Your graduation is approaching and you are beginning to feel overwhelmed about your next steps. Where will you work once you graduate? How will you find the right job for you? Will you travel or take a permanent job? I am writing to tell you about why I became a new grad traveler, the process, and why Aureus is a new grad traveler’s best friend. I started thinking about jobs long before graduation. I had gone to a couple of conventions and talked to many companies but the ones that really jumped out at me were travel companies. There were so many. I had no idea that this type of job even existed for OTs. What a great idea – I could get paid well to do what I love, go new places, meet new people, and make my career a true adventure along the way.
I met Madelyn Saylor, Student Outreach Coordinator with Aureus, at a dinner for students interested in travel eight months before graduation. We hit it off immediately. I told her where I wanted to go and why I wanted to travel and I felt she had a genuine interest in getting to know me. Madelyn and I kept in touch on a monthly basis and she continued to answer my million questions. She even put me in touch with another new grad traveler so I could hear all the details of life as a new grad traveler from a different perspective, both positive and negative. It gave me so much more to think about. I was so impressed that Madelyn had stayed in touch with me many months thru graduation. I finally decided I wanted to travel and Aureus was the way to go. What I liked was the personalized communication, even if it was just to check in on me. I figured if they did this before I was even working for them, it was a good sign. I know you may be wondering, did I explore other travel companies? Yes, but there was not the same level of continued contact that I received from Aureus and Madelyn.
So I decided to travel. What’s next? Madelyn put me in touch with one of the recruiters and she got me started with the application and paperwork. The recruiter also used this time to get to know me. We had conversations about my life experiences, what settings I liked, locations of interest, my goals, and any other bits of information (yes, my recruiter knows all about my pets and family, too). I knew where I wanted to be, and was put in touch with an account manager that specialized in that state, which in my case was Texas. My account manager really took the time to get to know me as well. She let me know what jobs were available to new grads at that time, start dates, locations, and coached me through the process. She asked if I wanted to be submitted for a particular job(s). Once I was submitted for a job, I had a phone interview and a job offer that same day. Yes, it can be that fast but not always so be flexible. I was encouraged by my account manager to make sure it felt like the right fit before saying yes. I wanted to make sure I had the support of another OTR and the first job offer that came in I would not have had that. I held out for one that would give me the mentorship I knew I needed as a new grad. After two offers, I found the right fit and I said yes. Talk about a bundle of nerves. However, my nerves quickly went away because I knew I had the support of my team at Aureus from my recruiter to housing. The continuous communication with the whole team was always there and I knew I could get in touch with someone at all times.
So where am I now? I have completed two assignments in Texas and I love life as a traveler. Is it always easy? No. However, my account manager, recruiter, and Madelyn have helped me throughout both my contracts and I don’t know what I would do without them. I even got to meet my account manager for dinner at the Texas OT Convention along with some other travelers. I have met so many amazing people so far and continue to keep in touch with them. I have decided that Texas is going to be my travel focus for a while but have hopes of assignments in Arizona and Hawaii in the future.
Being a traveler can be exciting, nerve wracking, and rewarding at the same time. I have learned the key to traveling is flexibility and patience because things don’t always happen when you want them to. You can see new places, meet new people, and make some amazing memories in the process of developing your career.
Hope to see you on the road soon!
If you think you may want to be a new grad traveler, get in touch with the Student Outreach team. They have a lot of information to share and can answer just about any question you have.
By Jane Althans, Aureus Medical Traveler, Rehab Therapy Division