I’m pulling back the curtain to reveal a few things some recruiters and companies might not want you to know… but it’s imperative that you know.
So, I’m telling you.
Conversely, there are some things that recruiting companies do wish that you knew..
So, I’m telling you those things too.
Learn about…
3 Secrets Recruiters Don’t Want You to Know
(and what they really want you to know)
1. Work with multiple recruiters.
In order to optimize your job search, you should be working with 2-3 recruiters from different companies during the job search process in order to find the best job for you. This is because some companies share the same jobs (maybe ~50%), but the other 50% of their jobs might be specific to their company.
Once you find a job you like, then you will then be hired by and an employee of the company that finds you that job. This is typical and expected, and don’t let any recruiter make you feel bad for working with more than one company. You need to do what is best for you and your career, and that is just the nature of the travel therapy job).
What they want you to know:
However, what recruiters do want you to know is that there is certain etiquette that you need to adhere to when working with multiple recruiting companies. And because this is so important, we have a whole post on it here: https://wanderlustpts.com/etiquette/
2. There’s no free money.
This is how it works:
The facility (hospital, outpatient clinic, home health agency, etc.) has a max amount that they can afford to pay to have a traveler come to work for them.
From that amount of money, the recruiting company takes out what they need in order to cover their costs, pay their people, and keep their lights on, and what is left over is how much they can afford to pay you.
Consider that left over amount of how much they can pay you, a pie. And based on what your needs are, they can slice the pie differently. They cut out pieces for your taxable income, your housing and meals stipend, your health insurance (if you take it) and if you need travel reimbursement, CEU reimbursement, or tuition reimbursement, etc. If you need more in one area, they make a smaller slice in another area. They do not increase the size of the pie (unless you negotiate- more on that next).
So, for other “benefits” that companies offer, like loan repayment or a vacation trip, know that the money to pay for this has to come from somewhere, and it usually just comes from your cut because there is no “free” money.
As a result, it’s important to understand that there is no free money and that all companies offer the same kind of benefits, so don’t rack your brain trying to compare the benefits of company A versus company B in order to decide who to go with. They all offer the same types of benefits.
For this reason, when choosing a company and recruiter, benefits should not be weighed as heavily, but instead you want a GOOD company and a GOOD recruiter (see this post).
What they want you to know:
What recruiters do want you to know is how a pay package is structured: the taxable, stipends, reimbursements, etc. If you need to learn about this, CLICK HERE to tune into the travel therapy webinar, where we go over this information.
Sign up to watch the webinar HERE
3. You can negotiate.
I want to first start by saying: Value a good job experience over money. Because a shitty job will not be worth any amount of money, if you hate your life. Find a good job first.
And as a travel PT, the money is always good, so don’t worry about that. Median Salary for new grad permanent salary is about $66,000, and new grad travel PT salary can be $90,000- $100,000+. So, value a good job over the higher paying one. Trust me on this one.
“About how much are you looking to make?” is a common question from recruiters.
Don’t tell them what you are looking to make. Your answer should be, “The best you can do for me.”
What recruiters want you to know:
Your opportunity to negotiate will depends on the bill rate, and the recruiting company is a business at the end of the day and needs to keep their lights on too. So, sometimes your idea of what is a feasible salary is NOT.
You can learn more about negotiation in our advanced training HERE.
Need some kick ass recruiters you know you can trust (because we do) ?
Click the button below to connect with my recommended recruiters who will help get you started with the process:
GET RECOMMENDED RECRUITERS
Ready to learn more about travel PT?
Click the button below to access my FREE Webinar on how to gain your freedom, travel the country, grow clinically, and pay off student loans as a travel PT.
WATCH THE WEBINAR
If this article helped you to feel more prepared about becoming a traveling therapist, please share it with other friends who also may benefit from it.
One Comment