Ask the Allied Expert

In a recent survey delivered to 60,000+ travel allied healthcare professionals, we learned that healthcare professionals who are beginning their careers need help understanding the interview process. We also had some seasoned veterans who requested a refresher on tips that would help them find success in their next interview. Over the next several posts, I'll offer you some tips for getting the most out of the interview process.

Communication and Accessibility

Communication and accessibility are key when you get to the interview stage of the job search process. You've filled out your paperwork, your recruiter worked tirelessly to find a location and facility that meets your career goals, and now it it is time to set up the interview. Communicate to your recruiter the best times to reach you. This will help the recruiter work with the facility to block out time specifically for you. Make sure the times you choose are times whe you are not distracted by work, email, family, or other distrations. Your attention to detail during the interview is critical to your success.

Also, choose times where you are fully accessible or can return a phone call within five minutes. If the potential employer calls several times and you can not take the calls or can not return them quickly, they will like move on to the next candidate.While the best option is to immediately take the call, employers do understand that you are busy and may need to call them back; however, an employer's time is critical, so be sure to return their call quickly.

A professional approach to communication and accessibility will help you have a much better experience in obtaining your next assignment in travel allied healthcare! We look forward to helping you find your next opportunity. Watch for more tips in future postings!

Questions are the Key to Success

Sir Francis Bacon once said “He who questions much shall learn much.” The right questions are the key to a great interview, and you need to be prepared with a list of questions for the employer. Creating a list of questions before the interview is critical to a successful interview.

I stress creating a list before the interview for a couple of reasons. First, you want to ask the right questions and creating a list will help you to organize, edit, and delete questions as needed. You can also consult with other healthcare professionals or people whose opinion you value to determine if the questions you have on your list are the right ones.
Second, having a list of questions presents you as an organized and prepared individual. Employers value candidates who are organized and can think independently. Even if you let the employer know that you consulted with other professionals regarding your questions, they will learn that you are not afraid to ask for help when needed. All of these things add to a favorable view of you as a prospective employee.

To help you start your list of questions, our recruiters submitted questions that every healthcare professional should ask during an interview. These questions are specific to rehab therapy but can be modified to fit any healthcare professional’s needs.

• What are your facility's production standards for therapists?
• What support staff does your facility have?
• What is the daily and weekly average caseload per therapist?
• Do you have group therapy, how often is it conducted, and what is the time expectation for therapists'?
• How many staff therapists do you have?
• Are your patients short term care, long term care, or both?

Don’t be afraid to ask the right questions in an interview. Employers expect them, and you learn from them. For more interview tips and interview questions to ask, visit the US Department of Labor. 

I’m glad you asked! Travel healthcare provides you the opportunity to practice in your chosen specialty while traveling to various locations throughout the United States. Most travel assignments are thirteen weeks in length, and each assignment may offer a different location and facility type from the previous assignment. You enjoy the flexibility of deciding where you want to go, whether you stay close to home or travel across the country to a location you have always wanted to visit.
 
Travel healthcare has become a way of life for many healthcare professionals who want to experience new settings such as top teaching hospitals, home health, school systems, long term care facilities and more. Some travel healthcare professionals enjoy the experience of meeting new people in their field of expertise while making a difference in the life of their patients. Others enjoy the flexibility of the travel lifestyle, as well as the excellent benefits offered when you travel.

To our experienced travelers, if someone you met was interested in travel healthcare, what would you tell them are the benefits of this career choice?

Platinum Select Staffing is happy to announce the launch of our redesigned Web site. As you have probably noticed, the overall look and feel of PlatinumSelect.org has improved significantly. The new site has all the useful information and features found on the old one, but we have also added a number of new options you will find useful.

First and foremost is this new blog, dedicated to keeping in touch with you and the allied healthcare staffing issues that matter.

Other features include our newly-expanded job search, as well as traveler resources with valuable tools for relocation, destination highlights and more. Plus, we have a special section dedicated to new graduates, with helpful information about interviewing, selecting the right opportunity for you, and tips on how to become a traveler or find a permanent job through Platinum Select.

This column is intended to be an interactive feature, so please feel free to comment on the blog posts or send us your article suggestions.

We hope you enjoy our new Web site, and look forward to your feedback. Remember, you can also submit questions to be addressed in future blog posts by clicking on the “Ask a Question” button. Thanks for stopping by!