In looking for nursing work, there are typically two routes: you look for opportunities yourself or you go through a recruitment agency. Recruitment agencies help aspiring nurses find jobs that match their skillset. How many recruitment agencies should you apply for? What are the benefits of sticking with one recruitment agency? Continue reading to find out!

How many recruitment agencies should you apply for?

This is a tricky question as there is no exact rule on how many recruitment agencies you should affiliate yourself with. However, there are benefits of sticking with one recruitment agency. From stronger connections to less paperwork, having one recruitment agency can be beneficial in the long run.

Stronger connections and relationships 

Recruitment agencies typically assign one consultant or staff who works closely with you in looking for job opportunities. One of the benefits of sticking with one recruitment agency is being able to build stronger relationships with your assigned consultant.

The more you coordinate with the staff of your recruitment agency, the better they know you. They will know what kind of opportunities you like, your skillset, your preferred shift schedule, and other details that can help them find a good job match for you.

These relationships will also help you in the long run. If you show good performance, you will become top of mind when new nursing work opportunities come.

Matched skillset

There are times when your recruitment agency gives you a job offer only for you to find out later on that it does not match your skillset. This can be wasteful of time, energy, and resources.

Instances like this can be avoided when you only have one agency. Finding a job that is a great fit for your skills is among the benefits of sticking with one recruitment agency. Because the staff already knows you, they are already aware of your skillset. With this, it will be easier for them to find you a job that is a perfect match for your abilities.

If you have multiple recruitment agencies, you might get bombarded with way too many offers. Some of which might not fit your skills.

Preferred shifts

If you are already affiliated with one recruitment agency for a long time, they will already know what shifts you prefer. When a job opens with the shift that you like, you will be one of their top considerations for the role.

In comparison, having many recruitment agencies handle your resume might get overwhelming. This happens when you receive offers left and right but the positions are not as you desired. You will have to spend time going through the offers one by one only to decline them.

With many recruitment agencies, you might also land a job in different healthcare facilities. While this is not entirely a bad thing, it can get disappointing especially if you have an ideal job in mind.

Less admin and paperwork

Let’s admit it: admin and paperwork can be quite exhausting. Imagine having to fill out many forms and produce and submit documents. Multiply that by the number of recruitment agencies you are applying for.

Unlike hiring positions where you just typically submit a cover letter and resume, recruitment agencies require more. In fact, recruitment agencies often have an extensive application and compliance process.

Because they are accountable for the nurses under their care, they should ensure that they only have quality nurses on their roster. Documents, certifications, reference checks, and mandatory training are among their possible requirements.

This does not only happen in the application process. It goes beyond that, even when you are already signed with them. You have to accomplish many forms and requirements which can get mentally and physically taxing. This is time which you could have used in doing other things.

Quite the contrary, part of the benefits of sticking with one recruitment agency is less paperwork. You only have to comply once and spend the remaining time on nursing work.

Better opportunities

Loyalty and hard work pay off. Getting better opportunities is one of the benefits of sticking with one recruitment agency. If your agency sees that you are loyal to them and you have shown good clinical work, you will be their go-to nurse.

Part of giving you more work opportunities is offering roles that will help you grow. Receive nursing position offers that are new to you and will teach you new knowledge and skills. Find career opportunities and promotions that will help you reach your full potential.

The best thing? Your recruitment agency can vouch for you as they have already seen the kind of work you put out. 

Sticking with one recruitment agency

The benefits of sticking with one recruitment agency are many, including stronger relationships with your agency, matching your skills, preferred shifts, less paperwork, and better opportunities. Having many recruitment agencies call you for offers might sound enticing. However, it can get exhausting when you have to deal with many offers that you don’t like. It is nice to stick with one recruitment agency that knows your skillset and work preference.