We’ve got eight relationship survival tips for when healthcare professionals take travel contracts together.
1. Communication Is Key
Proactively discuss your expectations for upcoming contracts with one another. Be clear about details such as hours and shifts worked, your housing arrangements, and even your sightseeing priorities for days off.
2. Find a Great Recruiter
It may be more challenging to find contracts for two, but the payoff can be substantial when dealing with facilities that have multiple positions to fill. Good communication is important to a healthy relationship with your recruiter, as it is to your travel buddy. Being open and upfront about your travel goals and needs will help us exceed your expectations.
3. Make Other Friends
It might be tempting to spend every moment outside of work together. Your relationship will thank you for occasional breaks. Go out with friends from work, start a conversation with someone at the dog park, or chat with a fellow gym-goer. You can also meet people through Meetup or Facebook groups or ask your recruiter if any other travelers work in the area.
4. Don’t Forget to Check-In with One Another
We all react differently to situations, and while one of you may love your latest job, the other may be struggling. Create time and space to listen to one another. You can help each other problem-solve and troubleshoot. If you both make impulsive decisions, do a quick check-in with each other before diving into your next contract. It keeps you both on the same page and lowers the chance of any misunderstanding. You represent a team, tackling life on the road together. Your relationship will only grow stronger from these shared experiences, even when bumps appear on the road.
5. Focus on the Present
Travelers are planners, and while it’s tempting to focus on the horizon—the next shift, assignment, or time off from work—don’t forget to slow down and fully enjoy each other’s presence. Sometimes, the small things make our days that much fuller. Consciously be grateful for the opportunities and experiences shared on the road.
6. Think Carefully About Working the Same Facility
If you have not successfully worked together in the same setting with your significant other, bestie, or family member before, you might want to think twice before taking that on. It can sometimes take longer to find contracts that work for couples at the same facility, and that’s a lot of together time, even for just 13 weeks. A good compromise could be to ask for jobs in or near the same city but at different facilities.
7. Be Clear About Who Pays for What, When
Nothing can sabotage a close relationship faster than disagreements about that hard-earned tax-free money. Our advice is to talk about all financial details before your contract. You might want to decide on a travel assignment budget for both of you. Some important details to clarify ahead of time include:
- All the expenses you’ll split.
- The money you plan to spend together.
- The money you plan to spend on your own.
- A set amount for incidentals or unexpected expenses.
- How much you each hope to save after each assignment.
It may be awkward to talk about money details at first, but you’ll be glad you did.
8. Be Flexible
Keep an open mind and be willing to try new experiences and destinations—plan for the unexpected. As the proverb says, there remains nothing certain but the uncertain. This holds for all of life, but especially when you work as a traveling couple. You’ll need to be extra flexible to keep those coinciding contracts going.
We prioritize relationships at Cariant Health Partners and know how important close connections are for happiness and success. We love working with travel couples—whether significant others, friends, or family members. Connect with one of our recruiters today to learn more about how we can help you travel together with your loved one.