Staff Spotlight – Charity Crawford, Senior Rock Star Recruiter!

June 19, 2020 | posted by Owen Davies

Get to know Charity Crawford, our newest Rock Star Recruiter!

You took a break from recruiting to teach English abroad. What was that like, and what made you decide to get back into travel nurse recruiting?

Yes, I taught English in Thailand for over a year, and volunteered teaching in Peru for a couple months. It was enormously fulfilling; I think I just missed being close to my family, but I also missed the relationships I was able to build as a recruiter. Some travelers I’ve kept in touch with for over 10 years, even though many of them aren’t traveling anymore. You can build lifelong friendships and connections with people, and not many careers offer that opportunity.

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

Dog person, without a doubt. I like to feel that I’m loved and needed, and cats just don’t do that for me.

If you had to pick one type of food to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Probably Greek/Mediterranean food. I crave it a lot, and it’s the food I missed the most when I was traveling abroad. I’ll eat hummus on just about anything.

What’s your favorite outdoor activity?

Kayaking – I love being on the water.

If you had to delete all but three apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?

Google maps, Momondo (flight app), and … ugh … Candy Crush.

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What’s your favorite thing about living in Texas?

The fact that it rarely snows. I’ve lived in the Midwest for most of my life, and have dealt with some pretty harsh winters. It’s built a lot of character, but I think I have plenty of character now and don’t need to go back. That, and my sister lives here and she has really cute kids.

You win a $5,000 shopping spree to the store of your choice, which store do you pick?

Camping World – I’d like to get a camper or RV someday, but I’d settle for a kayak and some camping equipment.

It’s Friday night in Ft. Worth and you must pick one restaurant to go to, what do you pick and why?

Oh gosh, you should definitely check back with me again down the road on this one – I’ve only lived in the area for a year now and have barely scratched the surface with restaurants. For now, I’d probably pick Babe’s Chicken Dinner House. It’s a local favorite. They’ve got a limited menu, but everything on the menu is just like Grandma’s cooking.

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken?

My first real vacation is my favorite vacation ever. My family took a trip when I was a kid through South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado. We visited places like the Mitchell Corn Palace, the Badlands, Wall Drug, Devil’s Tower, and Rocky Mountain National Park. We camped out in several places. I convinced myself that jackalopes were real. My dad injured his eye on a bungee cord and got altitude sickness. It was straight out of a National Lampoon’s movie.

Who was your celebrity idol growing up?

I was obsessed with figure skating in the Olympics so probably Kristi Yamaguchi and Scott Hamilton (I’m totally aging myself, aren’t I?)

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I am a travel addict so this is a nearly-impossible question for me to answer because of course I want to go EVERYWHERE. There’s a lot of Europe that I have yet to see, so I’ll pick anywhere in Scandinavia.

What are you currently binge watching?

I’m on Season 3 of Ozark at the moment, and working my way through Parks and Recreation. I always have a funny show and a serious show that I’m watching at the same time. It’s called balance.

Favorite movie of all time?

The Big Lebowski. I love almost everything that the Coen Brothers have done.

If you could be a contestant on a reality TV/game show, which show would you pick?

Wheel of Fortune. I’m a sucker for the classics. I like to think I’m pretty good at it, too.

If you could have dinner with three famous people dead or alive, who would you pick?

Brené Brown – I love her so much! Her work on courage and vulnerability really resonates with me, and has made a profound difference in my life.

Henry VIII – I’d probably want to have a couple bodyguards present for security, but I’m fascinated by the Tudor dynasty, and would really like to know what the heck this guy’s deal was.

Gandhi – I have a feeling I could learn quite a lot in a short amount of time from him.

What would you say is your spirit animal?

Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. Infectious energy, positive, funny, adorable…the list goes on.

Why work with Axis? Because we treat our nurses like Rockstars!

What’s your caffeinated beverage of choice?

Coffee. Straight up. I don’t drink pop (as we call it in the Midwest).

What’s your favorite music genre?

I’ve got a special affinity for Australian rock bands at the moment. I’ll usually listen to anything indie/alternative.

Who are the top 3 artists on your Spotify/Itunes?

I’m currently jamming to a lot of Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Beach House.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Flying, without a doubt. Imagine how much money I’d save on flights! I’d probably need to figure out something from a baggage standpoint though.

What’s one thing you absolutely can’t live without?

Air conditioning. This Texas heat doesn’t mess around, y’all.

What’s something your nurses would be surprised to know about you?

I’m fairly talented in the music department. I have been known to grace the stage at a karaoke bar and raise a few eyebrows…with my vocal ability, of course. I played French horn all through school and college and won scholarships for it. Music has always been a huge part of my life.

What’s your favorite thing about being a travel nurse recruiter?

It’s tough to pick one favorite. I love getting to know people from all over the country, and following their adventures. I also love that this job never has a dull moment.

If you could offer a travel nurse one piece of advice, what would it be?

Flexibility and open communication are essential to being a successful traveler and having a solid traveler/recruiter relationship. And it goes both ways!

Finally, what do you like most about working at Axis?

I love that I can be 100% myself and bring my strengths to the table. Authenticity is such an important part of any successful business and culture. I also love that Axis takes a quality over quantity approach when it comes to working with candidates and travelers. I want to be able to build a healthy, trusting relationship with my travelers without having to worry about making hundreds of calls or being fearful of missing a quota. It’s a people-first approach that really appeals to me as both a recruiter and an employee.