Today we communicate with texts and tweets, through e-mail and voice mail, not to mention by way of social networks that didn't even exist just a few years ago. While the methods we use to connect with people have evolved dramatically in recent years, the basic rules for communicating have not. Courtesy and professionalism are still important when it comes to landing the best travel engagements and making a good impression once you're on location. Here are a few tips and reminders to consider when working with recruiting agencies and while on assignment.
Communicate to land the gig. In most cases, you'll never meet your recruiters face-to-face, so developing good working relationships over the phone and using e-mail and text messaging is essential. First and foremost, be responsive. Things move quickly in the travel healthcare industry, and getting back to a recruiter in a timely manner can make the difference between landing a plum assignment and finding out a day too late that it went to someone else. Check your messages frequently, and make it your goal to respond within minutes or hours, not days or weeks. Doing so is both professional and courteous and it demonstrates that you take your career as a traveler seriously.
This may seem like a small detail, but whenever possible, match your communication method with what your recruiters use. If you receive a voice message, return it with a call rather than with an e-mail or text.
When you e-mail and text, take care to use proper grammar, check your spelling, type using both capital and small letters, and review messages for content and tone before hitting send. It's good practice to type out your message before putting the recipient's name in the "to" field to avoid accidently sending an incomplete or error-ridden note. Avoid using abbreviations in your communiqués unless you're certain your reader will know what they mean, and please, no smiley faces or exclamation marks.
Cell phones are great, but they're not perfect. When using your mobile (especially for job interviews), make sure you're in a quiet place and have a strong signal. Be prepared to take a call to an alternate location or move to a landline, if necessary, to ensure a quality conversation.
And finally, check the quality and content of the outgoing message on both your cell and home phones. Keep it short and professional. "Hi, this is Maria . . . thanks for calling . . . please leave a message" is sufficient. There's no need to ramble on, and resist the temptation to be cute or funny.
Communicate to make that first impression a lasting one. Once you've arrived on location, making a good first impression on co-workers and patients will make your engagement more pleasant and help ensure that you receive a positive evaluation. When you arrive at a new hospital or clinic, make a concerted effort to learn the names of your colleagues as quickly as possible, and be sure to introduce yourself to members of the staff and patients.
Take time for courtesy and to exchange pleasantries. No matter how busy you are, saying please and thank you is elementary but shouldn't be optional. Asking a co-worker, "How was your day off?" or inquiring of a patient, "How was your trip down to radiology?" and actually listening to the answer is a simple way to connect and build rapport.
Speaking of listening, I once heard that we're given two ears and one mouth, and we should use them in that proportion. Particularly during the first days and weeks of an engagement, listen to learn and ask questions to learn even more. Keep basic listening skills in mind as you go about your busy days. These include tuning out distractions, making eye contact, leaning gently into conversations, not interrupting, asking follow-up questions when needed, and restating what you've heard to confirm understanding. These listening/communication techniques may seem like common sense, but you might be surprised by how quickly they can take a back seat during a hectic shift.
We all like to think we're good communicators, and most of the time we are. But it never hurts to revisit the basics about how to effectively connect with others in a professional, caring, and courteous manner. Ask your NATHO ( http://natho.org/) agency recruiter for more tips and ideas on communicating successfully to land the assignments you want — and make a good impression once you're on site.
Mark Stagen is the founder and president of the National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations (info@natho.org.), a nonprofit association.
