The upsides to travel therapy may have you caught up in the excitement of securing your first travel contract. But first, consider these three things before you pack your bags and hit the road.
Ask about the cancellation notice
Cariant enters into contracts with both the client the traveler, which may be cancelled by any party. Through no fault of your own, you may receive “notice” of termination mid-assignment per the contract details. The two most common reasons for shortened contracts, outside of firing for cause, are the client hired a permanent therapist or they experience an unpredicted low census – both are situations outside a traveler’s control. Most contracts have a 2 weeks to 30 day out clause. With each contract, ask your recruiter to uncover these specifics before taking the position.
Never travel without a nest egg
Like with any job, it’s a good idea to bank a few weeks’ pay into savings. Ending paycheck-to-paycheck living is responsible and especially important for a traveler lifestyle. Should you or the client elect to walk away from your contract, a Cariant recruiter is only a call away and will jump in to search for new assignment. The nest egg keeps you out of panic mode. We recommend saving at least one month’s salary before entering into a travel contract.
Pick your location wisely
Interested in traveling to a hip urban area or somewhere warm during winter? Yeah, most other therapists are, too. Your contract is likelier to be cancelled in popular cities – Boulder, San Diego, New York, etc. When clients open positions to travelers because they lack a full-time hire, the chances of them finding the right candidate in a highly populated, highly desirable area is much greater than in locations that are harder to place.
Keep these three things in mind before you start a travel contract and you’ll be prepared no matter what comes your way.