It’s no secret that the world of allied health is broad and ever-changing, and it has lots of specialties to choose from. Throw travel into the mix and you’ve got a career that isn’t likely to bore you anytime soon! But with so many amazing allied health job offers available at a moment’s notice, how can you be sure that you’re making the best decision when applying for your next assignment? Here we’ll highlight what it takes to find the right allied health assignment and how you can advance your career!
Make Sure to Find the Right Allied Health Assignment
No matter what specialty you’re pursuing a career in at the moment, allied health is a field that is as much about flexibility as it is consistency. It’s likely that you want to find the best opportunities out there, but that shouldn’t mean you’re taking one step forward and two steps back in terms of location, pay, or networking opportunities. So how do you find the right allied health assignment without compromising your career?
It often comes down to figuring out what you want out of each assignment and setting those goals ahead of time. Maybe you’re looking for a location to eventually settle down in, or perhaps you’re trying to see as much of the country as you can before you do decide to find a more permanent position. In any case, letting recruiters know your intentions can help them tailor a path that’s going to maximize your career opportunities.
Working with Recruiters for Real Results
Another important aspect is planning out the length of time you’d like to work in a certain area. Do you just want to pick up weekend assignments locally for some extra money or are you trying to work in one location for an entire year? This is critical for recruiters to know in order to plan out how quickly they’ll need to help you find another assignment that meets your standards and goals.
On that note, preparing for the questions your recruiter may ask can help to ensure each assignment is as impactful as the next. Whether you’ve established a good professional relationship with your recruiter or not, these are still useful to consider:
- What’s your current situation with work? Will allied health remain viable?
- What do you really want to get out of your assignments?
- What’s your availability?
- Which states accept your credentials and license most efficiently?
- Do you have professional references available?
- What are your housing preferences?
- Why do facilities want you to work for them?
- Where is your ideal location to work?
- Where is the least appealing location to work?
Having an open line of communication with your recruiter while actively considering your goals and ideal career path is a good practice when you’re trying to find the right allied health assignment. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to prepare questions for your recruiter as well. Things can get overlooked now and again, so having your own standard checklist of specifications for each assignment goes a long way.
Find the right allied health assignment by asking these questions:
- What expenses are paid for?
- What are the housing options available?
- Is malpractice insurance available?
- Who handles credentialing and other administrative tasks?
- How and when will I be paid?
- Are there any known issues with these assignments?
If you’re just starting out in your career it may take a few attempts to find the right allied health assignment. Yet, the trial and error will be well worth it. Making your goals known to recruiters and the facilities you’re working with can help to ensure that each job is building toward the career you’ve been after. Finding your professional rhythm while traveling throughout the country is something that many people dream they could do, so get out there and search for allied health jobs in your specialty today!
