America’s best facilities, more often than not, work with healthcare staffing agencies to connect them to nurses, therapists and allied healthcare professionals. Thus, a lot of healthcare workers go to agencies to seek placement. As staffing agencies do the hiring and human resource management for these facilities, you, as a professional, will work with the agency on almost every matter concerning your job. So when hunting for an agency, you need to know how to choose the right one. Below are some guidelines.
Salary and benefits are important criteria when selecting an agency, but not the most important ones. Understand that these companies make a living by practically managing your career. You need to know how the agency cares about you, both as a professional and as a person. What support system can they offer you when you get a job? Will they assist you in relocating if the new job requires it? Can you reach them after office hours for emergencies? What opportunities do they provide for you to grow professionally? Getting answers to these questions will give you an idea of how supportive they are of you and your career.
Second, see if the agency can actually get you a job. Although it’s true that the healthcare industry always has a vacancy to fill, it takes an experienced recruiter to finalize a placement. Ask them about the lag between your application and actual placement. Inquire if they were actually able to deploy previous applicants in the facility or location of their choice. Assess how capable the agency is in giving you a job before committing to one; try asking the number of placements they’ve had the past year. The best agencies are the ones that guarantee you a job, and actually get it for you.
Third, a good staffing agency is one that offers flexibility in terms of programs and types of placements. The more their options are, the more opportunities they can give you. Review the type of staffing positions they offer such as permanent, travel or per diem. Their variety of employment options equates to more possibilities for you career-wise.
Lastly, ensure that the healthcare staffing agency you’re working with pays on time and provides benefits. An established agency definitely pays on time, usually, via direct deposit. Typical benefits you should look for are health insurance and 401k options. Also, talk to them about salary increases and see if working with them actually elevates your chance of a progressing income.
There are a multitude of healthcare staffing agencies today, mainly because of the growing demand for healthcare professionals everywhere. As one of those in-demand individuals, you need to be able to partner with the right agency to get you to where you want to be. Your success as a nurse, therapist or allied health professional begins by choosing the right company that will guide and lead you to the job you’ve invested years of your life to get; this is why choosing the right agency is crucial.
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