Occupational Therapist (OT) Resume Examples in 2023 - ResumeBuilder.com (2023)

FAQs

How do I make my OT resume stand out? ›

The length. In general, an occupational therapy resume should be informative and succinct, and that's why experts recommend that you keep the length to around one or two pages.

Highlight relevant skills and experiences.

Using the same resume for every job you apply for is not a good approach. Instead, your resume should target the specific job you are applying for. Be sure to prioritize the skills, qualifications and experiences that are directly applicable to the job you are trying to land.

You will have 7500 characters to write a personal essay that addresses “why you selected OT as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.

What is the hardest part of being an occupational therapist? ›

The first and sometimes most stressful aspect of being an OT of which I can attribute to is productivity. Almost every OT job in the adult setting – whether it's acute care, inpatient rehab, outpatient therapy, home health, or skilled nursing – will have some sort of productivity requirement.

The profession of occupational therapy remains grounded in seven core concepts, as identified in the Core Values and Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Practice (AOTA, 1993): altruism, equality, freedom, justice, dignity, truth, and prudence.

The occupational therapy profession is grounded in seven longstanding Core Values: Altruism, Equality, Freedom, Justice, Dignity, Truth, and Prudence (AOTA, 1993). The seven Core Values provide a foundation to guide occupational therapy personnel in their interactions with others.

Research has found there are three basic categories of skills in the world: knowledges, transferable skills and self-management skills. Not too long ago, knowledges – what you know – were the most important skills in the workplace.

Including the most important parts of a resume is crucial to providing potential employers with an in-depth outline of your qualifications, experience and education. Commonly suggested parts are your contact information, resume profile or summary, experience, education and skills.

How do you answer why do you want to be an OT? ›

You want to support public health: Occupational therapists perform an important role in society by supporting public health and enabling people to complete daily tasks and return to their careers. You may want to become an OT to support social functions overall and help people live fulfilling lives.

Occupational Therapy, unlike many other areas, allows you to interact with people every day. Few subjects will lead to a career with more opportunities to do so. You get to work as part of a supportive and inspiring multidisciplinary team to provide the best care possible for patients.

However, if you're a new occupational therapy grad, you may have found that finding an OT job is harder than you thought. OTs are usually in high demand depending on the city's job market.

Your key achievements

The amount of revenue you made for the company. Key projects you managed. Strong statistics for outcomes either led or driven by you. Ideas or innovations you introduced.

“A good resume title is specific to your particular skill set and what you have to offer. If the title or resume headline you use is generic enough that it could be about anyone, it's not going to stand out to a hiring manager,” says Reynolds.

Problem-solving skills

This process involves assessing the patient's results and revising strategies accordingly. Typically, occupational therapists consider their patient's medical histories and home and work environments when determining adequate solutions.

Through work experience and training, I have become adept at solving problems with practicality and understanding. I find it very rewarding helping people optimise their quality of life. This experience has fuelled my desire to further my knowledge of occupational therapy techniques and skills.

How can I improve my OT documentation? ›

Final sentence: end strong stating that you want to be an OT. Mention because it is in your long-term goals.

According to the BLS, OTs who work in home healthcare get paid the most. The annual mean wage of home health care OTs was $102,640 in 2021. Home healthcare OTs typically work for private agencies in their clients' homes. The second highest-paying OT position was in nursing care facilities.

Evaluating a patient's condition and needs. Developing treatment plans to address a patient's needs and help them meet specific goals. Assessing a patient's home and/or work environment and recommending adaptations to fit the patient's needs and improve independence.

The profession is grounded in seven long-standing Core Values: (1) Altruism, (2) Equality, (3) Freedom, (4) Justice, (5) Dignity, (6) Truth, and (7) Prudence.

The guideline that is used to ensure that all occupational therapists operate in an ethical manner is the AOTA Code of Ethics. The occupational therapy core values are altruism, equality, freedom, justice, dignity, truth, and prudence.

The American Occupational Therapy Association has identified eight areas of focus: children and youth, evidence- based practice, health and wellness, mental health, productive aging, rehabilitation, disability, and participation as well as work and industry.

Occupational therapy was founded by three men and three women in 1917, three years before women were able to vote. 6. Occupational therapists first established a role in pediatrics in 1919 – and have been helping children for over 100 years!

The broad range of occupations is categorized in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF-4) as activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, health management, rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation.

What are the three top skills? ›

Include foreign language study, alternative learning experience, computer skills, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and special interests if they highlight skills that would prove useful to a potential OT employer. Keep your résumé current and focused.

Occupational therapy core skills required in practice will focus on core skills of enablement, collaboration, environmental adaptation, assessment, problem solving, group work and the use of activity as a therapeutic tool as defined by the College of Occupational Therapist (2009) Briefing 23 Definitions and Core Skills ...

Performance skills are observable, goal-directed actions and consist of motor skills, process skills, and social interaction skills. Performance skills are evaluated and analyzed by occupational therapists during actual activity performance, with real objects, in a natural context, and often in the presence of others.

SMART is a common type of goal used among many occupational therapists. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time Based. By using this acronym as a guide, you can ensure your goals contain all the relevant information necessary.

Do keep the length to 1-2 pages max. You want it to be short and sweet. If any sentence or paragraph looks unnecessary after you do a final read-through, get rid of it. As a general rule, personal statements run on average 600-800 words.

The profession of occupational therapy remains grounded in seven core concepts, as identified in the Core Values and Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Practice (AOTA, 1993): altruism, equality, freedom, justice, dignity, truth, and prudence.

What are the 8 areas of occupation? ›

The broad range of occupations is categorized in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF-4) as activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, health management, rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation.

The Big 6 component skills were first identified by Haughton and defined as: reach, point, touch, grasp, place and release (Binder, 1996). Haughton and his associates then extended the list to include an additional set of six, which consisted of: twist, pull, push, tap, squeeze and shake.

Body functions: The complex way different systems of the body work together so that clients can use performance skills to engage in occupations. Examples of body functions include executive functioning, visual acuity, strength, mobility, and awareness of the body's position in space.