If you have never worked with a healthcare staffing agency, you may have questions about what the process actually looks like. Do you need to apply for a specific job? Are staffing positions always temporary? Who employs you? What happens after you accept an assignment?
The answers can vary depending on the agency, employer, and type of position, but understanding the basic process can make it easier to know what to expect.
RCM’s recruiters work with healthcare and school-based professionals at different stages of their careers, from candidates actively searching for their next position to those who simply want to hear about opportunities that may be a good fit.
Your First Conversation With a Recruiter
The process often starts with a conversation.
If you apply for a specific RCM opening, a recruiter will typically review your resume and reach out for an initial conversation to discuss your experience, qualifications, and the position. If you are exploring your options more generally, the conversation may focus on what you are looking for so the recruiter can identify opportunities that align with your preferences as they become available.
It helps to come prepared with an updated resume and information about your current licenses or certifications. You should also be ready to discuss your availability, preferred location and commute, pay expectations, and the types of positions or settings you are interested in.
Being specific about what matters to you can help your recruiter focus the search. Beyond your professional qualifications, factors such as schedule, preferred setting or patient population, location, availability, and longer-term career goals can all play a role in finding the right opportunity.
Understanding Contract and Direct-Hire Opportunities
One common misconception about staffing agencies is that they only offer short-term temporary work. Depending on the agency and employer, opportunities may include contract, long-term, and permanent/direct hire positions.
With a contract position, you generally work at a client organization while remaining an employee of the staffing agency. For example, professionals are typically employed by RCM while working at one of our partner schools or districts. Some may eventually be hired directly by the district, although most begin as RCM contract employees.
Contract also does not necessarily mean short term. Many RCM school-based contracts last for the entire school year, and some continue for multiple years when there is an ongoing need and a strong fit. Eligible RCM employees working 30 or more hours per week may also qualify for benefits including medical, dental, vision, and a 401(k).
Understanding the employment arrangement before accepting a position is important. Ask your recruiter who will employ you, how long the assignment is expected to last, what benefits may be available, and whether there is a possibility of transitioning to a permanent position.
Finding an Opportunity That Fits
A staffing recruiter can introduce you to positions based on your qualifications and preferences, but you decide which opportunities you want to pursue.
RCM recruiters consider professional experience and qualifications along with practical factors such as location, schedule, preferred setting, pay expectations, availability, and career goals. If there is not a suitable opening when you first connect, your recruiter can stay in touch as needs change and new opportunities become available.
That can be particularly useful if you are open to a setting, you have not previously considered. For example, one RCM recruiter worked with a healthcare professional who had primarily worked in a clinical environment but wanted a different schedule and work environment. After discussing the candidate’s experience and goals, the recruiter introduced a school-based opportunity where those clinical skills could be used to support students.
From Interview to Offer
Once you and your recruiter identify a position you want to pursue, the recruiter may submit your information to the client. If the client would like to meet you, the recruiter coordinates the interview and provides available information about the role, expectations, and what the client may be looking for.
If you receive and accept an offer, the next step is generally onboarding and credentialing.
At RCM, that process can include an onboarding application, offer documentation, employment references, background checks, and other requirements specific to the assignment. What’s required can vary considerably by setting and client, with healthcare facilities and school-based assignments often having different clinical, safety, clearance and documentation needs.
Completing requested paperwork and documentation promptly can help prevent avoidable delays. Your recruiter and other members of the staffing team should also be available to explain requirements, answer questions, and keep you updated throughout the process.
What Happens After You Start an Assignment?
The relationship with a staffing agency should continue throughout your assignment.
At RCM, recruiters remain in contact with professionals during their assignments, including first-day outreach and ongoing check-ins. Recruiters, schedulers, and clinical leadership can also serve as resources when questions arise, while virtual and in-person training may be available to support continued professional development and client safety.
As an assignment approaches its end, the recruiter and scheduling team can also discuss other available opportunities. Being flexible about settings or locations may expand the positions available for a future assignment.
What Is Different About School-Based Staffing?
For healthcare professionals considering their first school-based role, the working environment can look quite different from a hospital or other clinical setting.
School-based assignments generally follow academic calendars, with schedules, holidays, breaks, and assignment dates tied to the school year. Professionals may also collaborate closely with teachers, administrators, families, and multidisciplinary education teams.
Before accepting a school-based position, ask about the expected schedule and hours, caseload or responsibilities, assignment length, documentation requirements, school closures and breaks, and the support available at the school.
Professionals moving from clinical environments also commonly want to understand how their experience will translate to working with students. Depending on the role, RCM can provide guidance on the school environment, expectations, documentation, and transitioning existing skills into an education setting.
Questions to Ask a Staffing Recruiter
The recruiter relationship works best when communication goes both ways. Candidates should feel comfortable asking questions and being clear about their priorities.
Before pursuing or accepting an opportunity, consider asking about:
- Pay and benefits
- Schedule and expected hours
- Location and commute
- Assignment or contract length
- Day-to-day responsibilities
- Credentialing and onboarding requirements
- Support available during the assignment
- What happens when the assignment ends
The RCM recruiters who contributed to this article consistently pointed to communication and transparency as important parts of a successful recruiter-candidate relationship. Candidates who are clear about their goals, availability, experience, and preferences give recruiters a better understanding of what they are looking for, while recruiters should provide clear information, follow through, and keep candidates informed throughout the process.
Find Your Next Opportunity With RCM
Working with a staffing agency can give you another resource in your career search, whether you are actively looking for your next role, considering a different healthcare or education setting, or simply interested in learning what opportunities are available.
RCM works with healthcare and school-based professionals across a range of specialties and settings. Our recruiting team can help you explore opportunities, understand the hiring and onboarding process, and stay connected throughout your assignment.