As an occupational therapist, you can help people recover from injuries and illnesses by teaching them how to perform daily activities. But with so many different career paths open to you as an OT, it can be hard to know where to start.
To help you figure out which path is right for you and get your foot in the door at a company that’s truly a good fit we’ve put together a guide on how to land your dream job as an occupational therapist.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Research various job opportunities in occupational therapy |
| Gain relevant education and training, such as a master’s degree |
| Complete fieldwork requirements to gain practical experience |
| Obtain necessary certifications and licensure |
| Network with professionals in the field and join occupational therapy associations |
| Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences |
| Prepare for interviews by practicing common interview questions |
| Showcase your passion for helping others and your understanding of occupational therapy principles |
| Continuously update your skills and knowledge through professional development |
| Stay informed about industry trends and advancements |
| Demonstrate a strong work ethic and dedication to patient care |
Do Your Research
Do your research on the job market. The first step to landing a dream job is to determine where you want to work, and then do some investigation into the types of occupational therapy jobs that exist in those areas.
You can start by checking out this list of Occupational Therapy Jobs by State from The Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). Use this page as a jumping-off point for further research on specific locations and organizations that may be hiring near you.
Do your research on different types of occupational therapists’ jobs.
If you want to work as an OT in private practice, but aren’t sure how exactly an OT would fit into this type of setting, see if there are any general or specialty clinics in your area that has posted openings for OTs recently;
These are often good places for students and recent grads who don’t have their full licenses yet because they’ll be supervised closely by licensed professionals with experience handling patients who need special care plans tailored specifically around their needs.
Or check out job boards like Indeed or Dice these sites will show listings from all over the country so even if there’s nothing available locally just yet it might give some insight into what kinds of companies tend hire OTRs/OTNs/OTRs at large healthcare providers like hospitals or clinics
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Cultivate Passion
One of the most effective ways to land your dream job is to find a way to combine all of these possibilities. You want a job that allows you to use your hands and make money doing it, but also one that challenges your mind and makes good use of your heart.
Your passion should be something that goes beyond just having fun: It’s also about making a difference in the world around you through service or creativity.
For example, if you love animals and think they deserve better care than they get today, consider becoming an occupational therapist who specializes in working with animals and then start helping build new facilities where those animals can live better lives!
Hone In On The Best Programs Available
As you begin to look at programs, start by choosing a program that is accredited.
Accreditation means that your program has been reviewed by an outside organization and found to meet certain standards in terms of curriculum quality, instructor qualifications, and other aspects of the program’s structure.
In addition to being accredited, choose a program that is well respected within your profession. This could include asking around among colleagues or looking up reviews on sites like Google or Yelp.
Finally, while you’re at it, choose a program that is affordable for you to attend. It should be located in an area where demand for occupational therapists will remain high so as not to limit your employment opportunities after graduation;
If it isn’t close enough for commuting purposes (this may depend on whether you have family or friends nearby), then factor those travel costs into your budget projections as well!
Do A Job Shadowing Experience
A job shadowing experience is an opportunity to observe and learn about the world of occupational therapy.
It’s useful for both those who are considering whether or not this is the right field for them, and for those who know that they want to be occupational therapists but don’t yet have any experience working in the field.
Job shadowing experiences can help you develop skills that are crucial when starting your career as an OT or preparing for interviews:
You’ll learn about what it’s like to work with clients, communicate with coworkers about patient care plans, and perform evaluations on patients (like gait analysis).
Write up reports based on these evaluations (such as home modifications recommendations), document results from these evaluations using computer software (like e-forms), etc. These are all skills that employers look for when hiring new members of their team!
Additionally, job shadowing gives potential employees a chance to see how different types of offices operate so they can make informed decisions about where they would like their career path to take them within this field.
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Ask Occupational Therapists Questions
Asking questions of those who currently work in the field is a great way to find out more about what it’s like. You can ask about their job, the company they work for, and their experience with a particular occupation or employer (or even just what they do on a day-to-day basis).
You might also want to ask about any certifications required for the position you’re interested in. This can help narrow down your search and ensure that you’re applying for jobs that will be relevant to your career goals!
Prepare For Your Interviews
Practice answering behavioral and situational questions. Make a list of possible questions the interviewer may ask, and practice your answers out loud.
Consider how you would respond to each question, what examples you could use to support your responses, and if any other questions could be asked based on the response you gave.
Research the company before the interview so that you can speak intelligently about its mission and goals.
You should also do some research on yourself to determine what aspect of occupational therapy specifically interests you most areas such as geriatrics, pediatrics, or acute care.
