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Finding a Home with Permanent Placement

"Finding a full-time job can be a full-time job," says Paul Manzo, director of MRA Staffing, an agency that specializes in the recruitment and placement of RNs and other medical staff.

Even in today's market, where nursing jobs are plentiful, searching for new employment can be stressful. There's the résumé to write and phone calls to make, as well as the negotiation of salaries and benefits. Add to that the concern that you still need to be on top of things in your current position—not to mention your personal life—and who has time to find another full-time job?

If you are looking for a new position, want to move to permanent work after doing per diem or travel nursing, or are relocating to a new city, there are a number of ways to go about finding a new employer. You can put your résumé on an online job site, call hospital human resource departments directly, or respond to want ads in local newspapers. Or you can save yourself some time and a lot of legwork by calling a placement agency, which will help you find exactly the right match for your needs.

At no cost to you, a permanent placement agency will act as your middleman and advisor. It's especially an excellent resource if you're moving and don't know an area or its facilities. An agency can help you draft a strong résumé, provide you with interview tips, and then push your information out to the appropriate hospitals (all with your input and permission).

Steve Taranto at Massachusetts General Hospital can't stress enough how important it is to work closely with a reputable agency to make sure you are properly represented during the recruiting process. "Nurses should seek someone who has a true, professional understanding of their role, skills and competencies," he suggests. "[Nurses] want to make sure they are represented by an ethical and forthright business." Taranto adds that he judges candidates as much by the agency they use as by their credentials.

How often do hospitals like Massachusetts General use agencies to find permanent workers? More than ever, given the current shortage. Taranto says his hospital looks to agencies to provide them "with a candidate we might not have heard from."

"Hospitals know that right now every resource utilized is a good resource," adds Manzo. "It's virtually a risk-free venture for them since they only pay a fee when a person starts."

Agencies focus mostly on hospital placements for RNs, but they may have other openings as well. If you want to be placed in a different type of facility, such as a nursing home or clinical research laboratory, it doesn't hurt to check with the agency to see if they have the appropriate contacts to find the right position for you.

In addition, an agency can find the right job for you regardless of your experience. Whether you're a new graduate, a 20-year veteran, or are coming back to the job after a few years away, a good agency can help you find a match.

The agency also can help you with the time-consuming legwork. It already should have established relationships with area facilities and therefore be able to ensure that facilities adequately review your information. In essence, the agency is marketing you by selling the facilities on your skills and capabilities.

Following a series of phone or onsite interviews coordinated by the agency, your agency recruiter then can take on the task that most job seekers hate: negotiating the contract. The agency can ensure that you get the salary, benefits, and shifts that you want, while you avoid what many consider an uncomfortable process with the hiring manager.

So when it comes time to switch jobs or settle down in a permanent position, consider your options. If you love the thrill of the hunt, have the time, and enjoy hammering out the details of your job benefits on your own, go the traditional route. But for those who want the kind of guidance and assistance that a third party can offer, try an agency. Once you find a reputable and responsive recruiting firm, your career opportunities will explode.