Cant get first travel nursing assignment

Why did you give notice with no job in hand? You can always back down and ask to continue your lease and keep your perm position until conditions improve.

You will lose out on those short notice jobs unless you are willing to leave your perm job without two weeks notice, or quit now.

I'm also puzzled by the Mass license statement. Were you planning on only one state to travel to? If so, consider a perm position in Mass - Mass pay will be better for perm than for travel typically (common in union states).

Unless you have signed up with 2 very large agencies, you need to expand your agency selection. No two agencies have access to all the assignments out there so you are missing out. If you really want to travel, don't limit yourself to certain locations. Rather, put them on your bucket list to be done during your travel career when they become available.

Consider carefully all assignments that are offered to you, even if they are less than ideal. Right now, you are competing not only with nurses with more experience, but even more importantly, travel experience. Agencies and hospitals know that new travelers are much more likely to fail expectations to hit the ground running. So they will give preference to seasoned travelers with a history of successfully completed assignments. Getting any assignment completed will improve your marketability.

It probably took me 3-4 weeks to find a travel assignment the first time. I signed up with four agencies and had a compact license because I live in Kentucky, and a Florida license. I had less than two years experience though, which was a hurdle. It was very stressful though, I don't really like the job search process!

yes the first one is hard. I have been looking since april i got a job in may then it was cancelled. I just got offered my first assignment early this month. I have been looking since may for this one. Usually after your first they will start pouring. hang in there

We agree with NedRN! You shouldnt limit yourself to just a couple agencies. We have tons of places for you to choose from! You could contact us if you were interested in seeing what we have available for you!

Google absolutehealthjobs.

With this being your 1st travel assignment you definitely have to be very very flexible. I took my 1st assignment in California (from Florida). California is supposedly the easiest to get your 1st assignment. After that it will get easier. Most agencies only have info for job posts like 4 weeks out. In my opinion, keep looking. Don't leave your current job without a two week notice at least! You don't have that much experience as an RN you need them to be a good reference. Although I think it is very rare, I did get hired for a PA job without a license in hand. Alot of states offer temp licenses and you can have those within a week or less. I know you said you wanted to live in Boston...but just keep an open mind that you may not land that as your 1st job.

I also talked with my manager of my permanent job and let her know I was looking to travel and it may creep up all of a sudden that I was putting in a two week notice. It's better to be up front then to give them the shaft.

Don't lose hope. There are jobs out there and there is a right one for you. Again, keep options open. Good luck!

I hate job boards as a way to look for assignments. All they do is hook you up with agencies that advertise on them, and virtually nothing in the way of useful information. I just tried it for travel OR nurse and the first "job" for TravelMax showed no location (not even a state), start date, or pay.

I suppose it is a good way as any for finding large agencies that fritter their money away looking for dumb first time travelers.