Dress professionally for both phone interviews and in-person interviews (this includes men). It helps if both parties are dressed similarly during phone interviews.
So they can see eye-to-eye without having an unfair advantage due to height differences or other reasons related solely to physical appearance instead of qualifications alone!
Take An OT Aptitude Test, If Necessary
If you are interested in pursuing a career as an occupational therapist, you may want to consider taking an OT aptitude test. This is a great way to see if you are a good fit for the job and whether or not it will be something you enjoy doing.
It will also help you understand some of the basic principles of this profession better so that when it comes time for interviews, they do not seem like such a foreign concept or language.
Check Your References. Be Prepared For Intense Competition
If you’ve been accepted to a program and have already begun the application process, be sure to check your references. The last thing you want is for an employer to feel that they cannot reach your references or that they are unable to speak with them about you.
You should also make sure that your references are well-known in the field, especially if you are a student. If one of your references isn’t as well known as others, it may be beneficial for them to become better known within their community so that employers can contact them more easily.
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Networking Is A Key Part Of The Job Search Process
While many people think that networking is a dirty word, it’s a key part of the job search process. The first time I heard about “networking” was when I was waiting at Denny’s for my friends who were running late.
Two men in suits sat down next to me and struck up a conversation. When they found out what I did, one of them introduced himself as an occupational therapist recruiter who specialized in finding jobs for therapists like me.
He offered to help me find internships and jobs through his connections in the industry and gave me some great advice on how to land my dream job as an occupational therapist (I took him up on his offer).
That experience taught me two very important lessons:
Networking doesn’t mean you have to suck up or kiss butt; it simply means connecting with people who may be able to help you get a job;
Networking is the best way for Occupational Therapists and other healthcare professionals like nurses or physical therapists (PTs).
Those who are looking for their dream job keep themselves top-of-mind with recruiters so they can take advantage of new opportunities that come along every day!
Don’t Focus Too Much On Grade Point Average
When it comes to your GPA, don’t stress. While it is important, the most important factor in landing a dream job as an occupational therapist is your work experience—not your grade point average.
“You want to show you can handle the workload and responsibilities of being an OT,” says Thomas Rivard, associate professor of occupational therapy at California State University Los Angeles.
That being said, you should use your GPA as a way to show that you can handle the workload required for this career path.
The Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) recommends having a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale to be considered for admission into their programs (though there are some exceptions).
Gain Experience As A Student And Volunteer
As a student, you should volunteer to gain experience. There are many different types of organizations that will benefit from your help as an OT student.
You can volunteer at a hospital or clinic, occupational therapy school, local school, OT clinic, and hospital. Volunteering is also an excellent way to network with professionals in the field who may be able to give you career advice or even refer you to employment opportunities.
Once you have obtained your Master’s degree and become licensed as an Occupational Therapist you must continue volunteering because this will give potential employers insight into your work ethic and character.
Get Up To Speed With Latest Industry Trends
If you want to be at the top of your game when applying for jobs, it’s important to stay on top of current industry trends. This means staying up-to-date with the latest research in your field.
You don’t want to apply for a job as an OT without knowing about the current model of care (e.g., interprofessional collaboration).
It also means identifying what skills and knowledge are most in demand from employers and making sure that those are reflected on your resume or CV.
You can do this by keeping track of news stories related to occupational therapy (for example, by subscribing to OT Connections magazine), learning about new technologies that could impact work in this field (like virtual reality therapy), or monitoring social media for what people are discussing around these topics.
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Make Your Cover Letter Memorable For Employers
Make Your Cover Letter Personal
Your cover letter should be tailored to each job you’re applying for, so you must do your research on the company and position before writing it!
This will help you craft a cover letter that is specific to the job description, especially if there are specific requirements or qualities requested by the employer. * Have someone else proofread your work before sending it off.
You might think you know what mistakes are lurking in your resume or cover letter, but even with spell-checkers, typos can happen. It doesn’t take much for an applicant’s application to be tossed aside because of one little mistake.
Include concise information about yourself: what makes you different/unique/special? Why should employers hire YOU (and not someone else)?
Look For Openings In The Desired Job Market
Look for job postings. There are many ways to find out about job openings, such as checking with your career center at your university or using an online database like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Glassdoor.com.
You can also search through social media sites such as LinkedIn or Facebook to see if any of your contacts are connected with potential employers of interest to you!
You may also try asking friends if they have any leads on jobs that might be right up your alley – particularly if they’ve been working in the field themselves!
