Triage Staffing provided this article.
We get it. Few relationships are as unique as a healthcare traveler and their recruiter. A good recruiter is there for you when you need a sounding board, understands what you want in a job, and actively searches to find you the one that best fits your needs.
But not every recruiter/traveler relationship will be a match, and not every recruiter will be your person. What happens if your previously great relationship turns sour, or you’re just not vibing with your recruiter? It might be time to have a tough conversation. While we can’t promise there won’t be tears involved, shaking up the dynamic with your recruiter doesn’t have to be painful. Here are a couple of ways for breaking up with your travel nurse recruiter.
Option 1: Ghost Them So Hard You’ll Leave Them Saying Boo
Sure, you can always ghost your recruiter. But like ghosting a boyfriend or girlfriend, they’ll be stuck wondering what happened. While that’s irritating for a recruiter, the real issue is that you’ll continue to get phone calls, texts, and emails from your recruiter wondering why you disappeared.
Instead, if you no longer click with your recruiter, send a quick text or email letting them know you’re moving on. They may reach out and ask questions, but at least they can remove you from their call list, saving your phone from a barrage of calls, emails, and texts.
Option 2: Have a Conversation About Your Needs
While this isn’t as easy as ghosting someone, it definitely is a more professional choice for breaking up with your travel nurse recruiter.
A good travel nurse recruiter wants to help you reach your goals. If your plans change or your agency’s jobs no longer meet your needs, talk to your recruiter. You never know if there’s something going on behind the scenes that might change your perspective.
Maybe your agency is working on a new contract with higher bill rates, and it hasn’t been announced yet. Or perhaps there’s a longevity bonus coming your way that you forgot about (yeah, some agencies do offer a bonus after you’ve worked a certain number of hours). If you don’t have a conversation, you might be leaving money on the table without knowing it.
We know it’s sometimes stressful having this type of phone call, especially if you and your recruiter have been close in the past. But, if you can ask for what you want in a mature and respectful manner, chances are that your recruiter will try to do what it takes to keep you on their roster.
Option 3: Chat with Your Recruiter’s Manager
What if you’re really not comfortable having a conversation with your recruiter? Maybe you can’t get ahold of them, or you’ve had an issue that you can’t get past. There’s nothing Karen-like about calling and having a chat with their manager. Don’t know who the manager is? No problem.
Call into the agency’s main number and tell whoever answers the phone that you want to talk to a manager about switching recruiters. They’ll be able to transfer you to someone within your recruiter’s chain. A good agency understands that sometimes personalities don’t mesh, even if they did in the past. The manager will have a quick conversation with you about what you’re looking for and then put you in touch with a recruiter that meets your needs now.
Don’t worry about getting your old recruiter “in trouble.” Most agencies understand that personalities can be the most important part of a recruiter/traveler relationship and won’t penalize a recruiter if you switch. You’ll get a new recruiter, and the manager will have the conversation for you, which is perfect if you’re nervous about having an uncomfortable conversation.
If you decide it really is time to make a change, look for one with a proven record of taking care of its travelers. Triage Staffing was named The Gypsy Nurse’s Best Overall Travel Nurse Agency for both 2020 and 2021. Connect with Triage Staffing here.
We hope you found this article on breaking up with your travel nurse recruiter helpful. Have you ever had to break up with a travel nurse recruiter? Share your experience with breaking up with your recruiter below.
Are you looking for your next travel nurse assignment? Click here to view our job board. Do you need housing for an upcoming assignment? Click here to search our housing page.
