Using travel contracts to relocate

Becoming a traveler can be a valuable tool if you are looking for a new place to live and work permanently. Whether you are looking for a new job in your current town or wanting to move across the country, it’s a great idea to consider taking a contract in that location before committing.

Get to know the area for 13 weeks

As a traveler, you are a temporary guest working at the facility to help fill staffing needs. This is a great time to learn about the facility, your colleagues, and the location. During a 13 week contract you will see what the working conditions will be like if you decide to stay permanently. You will see the real workflow, management styles, and the level of staffing you will be exposed to on a daily basis.

Getting to know your co-workers will be valuable when assessing your new location. The general sentiment towards a hospital can share how a facility treats its employees. Oftentimes you can feel if you will “fit” in a facility within the first month or two in a position. It’s much better to temporarily try a hospital before taking a permanent position.

During your contract you can also start looking for the best neighborhoods and a new home. Since your agency will be covering your temporary housing, you can take your time to find the right place. Your temporary housing can also act as a transition place from your old home into your new one between move-out and move-in dates. This extra time can relieve some of the stresses involved with moving to a new area.

No long-term commitment

If you aren’t satisfied with the hospital after your 13-week “trial run”, you can leave at the end of your contract. This ability to explore a new job without long-term commitment is liberating. By eliminating the thought that “I have to make this work”, you can truly feel if the position is a right match for you. Once you have completed your contract and find that you love your new location, transitioning to full-time will be a breeze. If you don't fit in with that facility, you can always leave and try another one without any hard feelings.

Make more money during your transition

As a traveler, you are compensated very well. Not only are your temporary housing and meals paid for, but you will receive a healthy hourly wage on top of it all. It’s not uncommon for travelers to make 2x-3x more than their permanent staff counterparts. This additional income can relieve some of the financial strain that comes with moving. Once you decide to become a permanent employee, you can use your travel pay rate when negotiating for your new salary. It is advisable to ride out the contract at the higher rate for as long as possible. This may result in some additional taxes at the end of the year, but the additional cash will make it well worth it.

Easier to negotiate pay rate

When relocating to a new region or state, it’s not commonly known what the expected rate is for that area. Many online job postings may not include the salary ranges for the open positions. Online forums and salary websites can be misleading with years of experience and departments affecting the calculated results. Instead of waiting to hear a lowball salary range from HR, you can take control of the negotiation. Knowing your bill rate can be highly effective in leveraging for a larger salary. Even if you were to take a smaller portion of the bill rate, you would still make a higher rate than your coworkers and the hospital would be saving money.

The fact that you are a trained and happy employee is another great negotiation tool. It is less expensive to retain well trained employees than it is to hire and train new ones. The facility will know that you want to stay long term and are less likely to leave any time soon. It is also likely that your department manager would be willing to influence HR to do whatever it takes to keep you onboard.

The advantages of becoming a traveler are great. Even if it’s a temporary solution for a long term goal. Traveling can help you explore new potential locations without additional commitment and financial stressors. Working a contract close to friends, family or a location you’ve always wanted to live can help you transition from one phase of your life to the next.