AB Staffing Solutions provided this article.
The networking opportunities for a travel nurse are vast. You will meet other professionals in your industry in every location, from fellow nurses to specialists to hospital administrators. The connections you make can help to boost your career and broaden your horizons. 70% of all jobs are landed through networking. Of course, networking doesn’t happen automatically. It’s all too easy to get head-down in your work during each assignment and miss those golden opportunities to network. You can also network outside your travel nursing routines by reaching out and taking proactive steps to connect.
How can you fit networking into your busy schedule as a travel nurse? How can you master your professional network when seeking new opportunities? We have several useful strategies that you can incorporate into your plans to build your network and find great future jobs.
Leverage Social Media and Professional Platforms
Social media networking requires some investment in regular online activity, but many find social media discussions to be a relaxing and fun way to network.
Build a Professional Brand
Start by using LinkedIn and specialty forums to hone your professional brand. Build an online persona that is the best facet of yourself and represents who you are as a nurse. Include your professional title, specializations, and credentials on the profile page of each of your social media accounts. You can also build your professional presence by regularly answering questions and responding to discussions with practical medical truths. Choose a specific “voice” or tone and specific types of questions you often answer to define your professional brand.
Connect with Recruiters and Industry Leaders
Once you have built a professional page, begin reaching out to connect with recruiters and leaders in the healthcare industry. 84% of employers use social media for recruitment, and 86% of job seekers use social media as part of their job search. Join social media groups, discussions, and audience followings where you will become a recognized and valued member of online communities.
Attend Conferences and Workshops: Making the Most of It
In addition to traveling for your nursing assignments, you can meet even more medical industry professionals by attending conferences and workshops. These are an opportunity to build your insights and learn about the latest techniques while also meeting valuable new members of your network. 77% of business professionals find that live conferences provide the best networking opportunities. How do you make the most of your conference attendance?
Effective Networking
Don’t be shy to greet the person next to you at any moment. Go out there with the goal of making friends and connections. Chat with the person standing next to you in line, sharing a catered dinner table, or sitting with you in a workshop. Every meal is a chance to eat with a new friend; even brief conversations can end with swapping numbers or LinkedIn profiles.
Remember, everyone else is also likely looking to network, so you are helping out by being bold and friendly.
Engage with Keynote Speakers and Workshop Leaders
Don’t be shy about talking with the keynote speakers and workshop leaders. Share your most insightful thoughts or profound questions. You may earn the attention of someone with growing power in the healthcare industry, and your connection will grow stronger if you see them again at future workshops and events.
Follow Up to Nurture New Connections
Don’t forget to follow up with everyone you meet. Keep phone numbers, remember personal facts about each person, and reconnect after the conference. Send text messages, emails, and social media invites with a friendly request to keep in touch and remain networked friends. If you receive a follow-up, respond with cheer and start the conversation going again. You may earn not just network connections but also valuable new friends.
Join Professional Nursing Associations and Groups
One of the best ways to network in the modern age is to join professional groups for practicing nurses. Both official associations and online groups will give you a chance to meet and build your network with other members of the group. You might get invitations for meet-ups and have opportunities to visit your groups in person on future assignments to build a bond.
Associations for Travel Nurses
Explore different nursing associations to find those that work well for travel nurses and align with your specializations. Here are just a few that might help you get started:
- American Travel Health Nurses Association (ATHNA)
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- National Association of Clinic Nurse Specialists (NACNS)
Participating in Local and National Events
Once you have chosen an association (or several), keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved. Participate in local events and make plans to attend national events where you and other nurses will gather for shared training, workshops, charity causes, and more. You will discover great opportunities to network while making a name for yourself within your nursing organizations.
Networking Through Association Involvement
You can also get directly involved with your association. You can contribute to discussions, help plan events, and connect with fellow association members through shared websites and social media venues.
Build Connections with Each Travel Nursing Job
Last but not least are the valuable connections you can cultivate with each new travel nursing assignment you take. Travel nursing allows you to visit many different hospital and clinic environments all over the country. You may find yourself working in prestigious hospitals or alongside skilled specialists as a valued temporary member of the team. The friendships you build and the respect you inspire in each role can help you in the future if you make an effort to include each assignment’s colleagues as new additions to your network.
If you are looking for your next travel nursing job to grow your skills and professional horizons, we can help. AB Staffing specializes in connecting skilled travel nurses with appealing assignment opportunities in every state.
Contact us for guided travel nursing assignment search and selection based on your unique needs and preferences.
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