9 Ways Travel Nursing Companies Find Travel Nurses
I’ve written a few articles about how travel nurses can find travel nursing agencies to work with. However, it’s also important for travel nurses to know about the methods that travel nursing agencies use to find them. So, in this article, I’ll cover X ways travel nursing companies find travel nurses.
Now, this might not seem like an engaging or meaningful topic. However, it’s good for travel nurses to know the nitty gritty details about these agency methods so they know what to watch for. Also, I’m confident that some of these details will be surprising if not downright shocking.
Travel Nursing Agencies Recruit at Conferences
Some travel nursing agencies exhibit at medical conferences. For example, they might exhibit at the annual AORN Global Surgical Conference and Expo. Of course, many travel nursing agencies attend the annual travel nurse conference known as TravCon.
Obviously, agencies attend conferences to recruit candidates and get brand exposure. One of the steps to recruiting candidates is to obtain their contact information. To that end, agencies and conferences utilize many methods.
For example, agencies might setup raffles or rewards that require candidates to provide their contact information and agree for the agency to contact them about work in order to qualify. A conference might require candidates to provide their contact information to attend certain events. In the rarest of cases, the conference might even sell candidate contact information to agencies simply based on the conference’s privacy agreement.
I think the thing that tends to surprise candidates the most about conferences is the cost. For example, it might cost anywhere from $4,500 to $6,500 for a standard exhibitor booth. Some exhibitor packages might cost over $20,000. And that’s just the cost for exhibiting.
In addition, the agency will need to supply their conference display, marketing material, shwag, prizes, travel expenses, hotel expenses, etc. Attending a single conference can cost $10,000 to even $100,000 all in.
Travel Nursing Agencies Use Blogs to Recruit Travel Nurses
Many travel nursing agencies use blogs to help them recruit candidates. The idea is to create webpages with useful information about travel nursing or nursing careers. The goal is to rank highly on Google’s search results or gain traction on social media. The webpages will include various “calls to action” in order to get the candidate to provide their contact information or apply for jobs.
This method is exceedingly difficult to execute for many reasons. First, there are tons of competing websites. Second, social media sites have dramatically demoted links to outside websites over the years. Third, Google has made it very difficult for smaller organizations to outrank their larger competitors. Finally, generative AI is essentially answering candidate questions using the information that agencies have provided over the years and is thereby disintermediating the agency.
Travel Nursing Agencies Recruit on Social Media
Of course, travel nursing agencies also use social media to recruit travel nurses. As you might expect, they use every option available on these platforms.
For example, they have their recruiters post to social media. In this regard, the recruiters might post jobs, respond to posts from travel nurses, send direct messages to candidates, and so on. The best of them are able to build large followings and networks on these websites.
Agencies might also use the paid advertising options on social media. These options are usually really good at helping agencies target their specific audience. However, they are often too expensive for many agencies.
Travel Nursing Agencies Recruit on Job Boards
Obviously, travel nursing companies use job boards to recruit candidates for their travel nursing jobs. I have written many highly detailed articles about job boards already.
For example, I wrote an article that provides a behind the scenes look at how travel nursing job boards work. It discusses how agencies manage their job data and the corresponding challenges they face. It also discusses the different types of travel nursing job boards.
I also wrote an article discussing the reasons that make it look like travel nursing companies post fake jobs all the time.
Perhaps better yet, I wrote an article that demonstrates some of the sneaky and downright fraudulent things that some job boards do in an effort to obtain travel nurse contact information. To be clear, it’s the job boards that pull these antics, not the travel nursing agencies.
Travel Nursing Lead Generators
Travel nursing agencies also use “lead generators” to find travel nurses. It’s important to note that the term “lead generator” is often a catchall term in the travel nursing industry. It’s used to refer to any type of service that gives the agency a sales lead.
However, the reality is that “lead generators” are in fact a specific thing. I define them as services that attract a potential customer with a general sales pitch, capture the customer’s contact information and sell it to third parties.
For example, a website might say something like, “We’ll connect you with the best travel nursing agencies if you enter your contact information.” Then, they’ll sell the contact information to pretty much anyone willing to pay them for it.
This is much different than applying for a specific job and having your contact information sent to only the company you applied with.
I covered travel nursing lead generators in great detail in a previous article. I encourage you to read that article so you know exactly what to expect.
Travel Nursing Companies Use Online Advertising to Recruit
Like almost everyone else, travel nursing agencies use online advertising to sell their services. For example, you’ll always see travel nursing agency advertisements in the search results for key travel nursing search terms like “Tavel Nursing Companies” or “Travel Nursing Jobs”. In case you are unfamiliar, look for inconspicuous advertisement identifiers like “Ad” or “Sponsored” next to the search results.
Agencies also use “retargeting” ads. In case you’re not familiar, if you visit an agency website or search for an agency by name somewhere, then advertising services can use a tracking code, or “cookie”, on your browser to signify that. Later, the service will show you an advertisement for the agency on a completely different website.
Travel Nursing Agencies Use Referral Campaigns to Recruit
Nearly every travel nursing agency offers a referral bonus. Typically, they pay the referrer if the referee completes a travel assignment with the agency. Sometimes, they might pay the referrer based on the number of hours the referee works. There may be other variations as well.
There are even referral services that agencies pay to use. These are typically third-party software services that allow anyone to refer a candidate to an agency using a referral link.
Referral bonuses tend to be anywhere from $500 to $1,500. The most common bonus I’ve seen is $1,000.
CEU Websites
This one may come as a surprise. Some agencies use CEU websites to recruit candidates. For example, AMN Healthcare owns the CEU website RN.com. When you sign up for CEUs on this website, there is typically a checkbox, which is checked by default, indicating that you agree to have AMN Healthcare contact you about employment opportunities.
Additionally, some independent CEU websites might sell member contact information to employers of all types. You just have to keep your eyes open for the “opt in” checkbox or read the privacy policy to know for sure.
Contact Lists
Finally, agencies sometimes purchase contact information from data brokers. These data brokers typically sell contact information categorized by healthcare profession. For example, they might approach an agency with a list of 100,000 Registered Nurses or 10,000 Physical Therapists.
At a minimum, these lists include names, telephone numbers and email addresses. The data brokers obtain this information in many different ways. Sometimes the information is personal and sometimes it’s business contact information.
The results agencies achieve with these lists tends to be substandard. However, they can still provide the agency with a decent return on investment if the cost of the list is really low.
Conclusion
As you might have noticed, all of these methods seek to obtain a travel nurse’s contact information. Some of them might attempt to obtain additional information like employment interests, resumes or just the license and specialty. They’re going to enter that contact information into their Applicant Tracking System so they can call, text and email now and in the future.
As a travel nurse, knowing about these various methods will help you better navigate the system. Ultimately, you’ll be able to recognize the various methods and understand what to expect out of each.
