This is part of a series of testimonials from candidates who have successfully been placed by The Execu|Search Group. This testimonial comes from Stephanie Weeks; you can find our past testimonials here.
When Occupational Therapist, Stephanie Weeks, decided to pursue a career in travel healthcare, she was looking for a staffing partner who could help her make the transition. After researching several travel therapy staffing organizations, she spoke with Rob Palermo, a Director within our Travel Allied Healthcare division, and knew she had found the right match for her search. Now settled in Brooklyn, NY, covering two OT assignments, Stephanie had a positive experience and was happy to speak to us about it. Here’s what she had to say:
On her background…
I am originally from Florida and attended undergraduate and graduate school at the University of Florida. After graduating with my Master’s of Occupational Therapy, I moved to North Carolina and worked in an acute care and inpatient rehabilitation hospital for almost four years. I’ve always had an interest in travel occupational therapy, and finally decided to pursue that path.
On what she was looking for…
Beginning a career as a travel therapist can be a daunting experience, so I was looking for a temporary staffing firm that would be receptive to my individual needs and would support me both personally and professionally. While researching several travel therapy companies, I came across The Execu|Search Group, and was drawn to them based on their core values and the fact that they are headquartered in New York City (which is where I wanted to move). After speaking directly with my now recruiter, Rob, I knew that Execu|Search would be the right fit for me and my long-term career goals.
On how TESG worked to meet her needs…
Deciding to move to NYC and pursue a travel career in OT – much less arranging this to happen from North Carolina – was an intimidating task. The Execu|Search Group ensured all my needs were being met and addressed all my concerns during each step of my career transition. From securing my housing to arranging my schedule, Rob and his team went above and beyond to ensure I had nothing to worry about. The additional support I received from Mindy Booth, my clinical mentor, has been instrumental in my ability to successfully work in a new practice setting, a school system.
On preparing for the interview…
Since I was living in North Carolina while I was interviewing for jobs in New York, Rob helped arrange a series of phone and video interviews. Before each meeting, Rob called me to review the specifics of the role and was able to brief me on the qualities prospective employers were looking for in candidates. This helped me ensure I was able to put my best foot forward on each interview and could confidently describe my skills and abilities as they related to the position.
On her overall experience…
Now that I have started this new chapter as a Travel Occupational Therapist, I can confidently say that The Execu|Search Group has surpassed my expectations of what I was initially looking for in a staffing firm. In addition to securing two school assignments for me, Rob and his team have found me per diem work at a few local healthcare facilities. Better yet, I’m genuinely enjoying this experience!
“Stephanie and I have a great rapport,” says Rob. “I wanted to make sure her transition into travel therapy was as seamless as possible, so I took the time to fully understand her needs and address her concerns before starting the search process. Overall, she has been a pleasure to work with and I am excited to partner with her on all future career endeavors!”
