Finding that FIRST job

After getting through those two gruelling years of exams, papers (GROUP papers included, which is still the most ridiculous idea I have ever had to take part in), readings, random assignments, clinical placements, research projects, and hopefully some bar nights to undwind, it's finally time to get down to the nitty gritty and secure yourself a job to help you pay off your student loans. Yes, you can still get a job with a provisional license even if you have not yet passed your CAOT exam, that's not the problem here. The issue at hand is more about getting hired. By somebody. By ANYBODY.

This post will hopefully not be relevant for the upcoming graduates but unfortunately the current trend seems to be lack of employment opportunities across the board. Just a few years ago OT grads were being sought after by employers like Justin Bieber is by tweenie boppers. Unfortunately, our economy encountered something called "the recession" (we all remember that one?) and the healthcare sector is just feeling the shockwave now. Jobs are fewer and farther between but the number of new graduates are increasing. That just triples the competition.

1) Take some time off:

My first piece of advice would be, consider taking some time off. If you can afford it. Once you start working, it will be hard to get away. If you've always dreamed of backpacking across Europe, do it now. Not that exploring Europe in grungy clothing and surfing hostels full of bed bugs was something I was wanting to do, but I definitely felt like I should have taken some time to just go and LIVE. It's not impossible now, but I do know that it will take some careful planning and perhaps some sacrifices.

2) Network:

Talk to your preceptors, see if they know anyone or can connect you with anyone in the field. Talk to your friends, your classmates. This is in fact how I got my first job - I got word from a friend that there was an opening so I jumped on the opportunity and got the job. Another key point in networking is to go out and just submit your resume to practice leaders of different hospitals, and to any place that might hire an OT (e.g. private practice, school districts). And STAY IN CONTACT. Follow-up every month or two, so they know you're still looking or interested.

3) Settle... for now:

This is the advice I hate to give as I'm not a settler by any means. Ambition is wonderful, and I highly encourage it. However, in this field, you need to work your way up. Take casual positions at hospitals. Take positions in private practice. Take maternity leaves. Just get your foot in the door somewhere. To be quite frank, you are not likely to get that dream job on your first go. Not even on your second or third go. But no matter where you work, you get experience, and you get people who will act as good references for you in the future. You also will get paid, which can be the factor that makes the difference. Just think of it as priming for when you DO find your dream job and decide to apply for it.

4) Stay open-minded:

This goes along with the temporary settling advice. When you graduate, you may think "I am going to work in pediatrics" or "I'm never going to work in mental health." But there are so many different opportunities for OT's, sometimes you never know until you get a chance to try something if you'll love it or hate it. In fact, when you first graduate it is the best time for you to jump around different jobs. You don't have any seniority anywhere anyways, so you won't be losing much by switching from one job to another. It's also very expected, since most new grads start off in temporary positions. And yes, I am jumping temporary positions right now - it kind of keeps things interesting because you don't know where your career will take you next!

5) Spend time on your applications:

This is just sound advice for ANY job. Cater each resume and cover to the specific job you are applying to. Get someone to look it over. EDIT, for crying out loud. And if you get an interview, please do research and know a bit about the job and the employer. Studying can also give you a leg up, as you're sure to run across some case scenarios in your interview.

6) Consider moving:

Yes, this is a hard one to grasp for many. But I moved to the boonies to some small farm town for my first job, and it was the BEST decision I've ever made. I ended up getting my dream job, and the experience I needed to get that same dream job back in the city. There are just more opportunities / less competition when you go further away from the city, so if you're really keen on working in a particular area, a temporary move away is worth considering.

6) Don't freak out!

You WILL get a job at some point. People retire. People go have kids and come back part time or not at all. Organizations get more funding and companies grow. Just keep at it. I understand it's a frustrating process, but it will happen at some point.

Good luck and happy job hunting!!! And don't forget....

The flip side

I love my job. I'm incredibly passionate about it, and I am fortunate to have found work that makes me feel so fulfilled at the end of the day, and so early in my working life. But as much as I often describe my job in a fun and upbeat way (and this is how I usually perceive it), it can also be an incredibly emotionally trying position to be in.

I see children who have such potential to progress but do not have the social support or environment to facilitate this.

I have families who tell me "I want my child to walk," and I know that the possibilities are slim to none. And I have to be the one to tell them they need to start thinking about a wheelchair. 

I see children who have progressive diseases and watch them as they become imprisoned in their own failing bodies.

I have children who pass away, leaving their families devastated and me as a therapist feeling like you are part of a completely useless profession.

Of all my experiences, working in pediatrics has been the most rewarding but also the most difficult. And I've even worked in palliative care where the patients were basically given a prognosis of 6 months or less. For me, knowing that my clients are but children makes it that much more heartbreaking. Yet I still manage to maintain a very positive outlook, and I'm able to stay the perky, bubbly and happy OT that I am.

