I was talking to my colleague and fellow NATHO board member Bill Heller recently, and he came up with the idea for this month's
column. Take it away, Bill. – Mark Stagen, NATHO president
In so many aspects of our lives, we have relatively little control, even though most of us like to think we're in charge of
pretty much everything. You can't control whether or not it will rain on the day you've planned to play tennis, what the politicians
in Washington may or may not do this year, or if you'll wake up tomorrow morning to a dead battery or a flat tire.
Bill Heller
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What you can control, however, is your career destiny — that is, if you're proactive and pay attention to the details. The
demand for traveling healthcare professionals continues to pick up with each passing month, and I'd like to share a few ideas
on how you can leverage this opportunity to your advantage.
Applying yourselfFirst and foremost, when you're completing an application for an agency, take your time. A complete, accurate, detailed account
of your education, training, and work history is what agencies take to market you to their clients.
Some companies send clients the actual application that you complete; others enter your data into a computer system that creates
a profile based on the information you provide. The more detail, the better, so be sure to include your complete work history,
all credentials and certifications, types of hospital and units you've worked on, patient volume and acuity level you've managed,
and even awards you've won.
Be thorough when completing the skills checklist. Provide an honest and accurate depiction of what you are able to do and
with what degree of proficiency. This level of specificity could make the difference between a client choosing you over another
candidate.
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