​I've experienced international recruitment from two very different sides: first as a nurse who decided to take a chance on a career abroad, and later as founder and CEO of Vitae Professionals. Over these last 15 years, I've supported thousands of healthcare professionals and professionals from other fields as they pursued their international projects, and one lesson keeps repeating itself: the agency you choose can be the difference between a transformative experience and an expensive disappointment.

Most candidates focus on the salary on offer or the destination, and end up giving little thought to who will actually be representing them throughout the process. Before signing any contract, there are questions I consider essential.

How long has the agency been operating in the market?

Experience matters, and it matters in very practical ways: an agency that has worked in a market for several years has already faced problems you haven't encountered yet, has already adjusted processes that failed the first time around, and has already built relationships with employers, regulatory bodies and local organisations that simply can't be created overnight. When I founded Vitae Professionals, I quickly realised that international recruitment couldn't be treated as simple job intermediation — it requires understanding each candidate's needs, the requirements of the destination country, and the real challenges of cultural adaptation. It's worth asking how many years the company has existed, which countries it operates in, and how many candidates it has already placed. A serious agency has these numbers on hand and won't hesitate to share them.

Does the agency work directly with employers?

This is one of the most relevant questions, and curiously, one of the least asked. Not every agency has a direct relationship with the organisation that will actually be hiring; some rely on intermediaries, which opens the door to communication breakdowns, delays and a lack of transparency. Confirm whether the contract will be signed directly with the hospital or company, whether there's a direct relationship between the agency and the end employer, and who your point of contact will be throughout the process. The closer the agency is to the employer, the greater its real capacity to solve problems when they arise — and they always do.

What support do I receive before the move?

Accepting an international offer is only the beginning of the journey; the difference is made in the preparation. A good agency helps you understand the healthcare system or job market of the destination country, the cultural differences you'll encounter, the real cost of living, the required documentation, and the professional registration process. If an agency simply sends you an offer and expects you to figure out the rest on your own, that says a great deal about how focused it really is on your long-term success.

Does the support end once I arrive?

The answer should always be no. The first months in a new country tend to be the most demanding, and that's when questions about housing, professional integration, cultural adaptation and, often, emotional challenges that no one anticipated start to surface. Ask whether there's follow-up support after arrival, whether there's a team available to help with integration, and how support contacts actually work in practice. In my experience, the success of a placement isn't measured at the moment of hiring, but in the professional's journey over the following months.

Are there any costs for the candidate?

This question deserves a clear, direct answer, with no beating around the bush. Are there recruitment fees? Are there administrative costs? Are there optional paid services? Any amount involved must be explained from the very start — transparency here isn't a nice-to-have, it's the bare minimum.

Can I speak with professionals who have already been through this?

Nothing replaces the experience of someone who has already walked the same path. A trustworthy agency can offer real testimonials, success stories, or put you in touch with professionals who have already been placed through its services. These conversations help confirm — or debunk — what you're being promised.

Does the agency truly understand my profession?

As a nurse, I've always believed that recruiting healthcare professionals requires more than just knowing which vacancies are available. It requires understanding the clinical reality, the day-to-day challenges of the profession, career expectations, and the emotional weight that moving to another country carries. The same applies to other fields: is the agency specialised in your sector, does the team understand the specific requirements of your profession, does it have hands-on experience with your profile? That specialisation makes an enormous difference in the quality of support you'll receive.

Is the process transparent from start to finish?

Be wary of easy promises. If someone guarantees extraordinary salaries, fast progression or a hassle-free process without going into detail, that's a reason to dig deeper. A serious agency talks about the challenges as openly as the opportunities — ask what the main obstacles might be, what the average timelines look like, and what happens when something doesn't go as planned. The way they answer these questions says more about the organisation than any promotional material ever could.

The decision that can change your career

Working internationally remains one of the most transformative decisions a professional can make. I lived that experience as a nurse, and since then I've watched thousands of people grow, both personally and professionally, through it. But the success of that journey begins long before boarding the plane — it begins with the choice of who will accompany you.

Before choosing an international recruitment agency, ask questions. The answers you get say more about the quality of the organisation than any advertising campaign ever will.

After 15 years helping professionals build international careers, I still believe this work isn't just about finding jobs. It's about building trust, opening opportunities, and standing by people through some of the most important moments of their lives. And that, precisely, is the difference between an agency that merely recruits and an agency that truly cares about your future.