It’s normal to have fears when facing a new career. Robin Sharma said, “The beautiful thing about fear is when you run to it, it runs away.” We are all scared of things but when we can move towards things that scare of we come out better the other side. Travel therapy can present fears to some people. Moving from one place to the next every 3 months? Meeting new people? Moving away from home. It can be scary. However, that is why we created these 11 ways to overcome your fears about travel therapy.
11 Ways To Overcome Your Fears About Travel Therapy
1) Talk To Other Travel Therapist. Odds are you know someone who is or has been a travel therapist. Think back to those you went to school with or people you might have worked with. If you can’t think of anyone, ask your contacts. Travel therapy is one of those three degrees of separation type careers. Once you find someone, talk with them about travel therapy. What was their experience like? What were their likes and dislikes? Which recruiting company did they use? The more knowledge you can gain from others will help paint a clearer picture about travel therapy.
2) Read Experiences Of Others. After you ask your network see what others say. There are plenty of helpful travel therapy sites like Allied Travel Careers that profile travel therapy agencies. You can even read reviews about what others say when you start thinking about which agency works for you.
3) Find A Trusted Your Recruiter. Don’t feel like you have to stay committed to the first travel therapy recruiter you meet. There are plenty of companies and recruiters to work with. Do your homework on the company. Find a company that aligns to your needs. Make sure your recruiter understands your needs. Once you find that great recruiter lean on them. Ask them questions. The best recruiters can even coordinate conversations with you and their travelers as another reference point.
4) Find A Mentor. Before you begin a travel therapy assignment, it is a good idea to find a mentor. Someone on staff or a trusted individual that you can ask questions. At Host Healthcare, we match students and new grads with mentors that are another reference for our travelers. This is also a great way for experience travelers to give back; and make some money.
5) Ask Questions. This is a great tip no matter where you are at in the spectrum of a travel therapy assignment. If you are unsure about something ask. Not sure what a specific term means? Ask. You won’t start breaking down fears if you don’t get answers to your questions.
6) Bring A Travel Companion. It is very common for travel therapists to travel with a companion. Whether that is a friend, a loved one, another traveler, or pet, it can make being on the road feel less scary. Be sure if you do bring a pet that you inform your recruiter. This way they can make sure you are setup with the proper housing accommodations.
7) Research Your New City. Living in a new city can be scary. It also can be overwhelming to find which restaurants to eat at and which ones to avoid. Ask your friends and family for any recommendations when researching your new city. Use sites like Yelp to find the best places to eat and live. There are plenty of resources ready to help you explore your new destinations.
8) Meet New People. Going into a new facility can be scary. The quicker you can develop friendships with your colleagues, the easier it will be to adapt in your new location. Find similarities between you and them. Ask for recommendations on places to eat. Even coordinate activities to do outside of work.
9) Find Your Next Job Early. Travel therapy fears aren’t limited to first time travelers. Even experienced travel therapist can have fears about travel therapy. One of those common fears for experienced travelers is finding your next travel therapy assignment. There are certainly no shortage of travel therapy jobs available. However, the further out you can book an assignment, the more selective you can be. But don’t be too picky or you could find yourself taking something you really don’t want.
10) Remember Your Assignment Is Only Temporary. Travel therapy jobs range from 4 – 13 weeks long. That is good news for those with fears about travel therapy. This means you are never stuck in one place very long. You are able to try a new city or a new facility with confidence that in 3 months you are gone. Now you can try to extend your contract if you get there and love it. This is something your recruiter will work with you to accomplish.
11) Visualize Yourself Having Fun. The mind works in mysterious ways. How many times have you thought the night before that today is going to be a good day and it becomes true? Close your eyes and imagine yourself in your new city. Picture yourself and all the fun adventures that you can do at your new city. Imagine the new great friends you will make. This powerful exercise can help you calm your nerves and let you visualize the exciting times that await.
Host Healthcare Travel Therapist
Host Healthcare offers an extensive list of travel therapist jobs. Call one of our friendly recruiters at (800) 585-1299. We are here to help you to get started.
