Agencies & Recruiters - Who they are to the traveler
To those not familiar with the travel industry you may not know the role that agencies and recruiters play to the traveler. Agencies are the companies that specialize in staffing healthcare positions (and other professions as well). Recruiters are the representatives of the agency and they "recruit" the certified nursing assistants for the travel contracts that are available.
The agency can have exclusive contracts with a facility, or they can have access to contracts through a Vendor Managed Service (VMS). If the contract is exclusive you will not be able to work that contract unless you are signed up with that specific agency. Once you accept a contract an agency then becomes your 'employer', not the facility. Your pay comes from your agency.
A Recruiter's job is to find qualified candidates to submit to agencies to work as a travel CNA. Your recruiter is someone that you should have a great relationship with. They should have excellent communication skills and have your best interest in mind. Personally, for me, a good recruiter is someone that tells it to me straight, doesn't sugar coat things or skip around the hard topics. I should always have a form of contact (outside the agency) while I am on a contract. There is nothing worse than getting somewhere (4500 miles from home with a 5 hour time difference) and the housing is a basement cave with no windows and unsafe, backstreet alley parking, especially when I primarily work nights. You should always be honest with your recruiter because of it hits the fan, or you are having a homesick moment they are the ones that should have your back.
Remember that when you first speak to a recruiter you are essentially interviewing them, just as they are interviewing you. Make sure to make a list of questions that are most important for you to know. You then can decide if that recruiter is someone that you would want to work with. Once you are on a contract your recruiter is your go to person for anything and everything that could go right or wrong.
