March 07, 2008 What Makes a Good Travel Agency   Setting clear expectations A good agency trains its recruiters to set clear expectations of what the Hospital/area is going to be like when you get there. It is your recruiters job to know the area and Hospital inside and out, and to properly communicate it to you. For example, we have made many placements in Alaska, where in some parts that are really remote and rustic. A good agency will tell you exactly what to expect so that you can make the determination if it is for you or not. If your agency recruiter doesn't know the area or Hospital well, ask them to find out for you.     The Recruiter Knows You A good agency has trained its recruiters to know you inside and out. The recruiter should know why you want to go to a specific area; the size of the hospital you like to work at; what nursing skills you are strong/weak in; what you like to do when you are not working; and of course the basics like the shift, pay, etc. you want.     A Good Agency has Clear Procedures What happens if you get to the apartment and no one is there from the housing place to meet you? What happens if you have a problem at work, what is the agency time sheet process? What will the orientation process be like at the Hospital and who do you ask for on your first day? There are a million other things that could come up and your agency should have a clear process to address issues quickly.     A good agency is fair Fair can have many diifferent meanings. The one thing we know is that most agencies will go to bat for a Traveler if they have been professional. A professional traveler is one that has worked their shifts when they were supposed to; one that has given the agency time to address any problem before leaving; and in general if he/she is doing a good job for the Hospital. We look forward to when travelers do a good job. When they do, we are willing to jump through hoops for them.     Flexible The best agencies are flexible to your needs and wants. As a result, it is our belief that smaller Travel agencies are better to work with for a Traveler, because the chain of command is smaller. This in turn allows decisions to be made quicker. Another plus about smaller agencies is that they are often family owned and view Travelers as family. Large companies often have to go by a strict policy that do not allow changes and view Travelers like a number.               HEALTHCAREseeker.com, A JCAHO certified travel nursing company, places Travelers into positions in all 50 states. We are the #1 fastest growing company in our industry according to Staffing Industry Analysts. We know that Travelers have their choices in the firms they work with. We will differentiate ourselves to Travelers by being more flexible, by paying more and by being the industry standard for service/ innovation/ information. www.healthcareseeker.com