30K in 16 weeks

Spiderella · Jan 14, 2010

Karen/Fiery

Your company does not have to be based in the Bay area for you to get a travel gig out there. You can start out with a travel company in your town, that works in the Bay Area. Most travel companies that are around the west coast do alot of gigs in California, because so many travelers what to go there. Supplemental currently has 80 open contracts in California, and the company is based in Utah I believe. LRS is based in Idaho...so it's not a question of where your company is; it's a question of what contracts they can offer you.

To get started, I would suggest doing an online search for each company. I try to stay away from the bigger companies (American Mobile etc), because they have a higher overhead, tend not to treat their travelers well, and aren't that flexible in negotiating. If you post your resume on Monster or Career builder, stating which states you want to travel to; the recruiters will contact you. Your phone will be blowing up for several weeks after, and then you can just pick and choose what agency you go with. You fill all the paperwork (this is the most annoying part), do the Nurse Testing questions, and send in your credentials. I also suggest applying for your nursing license in the state that you want. Sometimes it can take a while, (and you don't want to find the perfect job only to have to turn it down because you don't have a license!). Then the recruiters call you with contracts that fit your criteria.

Since there is competition, you can set the terms according to what fits you, and you will find a several recruiters will accede to your wishes. Just remember, if it's not in WRITING it might not happen, so don't get verbal assertions, demand that they honor the agreements IN WRITING!

The recruiter calls you with a job opening. You agree to talk to the manager. MAKE SURE YOU DO AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MANAGER! Sometimes, the recruiter might tell you what he/she knows you want to hear, but when you get there it's a different scenario. For example, I was told that my position was on a Telemetry floor, but then I got there and found out it was a Med-Surg floor. Which in itself isn't a big deal, but if I had spoken to the manager, I could have found this out easily. Ask all your questions to the manager...the interview is for you to get to know the facility and for them to get to know you.

After the interview, the facility will offer you a position if they like you. This is when you negotiate your contract with the Agency. You iron out the details until your take home pay fits your requirements. This is the part that alot of travelers forget to do. You can ask for licensure reimbursement, ACLS reimbursement, travel costs up front (this way if the facility cancels, you aren't out of $$$).They will send you a contract, read through it several times, on different days. Change it. Make sure you understand everything. Have your days off stipulated in the contract. Have your OT pay, your insurance, your extra bonuses, your retention bonus, re-sign bonus, travel stipend, pay etc. all laid out in black. Do not sign the contract until you are 100% satisfied that everything is covered, you agree and that you understand everything.

Sign the contract, get the start date. Pack your bags...and travel to your new location.

Best of luck!