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Congratulations! You’ve submitted to a facility, and received an interview. Since you impressed the hiring manager so much, they want you to come work with them for the next 13 weeks. Your recruiter just notified you that you have a contract sitting in your inbox, just waiting for your signature. This can evoke so many emotions including excitement and some anxieties. Before you sign that contract, you want to make sure you have everything lined up and ready to go. This checklist will help you feel confident before you sign the bottom line and hit the road.
Secure housing - Before making any final decisions on accepting a contract, make sure you have an affordable place to stay for the 3 months you are away from home. Whether you’re packing your car and staying in an air bnb or loading up the RV and staying long term at a resort, make sure you have housing arrangements finalized.
Mail - before leaving your home address, make sure you have someone to check and forward your mail like registrations, bills, and any important documents. Some travelers will forward their mail to their new address, however this can complicate things when you transfer locations after a contract.
Route - It’s always a good idea to have your route from home to your assignment planned out in advance. If you are stopping along the way, you can choose your hotels or rest stop destinations beforehand. Letting a close friend or family member know your route and stops is recommended. You might even want to share your phone location with a family member so they can check your progress along the way.
Cookware - If you plan on cooking while on assignment, make sure you bring your favorite cookware with you. This is a great way to help stay healthy and save money while on assignment.
Spices - Similarly to cookware, bring along any of your favorite spices. A good spice cabinet takes years to build up and can be expensive. It’s nice to have a few familiar flavors with you instead of starting from scratch once you arrive at your new location.
Read contract - Double check that everything you agreed upon with your recruiter is written out on your contract. This includes your hourly rate, travel stipend, housing and meal stipends, overtime rate, shift, days off, start and end date... Pretty much anything that your recruiter promised you, should be written in the contract. So read it very closely before you sign.
Hobby items - Hiking boots, running shoes, guitar, harmonica, snorkeling gear, golf clubs, boxing gloves… etc. Anything that brings you joy in your past time, make sure you bring along with you. You will have many new things to do and discover on assignment, but you will still want to partake in the things that make you feel at home. Just try to pack lightly. Only bring an item if you use it regularly, and KNOW it will serve a purpose over the next 3 months.
Vehicle Maintenance - You are about to go on a several hundred or thousand mile journey. Preventative maintenance is always better than a surprise on the road. Go get your oil changed and have a multi-point vehicle inspection. Make sure you have a spare tire, and know how to use it. Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Once you complete the checklist and are confident in your arrangements, go ahead and sign your contract. During your travels, keep note of what you use and what seems to be extra weight. Your list may evolve as you go so feel free to add and share in the comment section what your checklist looks like before you take an assignment.
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