There are a few things that you need to think about before you start travel work to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running. It’s important to take into consideration how skilled and confident you are in your field.
You will be given very little time to adapt to a new environment as a travel lab tech.
Therefore, make sure you take into consideration the below points as travel work is very different from those permanent positions you’ve held in the past.
Time in the Field
Word on the street says that most travel lab staff need at least 2 years in the field before they will be considered by facilities for travel work. Keep in mind that technique only comes with experience even if you passed your board exam with flying colors.
Facilities are looking for SPEED, efficiency, and knowledge when it comes to travel techs. Make sure you can fill all of those requirements and the biggest determinant of being able to is time in the field.
There may be some flexibility to this now because there is such a demand for travel workers.
However, experience matters A LOT. Make sure you have enough to jump in at any facility and be proficient.
Certifications
Most hospitals and independent labs expect the best of the best from their pool of travel technicians.
Make sure you are up to date on your certifications and state licenses!
However, some facilities MIGHT be willing to accept uncertified techs. This is not the norm, and you really should sit for your national boards before you jump into travel work regardless of your years in the field.
Technical Skills
On paper you’re looking great, but where are you at in your technical skills?
Make sure you have experience in all areas of your specialty! You don’t want to be blindsided when you get to your assignment.
Most facilities will not give you much more than a week to bring you up to speed on their protocols… They fully expect you to have your basic skills at an expert level!
If you do not know how to do something related to your field DO NOT LIE ABOUT IT. It will damage your reputation as a travel tech, and make your agency look bad in the process.
Be open and honest.
If it’s something minor you can be trained, or the facility will just have their permanent staff take care of these things.
Remember
Remember, as you start forming relationships with recruiters be sure to ask them what their specific agency requires!
As the demand for travel techs continues to increase you may be able to jump in sooner than you thought.
Just be sure that you are confident you can hit the ground running! You need to be able to soak in new equipment, SOPs, and an environment in the first week.
New To Travel Work?
Visit our entire travel work series here.
Where are you on your travel journey? Leave a comment below!