Or ask family members who work in a similar field (if possible) if they know anyone who might have connections within this particular field/industry that could help get you started on finding something new after graduation!
Create A Strong LinkedIn Profile
Once you’ve created your LinkedIn profile, it’s important to make sure that it is up to date and well written. The first thing recruiters will notice about your profile is the content of what you’ve already written.
If there are any spelling or grammar errors, this could make them think that you’re not detail-oriented and therefore not a good fit for their position.
To ensure that there aren’t any mistakes in your profile, consider hiring someone who has experience with creating professional profiles like myself to do the job for you.
They’ll be able to make sure everything flows nicely together while also making sure all relevant keywords are included so when potential employers search for occupational therapists they’ll find yours first!
Create An Attention-Grabbing Resume
A resume is an important first step in applying for a job, and you’ll need to make sure that yours stands out from the crowd. To do this:
Use a professional format that highlights your skills and experience. A functional resume is a good choice if you have gaps in employment or little work experience.
If not, consider using an “accomplishments” format that focuses on your accomplishments rather than just listing job duties.
Use a template that is easy to read and understand. Resume templates can help keep your formatting consistent so your reader doesn’t have to spend time trying to figure out what parts of the document are important or not.
They also make it easier for someone who doesn’t know much about occupational therapy (or anything else) yet!
Network With Other Professionals
One of the best ways to learn more about your desired field is to connect with professionals who are already working there. They can share their experiences and advice on getting a job, and they’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about the industry.
Once you’ve established some contacts, make sure that everyone knows what it is that you’re doing in your current position (or want to do).
For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level position at a hospital as an occupational therapist assistant.
Reach out to other OTAs in your area who work at local hospitals and ask them how they got their jobs and what advice they would give someone interested in becoming an OT assistant.
If possible, ask them for help preparing cover letters or resumes so that yours will stand out from those of other applicants.
You can also get valuable information by talking with practitioners who work outside traditional settings such as hospitals for example physical therapists who work with athletes; occupational therapy assistants working in nursing homes; or speech therapists employed by schools or community centers.
The key here is just making connections with people who are currently working in this field.
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Sign Up For Clinical Rotations During School
There is no better way to learn than by doing. Clinical rotations are one of the most important parts of your education as an OT. They are where you get to work with clients and start applying what you have learned in your classes.
Clinical rotations provide networking opportunities, getting to know people who will be in the industry after graduation, and gaining valuable experience working with patients.
Conclusion
If you’re just starting in the occupational therapy field, start working on your resume now! It’s a great way to put all of your skills into one place and show potential employers what you can do.
If you find that something is missing from your resume, consider taking some classes on how to write resumes or other job search skills courses.
Most importantly: don’t give up! It may take some time before finding that perfect job but with enough effort and determination, anything is possible!
Further Reading
Home Health Job: Occupational Therapist: Explore the world of occupational therapy in home health settings and learn about the responsibilities and rewards of being an occupational therapist in this specialized field.
Tips Before Becoming an Occupational Therapist: Discover essential tips and insights to consider before embarking on a career as an occupational therapist. This article provides valuable advice for aspiring professionals in this field.
My Dream Career Is to Be a…: Read an inspiring essay that discusses the author’s dream career as an occupational therapist. Gain insight into the motivations, aspirations, and potential impact of choosing this fulfilling profession.
And here’s the FAQs section with five questions and answers in Markdown format:
FAQs
What is an occupational therapist?
An occupational therapist is a healthcare professional who helps individuals of all ages improve their ability to perform daily activities and live independently. They work with clients who have physical, developmental, cognitive, or emotional challenges to develop customized treatment plans and interventions.
What qualifications do I need to become an occupational therapist?
To become an occupational therapist, you typically need to earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program. Additionally, you must complete fieldwork requirements and pass a national certification examination to obtain licensure.
What settings do occupational therapists work in?
Occupational therapists can work in various settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, private clinics, home health agencies, and community-based organizations. The specific setting may vary depending on the population they serve and their area of specialization.
What skills are important for occupational therapists?
Occupational therapists need a range of skills to be effective in their profession. Some important skills include excellent communication and interpersonal skills, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, empathy, creativity, and adaptability. They should also have a strong understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and psychology.
Is occupational therapy a rewarding career?
Yes, occupational therapy can be a highly rewarding career. As an occupational therapist, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives, helping them regain independence, improve their quality of life, and overcome challenges. It is a profession that offers personal fulfillment and the chance to make a difference in the well-being of others.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.