For Professionals
Career Advice
Practical guidance for building a healthcare career across per diem, contract, travel, and direct-hire work.
Decide what kind of schedule you want
- Per diem work offers flexibility shift by shift and suits professionals who want control over their calendar.
- Local contracts provide a set number of weeks at one facility with a predictable schedule.
- Travel assignments involve working away from your home area for a defined contract period.
- Direct-hire placement means you are hired by the facility as their own employee.
Keep your profile recruiter-ready
- Keep one current resume saved as a PDF and update it whenever you finish an assignment.
- Track license and certification expiration dates in one place so nothing lapses.
- Save clear photos or scans of your license, certifications, CPR/BLS card, and ID.
- Respond quickly to recruiter messages — many shifts are filled the same day they are posted.
Questions worth asking before you accept an assignment
- What unit will I be working on, and what is the typical patient load?
- What are the shift times, and is overtime available or expected?
- What is the orientation process and who will I report to?
- What documentation system does the facility use?
Questions about anything in this resource? Email info@vlcstaffing.com and a member of the VitaLink Connect Staffing team will help.
More resources
For Professionals
Interview Preparation
How to prepare for a recruiter screen and a facility interview.
For Professionals
Resume Preparation
A clean, factual healthcare resume format recruiters and facilities can read quickly.
Compliance
Credentialing Checklist
The documents VitaLink typically collects so your file is ready for facility submission.