Written by Remi Bampton
Well, the time has come for me to start looking for a position as an occupational therapist. How wild is that! I thought I might bring you along for the ride and share some of the tips and advice I received along the way.
The First Step: Figuring Out Where You Want to Work
The first step is figuring out what area or setting you would like to work in. Occupational therapy is such a broad profession, so narrowing down my search will help me.
My mum gave me some great advice: find jobs that you actually want to apply for, rather than just applying for everything. Taking this advice on board, I narrowed my list down to:
- Mental health settings
- Inpatient rehabilitation settings
- Private practices that service my preferred caseload – older adults
Okay, so now that I have a better idea of where I might want to work based on my placement experiences and interests, I know what jobs to look for and how to tailor my resume.
So, the next steps are getting my resume and cover letter ready and developing my interview skills!
Getting My Resume Ready
To do this, I utilised the Charles Sturt Careers Hub (which I have a blog on, so check it out!) to help me write my resume based on my placement experiences.
The Hub lets you create and download your resume for free. It provides different prompts and advice about which style would be best suited to the type of work or position you are applying for. It also saves your information within the portal.
So, if you’re reading this before you embark on your placements, I suggest writing down each experience as you complete each placement. This ensures you capture the skills you have learnt while they are still fresh in your mind, saving you a lot of time later!
The portal also offers interview resources and e-learning to help you feel more confident before attending an interview. I also discuss this in my previous blog, so check it out if you would like to know more!
Applying for the Job
When you’re ready to start looking, places like SEEK, LinkedIn, Jora, Indeed and I Work for NSW are good places to start.
Read the job description and think about whether the opportunity is actually something you want to work towards. There is no point wasting your time applying for a job when you already know it isn’t going to be something you enjoy or want to do.
Okay… so you’ve found a job you like and you’ve uploaded your resume.
I suggest adding a cover letter as well. I like to base my cover letter on what the team is looking for. For example, if they are looking for someone with good time management skills, I let them know how I have developed and applied those skills.
But I also see the cover letter as a chance to show my personality and enthusiasm for the position.
One piece of advice I was given was that recruiters and business owners are human too! They want to work with personable people. They want to see your personality as well as your professional skills – and the Careers Hub can help with this too.
Okay, you’ve applied for the job. Sometimes you hear back and sometimes you don’t, unfortunately. But that’s all part of the process, so don’t let it deter you!
The Interview
When you do hear back and get an interview, it’s an exciting and nerve-wracking time. You have to meet the team and put yourself out there, which can definitely be scary!
But fear not. You have to remember that as much as you are interviewing for the position, you are also interviewing the company to make sure their structure, support and workplace are going to meet your needs.
One way to ease some of the nerves before an interview is to prepare questions beforehand. I recommend going in with a few questions ready, as this is something you can control.
I asked questions about things like supervision and what a typical day looks like for a new grad. These questions not only helped me understand the position better, but also helped me work out whether I could see myself working there.
My Top Interview Tips
My top tips for the interview would be to relax, focus on what you can control (your outfit, smile and attitude), and remember that your interviewer wants to get to know you, not just your experience.
Have fun with it!
What is meant to be will be! I am a firm believer that rejection is an opportunity for growth and development. It allows you to reflect on areas where you can improve, and hey, you might just get an even better opportunity!
And with all that being said… I am happy to say that I secured a position! It feels surreal to say that after all the years of studying, placements and hard work, I finally have my first OT position! All the hard work has paid off! So, trust in yourself! You’ve got this.
P.S. My interview was over coffee, so they can be fun too!
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