Now that summer is officially over and you have become comfortable with your fall schedules, it’s time to give some thought to what the future holds for you and your employment. Many of you have been studying tirelessly and managing coursework, while completing clinical and fieldwork experience. Although I urge you to focus on finishing school, there are a few things that you can do to prepare yourself for future employment. I’ve listed a few simple things to put you ahead of the game after graduation.
-Clinical/Fieldwork Experience: Besides your actual coursework, this is the most important factor of your therapy program. Your focus should be on gaining the best clinical experience and education possible. Hopefully you have a chance to experience different settings because it helps to shape your perspective in your chosen profession. I always encourage my new graduates to be as open as possible as to which setting they will work in. If you have clinical experience in one setting and choose to only apply to work in that setting, you may be closing yourself off to other great opportunities. Be open to discovering what setting you work best in.
-Resume: Your resume lets employers know who you are as a therapist. Updating your resume throughout your program is extremely important. You should be updating your resume during or after you complete each clinical/fieldwork rotation so that your rotation descriptions are as detailed as they can be. It is best to be detailed but not overzealous on providing your job descriptions. Employers love to see a unique resume, but they mostly want to see if your previous experience can translate to the job. If you need help with this, contact Student Outreach and we will help you build a perfect resume!
-References: A good reference can make all the difference in a hiring decision. You should be building great and genuine relationships with your clinical advisors, professors, and other physical therapists that supervise you during your rotations. You should know the person giving you a reference, and make sure to ask them for career advice as well. I look back at my time in college, and I can say that the relationships I made with professors has helped shape my career and given me confidence to go in the right direction when choosing a career path.
-Geographic research: For many students, geographic location is the final and deciding factor when considering employment. Before deciding where to receive your first license, I encourage you to research the job market because that could help influence your decision on where you want to work. The more open you are geographically, the easier it is to find the ideal position. If you are adventurous and willing to go outside your hometown then I would consider travel to begin your career. We are currently seeing very new graduate friendly positions all over the United States. Post-graduation is a good time to connect with a recruiter to jumpstart your search.
I know this may seem like a bit much to think about but Therapy’s Student Outreach team is here to help anytime. We are dedicated to ensuring the success of new graduate therapists so use us as a resource! Please don’t hesitate to call or email us with any questions. Good luck with your year and we look forward to hearing from you!
