoon, and we accepted the positions Tuesday morning.
Holy Cow! Talk about a wild journey. Reading and listening to information can only take you so far, but experiencing the process of securing a travel contract assignment is definitely challenging. Doing your research and preparation beforehand prepares you for finding a successful first assignment. If you don’t, you may be placed in a bad position, and will miss out on the best things of being a travel healthcare professional!
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