Here are just some ideas on how to deal, or at least things that I do:

• Be positive. It's often difficult, and sometimes you have to look REALLY REALLY hard. Think needle in a haystack. But squint your eyes, use a magnifying glass, ask someone to help you find it, I don't care - just find that silver lining. It's there.  Despite the lack of support, think about the fact that this child has an hour with you and you have the opportunity to BE the change agent. Despite being the bearer of bad news, think about the fact that the family is in fact hopeful. Despite watching a child slowly losing skills, think about how the child has a loving family who knows him so well they can decipher every grunt. Despite a death, think about how much love the family gained while having the child with them. 

• Do something that makes you happy everyday. This can be anything. For me, it's dance, it's the gym, it's a long run on a sunny day, it's the guitar or the piano, it's seeing my best friend and her little daughter. You can take a bubble bath, bake, go play some hockey, garden spend time with a loved one... really just ANYTHING that makes you feel good. Do at least ONE thing to keep you going.

• Exercise. I say this only because it really does help to take your mind off of things. It also increases your levels of endorphins, and puts you in a better mood. Plus, you'll get into great shape!

• Talk to your colleagues. You can spend hours mulling over it in your head. You can lose sleep. You can talk about it to your significant other or your family. This last one might work for some, but home should be a place to relax and remove yourself from work. I don't mean don't talk to your family at all about these things that happen at work, but don't let that be the only thing you bring home from work. Talk about some of the great things too. 

• Know that the reason you feel so crappy is exactly what makes you a great therapist - You actually give a damn. At the end of the day, this is what matters the most. 

Early Intervention: A Job Description

If you have read the previous post, you know what the general definition of an OT is. However, you will also understand now that each area of practice is specific, that our role is different depending on where we work and who we work with. I can only share my own experience:

I fell in love with pediatrics at a little reverse integrative preschool in Toronto. Mind you I fell in love with stroke rehab too, so I might just be a bit fickle. Or perhaps it is because these two areas are in fact very related. Developmental delays in children are often accounted to neurological impairment, and the knowledge about neuro rehab that serves as a foundation for working in this field. The brain is incredibly complex and fascinating, and that's exactly what makes the job as a pediatric OT so challenging.

But what do I actually DO?? I am a community OT working in early intervention - that means the kiddo's aged 0-5, before they head off to kindergarten. I often tell people I play with kids for a living. And in fact, that is precisely what I do. However, there is always an ulterior motive. I colour with kids to ASSESS their pencil grasp. We play with plastic food with velcro attachment as an INTERVENTION  for improving bilateral skills. Or, I blow bubbles... simply because I know they like them. Even this is to make the therapeutic experience a positive one. The key thing here is that most everything you do hands on with a child is through play, so you've got to get incredibly creative to get what you want out of that interaction.

Here are few of the things I work on with my kids:

• Fine motor skills (Colouring, pre-printing, bilateral skills,scissor skills, reach, grasp, etc.)
• Sensory processing
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Feeding (The mechanical difficulties of chewing and swallowing, as well as picky eating)
• Positioning (Wheelchairs, strollers, bathseats, you name it)
• Play
• Safety
• Sleep

This is my toolbox

I'd give more details about my job but "report-writing" and "case-coordinating" hardly seems worth delving into further detail. But for you OT's out there, we actually use the COPM where I work. It's actually not collecting dust on the back shelf!

What is an occupational therapist?

I happen to love asking this question. The variety of responses (or rather guesses made through deductive reasoning - or better yet, plain shot-in-the-dark answers) never fails to give me chuckle, even if just a little. Some examples might be:

• You help people find work (could be true, depending on your practice area)
• You help people return to work after an injury (which, could be very true, as I almost got into this as my first job)
• You tell people what to do (yes, I do. But I like to call it "recommending" or "suggesting")
• You can fix this crick in my neck (I could try but I'll need you to sign a waiver)
• You give awesome massages (I do, but that has nothing to do with my profession)
• I can tell you my life problems and you will listen and tell me how to fix them (I do in fact do this, to some extent)
• You therapize...occupationally (at least use real words, please)
• You weave baskets (yes, somebody did in fact tell me this. Smart ass.)

In fact, despite what our OT programs hound into us, despite that textbook elevator pitch they make us repeat over and over again, I still stand by my opinion that it's just too damn difficult to explain. Our scope is so broad that we really are a jack of all trades (and, some argue we are also a master of nothing. I tend to disagree).

But for those of you who are still confused, here is a general gist of what we do as a profession:


We promote health by enabling individuals to perform meaningful and purposeful activities, in the areas of self-care, productivity,and leisure. Occupational therapists use treatments to develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and work skills of their patients with a physical, mental or developmental condition.


By the way, I love Wikipedia, and will give credit where it is due. I totally stole that since I still find it too difficult to summarize what we ALL do into a single statement.