Check out this guest post from Travel OT Syd Stahl discussing her perspective on travel therapy job interviews!
Congrats, you landed an interview!
First off, congratulations. Getting an interview is one of the first steps in securing a travel therapy contract. The interview can be a great opportunity for both you and the employer to determine if this is a good fit. You, as the traveler, are committing significant time, energy, and resources towards moving and acclimating to a new location, job, and lifestyle. While you do want to showcase yourself to the employer and obtain a job offer, it’s just as important you learn as much as you can about the position and whether or not it’s a job that you want. While the process can be overwhelming, it’s also an exciting and important part of this travel therapy journey. Here we go!
Preparing for the interview
Preparing for the interview is just as important as the interview itself. It can be easy to underestimate simple logistics. Most interviews are done by phone call, but sometimes through some sort of video call. It’s not a bad idea to make sure your devices are updated and microphone/camera settings are set up correctly. I’ve definitely scrambled to update zoom or adjust my settings as I’m logging on for an interview. For calls, check to make sure you have good cell service, are in a place where you can hear and be heard, and that you know if you’re supposed to call them or they’re calling you (and have an idea of what number to keep an eye out for). You may interview with someone in a different time zone, so double checking the time change and arranging your schedule accordingly can also help better prepare you.
I think reflecting on what makes you a good candidate for this position prior to the interview creates a positive mindset going into it. Be prepared to share a bit about yourself– why you choose this career; what you love about it; what challenges you; what inspires you; a success story with a past patient; what sets you apart from the competition– the sky is the limit here. Thinking about why you are a great therapist will help you embody that kind of energy during the interview.
Questions to ask
I always like to make a list of questions to ask about the position beforehand. You can never ask too many questions, and your future self will thank you for it. In addition, it’s a great way to show the employer your preparedness and initiative. I usually let the interviewer take the lead during the interview initially. But once they open up the discussion to me, then I have my questions ready.
Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask, but these will need to be tailored to the specific job and setting:
- What is the typical schedule?
- Are there set start/end times, breaks for lunch, etc.- or is it flexible?
- Am I expected to work on the weekends?
- What will the orientation process look like? (i.e., will I hit the ground running day one with a full caseload OR will there be someone to train me for the first few days?)
- Will I be working at multiple sites? If so, is there mileage compensation for travel?
- What is the typical caseload (number of patients per day/week depending on setting)
- How much time do they allocate towards treatments vs. evaluations?
- What is the deadline for completing documentation and do they give time for documentation?
- What type of documentation system is used?
- Do they favor specific standardized assessments at this site?
- What other staff is on the team? (OTs, PTs, COTAs, PTAs, SLPs, aides, etc)
- Have they had travelers at this position previously? If so, how did it go?
- For school settings:
- are IEP meetings scheduled during the school day or after school hours?
- what does their service model look like? (e.g., direct services, consultation, push-in, pull-out, etc.)
- are materials/assessments available or am I responsible for providing those?
Every site is different, and it’s never too much to ask for the support you want. The site can decide for themselves whether that is support they can offer, and it will help you make the best decision for you. I often will ask for the contact of a previous traveler or a current therapist on staff to get a better idea of what the position is like. It can be very useful information, as sometimes, the person interviewing you may work in more of a management position, and not necessarily know as much about the actual work as some of your future/past coworkers might.
This list is not exhaustive, so feel free to add any particular questions you have about the position.
For more help on preparing for your travel therapy job interview, check out this post with more ideas for questions and on the logistics of travel therapy phone interviews!
Be you
As cliche as it sounds, be yourself. Putting on a show for three months is exhausting on top of starting a new job and living somewhere new. I’d rather present myself authentically, and let the employer choose me if they think I’m the right fit for the position. And then it’s your turn to decide.
Never feel like you have to make a decision during the interview– you can express interest and still ask for time to decide in a professional manner. I believe our intuition is something we can trust, if you have a gut feeling, listen to it. I try to ask myself if I feel excited about a position- that usually helps me decide whether I want to accept an offer or not. Your recruiter may also have insight into the position and how past travelers have liked it, so you can ask them.
And at the end of the day, everything works out the way it’s meant to. No contract will ever be perfect, that’s life. But if you pick a few non-negotiables, say your ideal pay or location, you’ll always be gaining some positive experience. And hey, you can do anything for 13 weeks– if it’s really that bad, you never have to do it again. You will always finish each contract as a more experienced therapist with new skills to carry with you. There is no right or wrong decision, it’s just your decision.
I am so excited for you and whatever adventure you choose– the good, the bad, and everything in between! Just like our patients’ road to recovery, not every part of this journey will be amazing, and that’s okay! We all learn and become better for it. That’s one of the things I LOVE about this career– both as an occupational therapist and a traveler. Any site would be lucky to have you; interview with that mindset and the right job will find you. Cheers to the adventure!
Help Getting Started
Thank you for this insightful guest post, Syd! We appreciate your perspective on this topic!
If you’re looking for more help getting started as a travel therapist, we at Travel Therapy Mentor go over how the interview process works, the follow-up steps, accepting a contract, and more in detail in our comprehensive travel therapy course “Becoming a Financially Successful Travel Therapist”. Find out more about the course here if you’re interested in taking your knowledge and preparedness to the next level in order to have a seamless and successful travel therapy journey.
If you’re ready to get connected with great travel therapy recruiters who can help you find the best travel therapy job opportunities and have the best overall experience, fill out our recruiter recommendations form here so we can get you connected!
If you have any questions for us, please feel free to send us a message!
About the Author
Hi, my name is Syd Stahl. I am a traveling occupational therapist and began travel therapy straight out of graduate school. Born and raised in Minnesota, I got my bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with minors in Spanish and Psychology at North Dakota State University. Go Bison! Then I attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN where I earned my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. While completing an international fieldwork placement in Ecuador, I gained the confidence to learn and explore the adventurous world of travel therapy, and I am so glad I did! I’ve gotten to see beautiful places and meet so many cool people. I spent my first year traveling in California, where I completed travel contracts in skilled nursing facilities and schools, before moving to Oregon for my next school contract. My pup, Cedar, is the best travel buddy, and I am so grateful to have him as a companion on this journey. We love being outdoors, and are planning to convert a small van into our little adventure home on wheels! If you’d like to connect, the best way to contact me is through social media, @sydstahl, or email at rawsalmon98@gmail.com
