By Joan Johnson OTR/L, MPA-HA Master in Health Administration Many of our clients are unhappy in their current positions, yet unsure of their long term career plan. Some are feeling caregiver burnout, physically and emotionally exhausted by the increasing demands of patient care, frustrated with lack of professional opportunities for growth, or tired of a negative workplace culture. Whatever your “Why” is for needing a change, having it defined will help guide career decisions, even if your future title and direction remain open-ended or unclear.
Prioritizing your professional and personal needs by writing them down will help you feel more confident in making a career change. Define what career success and job satisfaction mean to you. What do you value most? What “fills your cup” and keeps you motivated? What do you excel at?
What is most important to you in a position? Salary and benefits? Autonomy and flexibility with the schedule? Working for an organization with a strong mission, values, or ethical business practices? Opportunities for professional growth? Working with a collaborative and positive team?
Your definition of career success belongs to you. Write it down. Develop a vision board. Get inspired. Make a priority list. Even if you are unsure where you will end up, taking a calculated risk and making a change is easier when you have a written plan. We now offer 1 hour career coaching sessions to help you solidify your priorities and define your personal vision of career success.
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By Joanie Johnson OTR/L, MPH How to highlight transferable skills in your resume to land a non clinical position:
We hear all the time from clinicians that, “I am just a Therapist.” Many clinicians feel they will be overlooked for positions, are not qualified, or may not be considered since they are their professional title. Feeling “stuck” is a common theme we hear with our clients...How do I show that I have these skills, abilities, and can do more than just therapy or direct patient facing care??? There is a multitude of transferable skills that are relevant to other fields both within and outside of healthcare settings. If you are going for a Leadership or Management role, consider the following:
Also, consider the daily skills that you use as a clinician, and how these translate over into other roles:
If you are considering moving into leadership, management, or non-patient facing roles, these are just a few of the many examples of how your skills transfer to other positions. Make a list of all of your accomplishments, projects, and organizational contributions. Take credit where it is due. You are an amazing provider who has the capacity and skills to transfer to other positions and areas. We can help! By Joanie Johnson OTR/L, MPH Changing careers or pivoting directions can be intimidating and scary. Leaving the comfort of a reliable position or schedule, consistent paycheck, and familiarity gives many a sense of insecurity.
For others, making a career change might be a necessity for financial, family, or personal reasons. Working in a toxic work environment, or dealing with daily stresses and caregiver burnout, are some of the many reasons clinicians look to change career directions. Considerations in making a career change are different for every person. Some might need more consistent hours or pay, better benefits, more flexibility and autonomy, or all of the above. Others might want to improve job satisfaction and opportunities for growth. What your “WHY” is, make a list of what is most important to you and why you need to make a change. Your priority list might look something like this:
Consider your unique skills and personality traits, and what you are passionate about professionally. There are ways to focus on your “WHY” if you know what they are, and have a solid foundation to feel confident moving forward with making a change. Polish2Prosper Career Consulting is now offering career coaching services for Healthcare Professionals needing to build confidence and direction with changing career direction. Contact us for more information. “We are your partners in making career transitions and provide expert support and coaching to help others define their “WHY””. By Joan Johnson OTR/L, MPA-HA Master in Health Administration Department Hiring Manager How do you represent yourself in the most attractive way to stand out from other applicants and shine for a potential employer?
Hiring managers want to have employees who align with the following:
Including these key “soft skills” in your professional resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile will make your documents attractive to both Talent Acquisition and Hiring Managers. Practicing behavioral interviewing with these factors in mind will help make the long-lasting impression that you desire. By Joanie Johnson OTR/L Networking Can Open Doors You Didn't Know Existed
Four years ago, I applied for a Supervisor position with goals to work for my dream organization. This is an organization I had been applying to for over 5 years, had landed interviews, but never a formal position offer. I REALLY wanted to work for this organization for much of my professional career. This supervisor position ended up not requiring a clinical background, and unfortunately at the time, I was not able to manage the pay decrease to transition. I stayed connected with the recruiter, and 1 year later, she reached out to me about an opening due to a department restructure. This position required an RN degree to manage the Home Health Department. At the time I was an OT with 7+ years of management experience (5 of which were in Home Health), a Masters Degree in Health Administration, and years of management training and education under my belt. My heart sank that I would not qualify for this job since I did not have the clinical licensure required. The recruiter collaborated with the hiring manager to change the position qualifications to allow rehabilitation clinicians to apply. I was invited to interview and was offered the position. I would like to think this all occurred because of my work experience, skills, and professional qualities. However, had I not connected with this recruiter and established a positive relationship, I would not have known about this position opening. I had made a positive impression, and she had kept my resume in mind with priority openings she was working to fill. This recruiter had a keen eye for talent and finding an employee who was a good fit for company culture and demands of the department. Professional networking is the key to opening doors you did not know existed. Contact Polish2Prosper for tips, tricks, or LinkedIn strategy to help you make a successful professional impact. By Tanya Peterson MS, OTR/L In the era of covid, and possibly well into the future, virtual interviews have become more necessary than ever.
As if interviews weren’t stressful enough, now we need to add in some technical components to juggle. But- you can’t beat the commute! Here’s some quick tips to help you feel confident and prepared while on camera: THINK ABOUT YOUR SURROUNDINGS
DRESS PROFESSIONALLY
USE STAR FORMAT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
FOLLOW-UP
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AuthorFeaturing articles from Joanie Johnson and Tanya Peterson. Archives
March 2022
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