Have you ever wanted to combine travel and work?  With occupational therapy jobs on nearly every travel healthcare board, now might be a good time to explore the possibilities!

So how do you decide whether a travel gig is right for you?

Of course, I can’t answer that, but I can help you get started!

First, answer questions in each of the groups below– feel free to ad lib – you can even create your own set of questions!

Sort your answers into pros and cons.  Remember there are no wrong answers – your pro could easily be someone else’s con.

Capture your list on a white board or a big sheet of paper – use size or color coding to emphasize the points most important to you. At the end of the exercise, if the pros outweigh the cons, start researching a new travel healthcare path in earnest.

Career Impact:  What makes this option exciting?  What could you find in a travel job that is missing from your current job?  What career goal could a travel gig help you reach?  Are there any risks to your career with this path? Are you confident in your professional experience?  Are you okay working independently?  How do you feel about being a short-term employee that might lack an on-the-job network?

Personal Impact:  What would you risk personally with this move?  What is the worst thing that could happen to you if you took this path?  What is the best thing that could happen if you took this path? What is going to be the most difficult aspect?  Will the change bring more joy to your life?  What is most appealing or the most unappealing: a new OT setting, a new city, or new co-workers?  Do you adapt easily to change?  Do you like working with a variety of people?  Are you willing to ask questions and rely on others to be successful?

Logistics: Will you have to rent your home?  Do you have pets that you could not bring with you?  Is your car reliable?  Are you ready to go it alone without a support network close by?  Do you have friends or family members that rely on you?  Are you a seasoned traveler or a novice traveler?  What if you end up with time off between assignments?  Could you weather a  stretch without work financially?

Hope you had fun exploring these questions.  Let me know if you are closer to exploring a travel career!