Why Consider Using Multiple Recruiters
Traveling and using multiple recruiters
We are a traveling pair, therefore slightly biased toward pair travelers however, solo travelers can find recommendations based on our traveling friends and their experience with single/verse multiple recruiters.
I would recommend reading both sections, whether you are a solo traveler or a traveling pair as they both address good points to consider and may be of benefit to your situation.
From our early days of travel it was not clear to us why we would use multiple recruiters. We had a very unique first traveling experience and weren’t even sure a career as travelers was our plan.
A little backstory
Our journey driving to Alaska. Yes! We drove in mid October narrowly missing a few big storms.
Kari worked at her first perm job with a traveler who began to educate us on the travel lifestyle. She exclusively utilized one company and was very happy with her recruiter relationship. Therefore, initially we thought this was with all travelers, and we went about talking with that company for our first contract. With uncertainty about where we wanted to go on our fist assignment, and very stable permanent jobs, we waited for what we considered the “right moment”.
When we first heard of a job in Alaska, a location we both were dying to visit, we decided it would be worth looking into. What makes this job different than any other of our assignments was that I did not use a company.
The job Kari accepted knew of a local clinic in Alaska that wanted a traveler and I ended up negotiating my own contract (with nothing in writing). I know, we can’t believe it either.
Somehow this all worked out so well that we have continued to travel, all thanks to the smoothest first assignment we ever imagined.
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE RECOMMEND.
There are several factors that allowed us to do this
1) We were itinerant workers (more on this topic in later blog posts). Our tax situations were different as we didn’t have a tax home.
2) We were very lucky in that Tyler’s company (the one without a contract) accommodated us so well, and did business the old fashioned way with a “handshake”.
Moving forward to our second assignment, things were different. We now had a specific end date for leaving Alaska. The travel jobs we had were not open ended like our permanent ones and we couldn’t stay until the perfect assignment appeared. We found out rather quickly that one recruiter can limit your choices, in particular when searching for a pair of jobs. At this point we began utilizing a second company.
From an Alaskan winter, straight to a Louisiana summer. Our AirBnB in LA.
Through several additional assignments we have added and subtracted a few companies from our “go to list”. This depends on how well we get along with our recruiter. So lets start with why you would travel with multiple recruiters
Why Travel with multiple recruiters (top 3)
1) Not all companies have the same jobs. Most will, but there are always a handful of jobs that may contract directly with a specific company. Therefore you may be missing out on a specific state, or job setting that you don’t even know about.
2) It is difficult early in your travel career to know what recruiter is giving you the best deal. That doesn’t mean we recommend pitting recruiters against each other. That’s just not good practice for long term travel. However, working with several will give you a better idea of what the current job market is paying, the different benefits, as they vary by company and it will be easier to tell if one company is low balling you. (Remember, it’s not always about pay, other benefits including 401k and health insurance weigh into this as well)
3) Finding out which recruiter you work best with. This will always happen. You will find one or two that truly feel like they got your back. The goal is to develop relationships that will allow you to find good jobs in the future.
Etiquette for working with multiple recruiters (top 3)
1) Always let each recruiter know that you are working with multiple companies. Open communication is best. Technically, I guess you don’t have to tell them all, but I want my recruiter to be honest with me, and feel it is best when reciprocated.
If you want to work closely with them for the long haul, enjoy a lengthy travel career, and have a good working relationship, they should know you are talking to multiple.
2) You do not have to and probably should not tell each recruiter what jobs specifically you are being submitted to i.e. specifically telling them “company X submitted me to this job in this town”. Not all recruiters are shady, we found most are great people, but obviously it’s business. There will be the recruiter that is writing down these jobs and may even submit one of their travelers to your location if they can. They are out there. Not all, not the majority from our experience, but for sure out there.
3) Try not to get a job offer from one recruiter, then ask a second recruiter if they can do better. This is a good way to burn a bridge real quick. More than likely, you will be presented the same jobs from multiple recruiters. We have several times. There are exceptions to this and you will have to judge when this scenario is right for you. Read the example below for our experience when in this situation.
Typically, we try to honor whichever recruiter presents the job first, and submit through them. Everyone will have a differing opinion on this, but we sleep good at night using this process.
Our example when two companies present the same contract…
You never know where you will end up. (Hiking in Northern CA towards Mossbrae Falls)
I was with a company for quite some time, (several contracts) and honestly, had a terrible relationship with my recruiter. We did not see eye to eye, and many conversations did not end great. Despite this, we worked together for 3 contracts, and nearly signed a 4th. So by happenstance, they sent a job and pay breakdown, minutes before a new company I was considering working with sent their offer.
I reviewed both offers and asked my long time company why theirs was so much lower (hundreds lower per week, thats a lot!) I had been with them a while and asked if they could try to match. In response, I received a snarky email, and left that company.
You can decide what is right if you end up in a situation such as this, but I felt good about how it turned out. Actually, I met another recruiter from that same company and currently just ended an assignment through them on good terms. It’s all about the recruiter!
Summary for pair travelers
We have met some pair travelers who have almost extensively used one company and seem to do just fine.
We have talked to others who claim you need 6-7 recruiters.
There are many ways to make this travel career life work and ultimately it comes down to you and your goals. If you and your travel partner are open to all settings, all locations, and want consistency with your recruiter, then one company may work well for you.
As for us, Kari loves working with pediatrics, and we both prefer not working in home health. Being a little picky on job settings, we have found that multiple recruiters gives us greater options for locations, and job settings.
If you need any recommendations for recruiters feel free to contact us here.
Solo Travelers
you have more options and can stick with less or even one recruiter
What if you are a solo traveler and like having one point of contact?
By all means please do. I know several solo travelers who only work with one recruiter and it is going quite well. They have a good working relationship, maintain the same health benefits all year round, and get perks for being with one company.
This may be in the form of earning PTO or/and licensure reimbursement for license renewal even when not having worked in that state recently.
Another benefit as stated above, if you travel solo and stick with one company, you have seamless health benefit coverage which can be a big deal. Even as a traveling pair, one of us tries to stay with the same company due to health coverage, allowing the other person to switch companies as needed pending jobs.
One other thing to consider
Whether solo or pair travelers, enjoy making new friends! We loved our Louisiana group and enjoyed tailgating at an LSU game with this crew!
As a traveling pair, we have less negotiation power because we have to find two jobs in one location. We also have to worry about cancellations and managing what happens when one person’s job ends and the others is still going. Having multiple recruiters allows us to have better negotiation power and more eyes searching for jobs in case of cancellation. For a solo traveler, you have greater negotiation power because you can decline a job and move almost anywhere. You also do not have to worry as much about cancellations (but obviously still a bad situation). While they suck and you have the stress of finding a new job on short notice, it is easier to pack up and move if needed.
Ultimately, as a solo traveler, you may still benefit from having a “favorite” recruiter, and another 1 or 2 presenting jobs, giving you a better idea of the market and current pay expectations.
You now know
1) Probably in your best interest to work with multiple recruiters
2) Solo travelers may be able to manage with just 1, possibly 2 or 3 recruiters
3) Pair travelers: We have found this template works well for us
1-2 “favorites” that we stay in close touch with and text or call regularly.
2-3 “good recruiters” who we have worked with in the past and feel we can trust if we need a job
1 new company that we may not have worked with but are considering for future employment.
In total, we currently have 4-5 companies that we touch base with between contracts, but typically expect a contract from 2-3 of them.
Hope this helps with managing multiple recruiters and assisting in finding your next job. Contact us for any questions or suggestions of our favorite companies/recruiters.
As always, consider all your options, make a good decision, and enjoy the adventure that is travel therapy.