Remember a few weeks ago we spent time talking about negotiation? Well, if you missed that series I highly suggest you go back and catch up because to be honest, negotiating and asking for a pay raise isn’t all that different. And before I move on any further, yes, I highly recommend doing both…even if you’re a new graduate fresh outta school. Anyways, let’s talk through six steps you need to take BEFORE you run to your boss to ask for a pay raise so that you can increase your chances of success!
So you’ve just graduated from your occupational therapy program - hooray! Such an exciting time, am I right?Now, I know this may not be on the forefront of your mind because you have some time before license renewal BUT it’s never too early to start thinking about your plan for obtaining your Continuing Education Units (CEUs). There are a lot of CEU options out there depending on what you’re interested in learning about, your preferred method (virtual vs. in person) and your budget because some of the courses can be quite pricey. Today, let’s chat through five specific ways you can save money on obtaining the CEU credits that you need. Oh wait, you didn’t think I wouldn’t find a way to tie in personal finance with this, did you? Ha! Okay, let’s get into it!
When it comes to thinking about the type of position that’s going to be best for you, there are several factors to consider and it can be somewhat overwhelming to know which you should choose. One of the toughest factors to understand is the difference between an independent contracting (1099) position vs an employee (W2) position. The reason this can be tough is because there are a lot of intricate details between the positions and each one has it’s advantages and disadvantages. There is certainly no “right” or “wrong” decision because everyone’s situation is going to be different. With that being said, one of my main goals is to help you make as informed of a decision as possible, especially when there is a financial implication involved. So let’s break down FIVE key differences with how an independent contracting position differs from an employee position.
Work life balance is hard. I’m not even going to sit here and pretend I’ve got it all figured out because I don’t. I have not always been the best about maintaining a healthy work life balance, even as a student. I love to stay busy and take advantage of all the opportunities that come my way. However, balance is so important. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, in order to show up professionally, it’s imperative that we take care of ourselves and our personal needs, first. It’s not selfish, it’s essential. So, if you’re trying to get better about maintaining a healthy work life balance, especially as a new OT, here are FIVE tips that have been working well for me.
Occupational Therapy: the profession with endless possibilities. And when I say endless, I mean endless. While it can be fun and exciting to have so many options at your fingertips, it can also be extremely overwhelming, especially if you didn’t have a strong preference when you started your program. While I personally knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted to go into pediatrics, I still needed to narrow down which setting I wanted to be in. There are so many factors and considerations to keep in mind when trying to decide what setting might be a good fit for you.
I have officially been elected for a second term as an executive board member for the Arizona Occupational Therapy Association and I couldn’t be more thrilled! I initially chose to run for this position last year because although I love our profession and our organization, I realized that we can do more and be better for the families and individuals that we serve. I reflected on the bigger picture and specifically my role as a healthcare clinician. Why am I here? What is my role? What more can I do? What level do I need to be involved in to create change? Maybe you’re asking yourself these same questions. Maybe you’re thinking about joining your state’s professional organization. Well, here are some reasons to consider it!
This time 2 years ago I was knee deep in studying for the NBCOT! I know many of you have graduated from your OT programs and are preparing to start studying - if you haven’t already started. So let’s chat through some practical tips to prepare for the NBCOT exam.
If you’re anything like me, the task of job hunting for a position in your field can be the most exciting yet stressful time of your life. After all, you’ve worked so hard and you’re finally in your dream career but now you have to find the perfect position. Daunting, I know. Below are some tips that helped me narrow my search, ace my interview and find the perfect position straight out of school.
So you’ve graduated OT school - woo hoo! You scheduled your board exam for a couple of months away and know you’ll be spending the majority of your time studying. But what should you do when you’re not studying? What else is important? The time between graduation and actually starting to practice as an OT can feel kind of like living in a limbo. At least it did for me! While I dedicated a good chunk of my time to studying, I still found I had quite a bit of free time. So I wanted to chat about some productive (and fun!) ways you can spend time when your nose isn’t buried in the books.
Anyone else not a huge fan of resume writing? I always struggle to know what relevant information to include and more importantly, how to state it concisely. Admittedly, I can be a bit wordy. I used to always get called out for having too much “fluff” in my papers. I can’t help it, I like to talk!
