No matter how much you enjoy your job, it’s called “work” for a reason, and even the happiest and most fulfilled employee or business owner will tell you that there are downsides to the job. No matter how much the good outweighs the bad, a career as a traveling medical professional will have its downsides, too.
We’re here to tell you about some of the commonly-viewed downsides to traveling for work. More importantly, though, we’re here to let you know what you can do to prepare for these downsides to keep them from becoming a problem. Here’s our list of some downsides to traveling for work, and how you can avoid them:
- Missing connections.
During an extended assignment away from home, you probably won’t be able to attend your book club meetings, or do your normal community service. Some of your community-based activities and interests may have to be set aside during your travels–a big change for someone closely connected to their community. Fortunately, many of these projects can be picked up in the future, and in the mean time, wherever you’re placed will likely have similar groups for you to join. Finding substitutes in your new community is a great way to ensure that you don’t miss out too much on your connection with the community. - Time away from family.
If you come from the kind of family who still has dinner together every Sunday, your first few weeks of travel may be difficult. And if you have a family of your own (even if your children are older and more independent), you’re still likely to miss being away from them. The good news? Technology (like Facebook, and Skype, for instance) makes it easier than ever to communicate with your family while you’re away. If your family isn’t with you in your travels, you may still miss them, but staying in touch over the computer is still a good way to hold you over while you’re gone. - Loneliness.
Traveling healthcare professionals tend to be the outgoing types who find a way to fit in easily and quickly with a new group of co-workers. Even so, traveling for work can be lonely. Luckily, loneliness is easily avoidable. Even if you’re not traveling with a spouse or partner (or a dog or cat), new travel opportunities also bring with them the chance to meet new people. While there is a risk of loneliness if you don’t do your part, travel also brings the chance of meeting great people you wouldn’t come in contact with otherwise. - Getting lost.
A point that’s not considered very often when thinking about travel is the likely chance getting lost at some point. Whether it’s en route to your new city, missing an exit on your first day of work, or trying to fit your key into your neighbor’s lock because you got off the elevator on the wrong floor, getting adjusted to a new city and environment can be tough. This is fortunately a very manageable problem. Taking the time to plan will help you get into a routine, which will have you back up to speed on your new location sooner rather than later.
While traveling for work as a traveling medical professional isn’t without its downsides, these downsides are very manageable, and are countered by the many upsides of the job. Knowing what to prepare for is key, and if you go into your first day on the job prepared for what’s to come, chances are that everything listed here won’t ever become a problem.
And remember: your recruiter is always here to help. If you run into any problems with your travels, don’t ever hesitate to contact us. We’re just a call or email away.
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photo credit: ondrej.lipar via photopin cc
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