So You Graduated OT School…Now What? A Guide for New Grads

08/08/2019

Lauren E. Jones, MS, OTR/L

After the confetti has fallen and the cap and gown come off, the real work begins. Research shows that the transition from student to clinician can be an exciting and challenging time for new health care providers. As a not-so-new grad, I want to help you prepare for various scenarios you may encounter as you conclude your formal OT or OTA education and become a licensed clinician. Read on to learn how you can avoid potential pitfalls and prepare for success as a new grad OT practitioner.

If You’re Taking a Break After Graduation…

Use your time wisely. It can be difficult to take time off in the first few months (or years) of a new job, especially if you take a position that requires coverage for time off. Make the most of your time between school and the working world to travel, spend time with friends or family, and revel in your fleeting freedom!
Get organized. Even if you never want to see them again, now is the time to go through your OT school materials and decide what to toss and what to keep. Useful items might include copies of assessments, lists of useful websites or resources, contact information for clinicians working in your areas of interest, and special projects that can demonstrate your skills or work ethic to a potential employer.

If You’re Taking the National Certification Exam…

Establish a study schedule. Everybody learns differently. Make a plan that is specific to your needs so you will feel more confident as you prepare for the exam. Find out what works best for you and make a study plan based on your needs. You can also learn about what helped other people ace the exam.
Build in break times. Studying can be physically and mentally exhausting! Make sure you’re taking time to do things you enjoy and give yourself a mental rest from exam prep every few days.
Do a dry run. Gather the materials you will need on exam day and take a trip to the exam center about a week before you are scheduled to take the test. Learn about traffic patterns, construction sites, alternate routes, and other potential pitfalls before the big day to avoid unnecessary stress.
Take care of yourself before, during, and after the exam. Taking an expensive, hours-long certification exam can be a fairly daunting task. If you are anxiety-prone, take the time to learn some new coping skills or meet with a counselor who can help you learn strategies to perform at your best. Halfway through the exam, take a short stretch break to give yourself a mental rest and reset if you think you need it. Finally, when it’s all said and done – go celebrate! Treat yourself and take a well-deserved rest as a reward for all your hard work.

If You’re Looking for a Job…

Schedule informational interviews. Start by doing some initial research into the job market where you hope to work. Reach out to local practitioners or alumni of your OT program to find people in positions of interest to you, learn more about their jobs, and gain an inside look into their practice settings.
Polish your resume or CV. The first thing potential employers typically see is your resume and application. You’ll want an up-to-date, professional resume or CV, especially when applying for highly coveted or competitive positions. Visit your school’s career center or schedule a virtual appointment with a career counselor to make sure your application materials are error-free.
Cast a wide net. Even if you are passionate about working in a particular setting or at a certain facility, it’s wiser to submit multiple applications to various places. Even if you aren’t interested in accepting a position, going on low-stakes interviews can give you a chance to practice your skills and ease your nerves before you land the interview for your dream job!
Practice your interview skills. Download a list of frequently-asked interview questions and write down your answers to help your responses stick when you’re in front of the hiring manager! Then meet with a career counselor or experienced clinician to complete a mock interview and get feedback. Additionally, be prepared to ask questions about your potential employer during the interview. You will appear more knowledgeable and invested when you ask about specific people and programs rather than general questions about salary, work schedule, etc. during an interview.
Seek out salary information – and prepare to negotiate. Research the local and national average salary for each position you interview for. If you get an offer and the salary is too low, request a day to make a decision and use the time to develop a 2-minute script describing why you are worth more. If they won’t budge on a too-low salary, consider negotiating for other benefits – vacation time, a flexible work schedule, continuing education funds, professional membership dues, etc. (It feels scary, but by negotiating my salary I earned an additional $2300 per year!).

If You’re Starting a New Job…

Connect with a mentor. Having mentorship in your first few years of practice (and throughout your career!) has been shown to improve the clinical and professional skills of newer practitioners. A mentor can also be an important support for your mental health as you navigate the sometimes-choppy waters of the health care system and have positive and challenging work experiences.
Educate yourself. Take some time to check out a few books, read recent articles, or listen to a podcast relevant to your setting. This way, you can make a positive impression on your new managers and colleagues and feel more prepared for patient interactions and problem solving.
Start planning for the future. Schedule a meeting with your manager to discuss your clinical and professional interests and how you can make meaningful contributions to your new team. Establish short- and long-term goals for how you will advance and what you envision your career trajectory to be, and schedule visits to check in on your progress throughout the year.
Get your finances in order. Many people graduate with student loan debt, and you should make a financially sound plan for paying off your loans as soon as possible. It can be tempting to make a big purchase or spend irresponsibly after starting a new job as an OT practitioner, but consider meeting with a financial advisor, using online loan evaluation and consolidation tools, or trying programs like Quickbooks or Mint to start off on the right foot financially.
Keep raising the bar. After your first few months at work, reflect on your experiences and consider how you want your practice to be different in the next year. Then set 2 to 3 “SMART” goals and share them with a trusted colleague or manager who can help you achieve your goals and hold you accountable.

No matter where you’re going or what you’re doing after graduation, these tips will help you start strong and prepare for success as a new grad OT practitioner. Best of luck out there, and welcome to the fold!

Lauren E. Jones, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist at UNC Medical Center, serving youth, adults, and older adults on inpatient psychiatric units. She is active in state and national OT organizations, including serving as the Special Interest Section Coordinator for the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association and the Web Editor for the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD). Lauren is also an AOTA Emerging Leader from the 2016 cohort who is passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge to improve occupational therapy practice.