Will I ever find a decent recruiter???

NedRN · Dec 6, 2015

Recruiters are much more important that the agency brand and your relationship with them is the best predictor of successful travel. You can tell a lot by having conversations with potential recruiters. My general advice is to talk to lots of them, and see who comes off as honest and responsive, and shows some interest in you personally. I'm talking at least a dozen agencies here to start! That is a lot of work, but the only way you will get what you want.

If you really want to work for a certain agency, perhaps because they have an exclusive on a job you want, or good benefits (that is what HH best list is based on), you can ask to switch recruiters. That is a bit awkward but I did just that when I started traveling, I was about to bail but I really wanted to work for Cross Country for two reasons: I had already interviewed on my own at a hospital I wanted to work at and they had the contract, and they were the only agency doing Tax Advantage at the time (they invented the scheme).

You can get agency suggestions, but every single agency has fans and detractors and they are all based on that individual's relationship with their recruiter. Unless you believe you can have a successful relationship with anyone, I would start calling random agencies. I'd say your current ones are not working for you.

JTMully05 · Dec 6, 2015

As a new traveler, I can understand wanting the best information, as well as communication from your recruiter. Mine is -------------- at Medical Solutions. He has been available to answer ALL questions I had, and I didn't have to ask for them to send me information! It came through before I asked for it. I spoke with recruiters from Faststaff, Talemed, Atlas, Medical Solutions and Aya before choosing which one I thought would work best, and I am happy with my pay/assignment/location and recruiter.. Good Luck

ahoppen · Dec 7, 2015

Can you PM me? :) The more information the better!

NedRN · Dec 7, 2015

Just so you know, both of you are not able to use private messaging until you reach 15 posts.

But really, that post told you everything you need to know. Write down the name of the recruiter because one of the moderators will so remove it (naming agencies is fine, but they don't want staff names). Also, JTMully05's experience contacting those agencies may not be yours. Remember the recruiter/traveler relationship is unique to you. Yes, some recruiters are better with more travelers than others, and that improves your odds if you get a referral to one.

That said, Fastaff is known for being unresponsive until you are in, and are also not recommended for new travelers. Not warm and fuzzy, and most of their assignments are not suitable for new travelers. Aya (formerly Access) does not have a good reputation historically. Medical Solutions, both the CA and WI agencies - separate owners, has an excellent reputation.

But calling any agency is a learning experience and may lead to something good.

JTMully05 · Dec 7, 2015

NedRN- I agree completely! My experience with talking to recruiters was not what others experiences had been..however; most of the people that I have had contact with that used Medical Solutions out of Nebraska had decent things to say. I will say that I did my research quiet well before I settled and signed my contract with them. Faststaff has been hit/miss as far as communication. I actually had better luck reaching out to others for a recruiter referral with contact. Once that happened, they have been calling non-stop...a little to late as I am in a contract until at least March. I enjoy reading the boards here and seeing the advice that those that have been traveling for a long time give to us newbies...it actually was what pushed me to make my decision.

ahoppen--good luck and as soon as I am able to PM you the information I will.

NedRN · Dec 7, 2015

Yes, thanks for clarifying - I did mean NE and WI for the commonly mistaken agencies with Medical Solutions in their name. The larger one in Nebraska is nurse owned and really seems to care. I've met her twice at the Travelers Conference. The same is true of the owner of the smaller agency in WI, and I can speak from personal experience that he goes to the max to keep his travelers happy and well paid.

It is always interesting to hear new travelers give the same feedback on agencies I've been hearing for the last 10 years or more on various agencies. Not downgrading the importance of recruiters at all, but it is amazing how persistent corporate culture can be. For example, Fastaff always has had a reputation of being hard to talk to. A recruiter for Fastaff at the Travelers Conference told me that they are super busy - implying that they are short of office staff. Maybe they should talk to a temp office staffing company like ManPower!

pinktermite · Dec 7, 2015

Except for one contract or maybe two I have worked for medical solution (the Nebraska) one for years. Always straight up. Good benefits. Good pay. I trust my recruiter like a member of my own family. And this despite their Husker fandom (I am from Iowa). I just wanted to confirm your instincts about them. You are spot on. The recruiter makes all the difference. But the company is important too. They always keep up with what I need and take care of me. They are super.

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Dec 8, 2015

I did alot of research and sifted through alot of recruiters. I'm now signed up at a grand total of 8 agencies. But I can tell you of that 8 I regularly use only 3. Why? Because I require 3 things. Prompt communication (if I text or email during business hours on a weekday I expect a response in no more than a couple of course), the best pay package, and don't mess up my paycheck. I've found only a few recruiters who can do this for me consistently.

So no, I don't think you have unrealistic expectations. And my superstar recruiter may seem lackluster to you. It's all very individual. I'd recommend you join some travel nursing facebook groups. They are lively and lots of support for newbies. Try The Gypsy Nurse oNE first.

808dreams · Dec 8, 2015

Hi, first of all thanks everyone for your posts on here. I am brand new to the travel world, hoping to start my first assignment mid-january. I have been reading all the posts on the travel nursing board here, and I am heeding the advice to be selective when it comes to recruiters. My personal experience has been that I signed up to one agency and was communicating well until he simply stopped responding to emails and voicemail for over a week. Based on the advice I spent all day yesterday signing up and calling 5 other agencies. Phew!! I can say it is a lot of work, but I hope it will pan out into a job! Do you guys agree I did the right thing? My gut tells me 1 week is way too long to not hear back from a recruiter, even initially. So although he reached out to me yesterday, I decided not to call him back and just move on. Thoughts?

NedRN · Dec 8, 2015

A lot of times recruiters prioritize their time. A prospective traveler who may not ever travel or travel with him is not worth that much honestly. Something you said may mean he wasn't taking you seriously. You could be asking trivial questions before getting serious about assignments.

It could also be that snce your timeline is still a month away, he didn't feel any urgency to reply quickly. He might be fantastic and responsive to his working travelers.

I'm not trying to defend less than businesslike behavior, just throwing out a chance to look at possible underlying causes. Business relationships should not take the work involved in a primary relationship but they are similar. I would call this recruiter and ask what happened. This is actually a great chance to set expectations and build trust. He could end up working harder for you than other travelers due to a tighter relationship such a conversation may help produce.

808dreams · Dec 8, 2015

A lot of times recruiters prioritize their time. A prospective traveler who may not ever travel or travel with him is not worth that much honestly. Something you said may mean he wasn't taking you seriously. You could be asking trivial questions before getting serious about assignments.
It could also be that snce your timeline is still a month away, he didn't feel any urgency to reply quickly. He might be fantastic and responsive to his working travelers.
I'm not trying to defend less than businesslike behavior, just throwing out a chance to look at possible underlying causes. Business relationships should not take the work involved in a primary relationship but they are similar. I would call this recruiter and ask what happened. This is actually a great chance to set expectations and build trust. He could end up working harder for you than other travelers due to a tighter relationship such a conversation may help produce.

Thanks for the insight. Yeah I definitely expressed and interest in being submitted, prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday. Monday after Thanksgiving I reached out again, we spoke and he said he would get me postings and he never did. He verbally said, I will get you the list and you can review it. I will call you to follow up later today. This happened on two occasions before and after the holiday and he never followed through. So I gave him a couple of days and called and emailed to follow up then waited over a week to hear back. He didn't call again until yesterday. I don't feel that it would take that long to get together a listing of offers and some compensation packages. But I could be wrong. Either way I will keep my options open and pursue other recruiters at this time.