5 Tips For Your OT Job Hunt
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.
Narrow the Search: Pick your favorite job search engines. My top 3 were: Indeed, LinkedIn, and Google Jobs. I found them all to be user-friendly but I especially loved that Indeed allowed you to upload your resume and sometimes apply for a job with just one click. Quick and easy! I also used the filter options to remain in the location I wanted, and my desired salary range.
Stay Organized: I kept a list of all the jobs I’d applied to, heard back from, and who I’d scheduled either a phone or in person interview with as well as who I needed to follow up with. I also used this list to rank the jobs in order of how interested I was and made notes on key aspects of the job I liked or disliked. I used the “Notes” app on my phone (with appropriate emojis like thumbs up and thumbs down) but if you’re feeling fancy, you can make your own excel sheet!
Preparation: Write a cover letter. Just do it. I cannot stress this enough especially as a new graduate with limited clinical experiences. You are up against dozens of therapists, some with decades under their belt and you’re going to need more than a resume to stand out. I had a “master” one that I individualized for each position. It goes a long way and really shows your future employer a lot about you.
Ace that Interview: We know the basics: get a good night’s rest, eat a well balanced breakfast, and dress professionally. Also make sure to research the company, know their vision or mission statement and find ways to tie in key terms during the interview. Come prepared with at least 2-3 questions and also come with a number in mind in case you are asked your desired salary. This actually threw me off during my first interview. Know the average salary for that setting and area to refer to. Remember to be yourself and smile :)
BONUS: To negotiate or not to negotiate: So you got the job! Of course you did. Now, negotiate. That’s right, you, a new graduate can negotiate. You can of course ask for the obvious like a higher wage but also think about asking for allowances for CEU’s, additional PTO/vacation, sick days, mileage reimbursement (home care folks). Most important though is justifying, it’s great if you have several offers to use as leverage but also be sure to highlight your unique skills, and fresh ideas as a new graduate. They offered you the job, so they recognize you’re a great candidate. The worst they can do is say no but you’ll never know if you don’t ask and let me tell you I am SO happy I took this advice from someone else and negotiated for my first job. They said yes AND I now feel confident about having this conversation in the future!
For those of you navigating the job hunt in the midst of COVID, I am thinking of you! Hopefully these tips will still be valuable to you whether you have a virtual interview, or in person wearing a mask - just remember to smile with your eyes :)