INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Therapist positions are at a 17% growth rate, which is much faster than average. With that said, there are currently 131,600 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 23,000 to 154,600 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Occupational Therapist jobs was $86,280 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $57,330, and the highest 10% more than $122,670.
Our conclusion? The Occupational Therapist job market is wide open for candidates.
Top occupational therapist sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a job-winning experience section: Occupational Therapist resume edition
Occupational therapist resume experience section: dos and don'ts
- List 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include only relevant job experience;
- Make sure to highlight your strongest skills by focusing on the challenges you’ve faced and the results you’ve achieved;
- Don’t use buzzwords that carry no meaning;
- Don’t share confidential information about your previous employers.
If you prefer to be led by example, check out some great Occupational Therapist resume experience section snippets below!
- Evaluated patients ADL skills, fine/gross motor skills, sensation and cognitive skills
- Therapy referrals and discharge plannig
- Identified patients problems and found out solutions so that patients can live as independent and fulfilled life as possible
- Modified individualized splints
- Managed and prioritized workload and time
- Worked in close co-operation with the other staff members and participated weekly multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss about clients care and rehabilitation goals
- Evaluated patients ADL skills, fine/gross motor skills, sensation and cognitive skills
- Planned therapy and selected therapy methods to meet patients needs
- Planned and guided group therapy sessions to improve clients ADL, motor and cognitive skills
- Assessed patients need for adaptive and assistive devices
- Modified splints
- Evaluated patients home environment and recommended home modifications.
- Took part in the weekly multidisciplinary team meetings to go through patients improvement and set common goals for the treatment and rehabilitation
- Provided occupational therapy in 900 bed acute care hospital for patients of all ages across the diagnosis spectrum including neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics, psychiatry, and geriatrics
- Served as primary therapy representative in multidisciplinary team conference and discharge planning meetings
- Provided functional evaluation, family education, and safety recommendations for outpatient Geriatric Assessment Clinic
- Successfully implemented lean systems and economic value management for various social services to maximise resource use
- successfully reduced and managed long waiting lists for
- Managed complex moving and handling cases and major adaptations
- Consult with other direct-care staff and worked with caregivers to implement home programs that achieve therapy goals.
- Facilitate health and healing by cultivating caring relationships with patients.
- Develop patient-centered therapy schedules with treatment goals in mind.
- Administer massage as well as heat, water, ice, electrical, and light stimulation therapy.
- Identify and execute opportunities for performance improvement within all service areas.
- Train new therapists, assistants and mentor to improve knowledge and performance.
- Assess and treat in-patients based on evidence based practice
- Increase patient outcomes during weekly out patient based physical clinics (specifically focused on hands and neuro)
- Measure, manufacture and fit patients with various assistive devices: hand based and wrist based splints, pressure garments, wheelchairs and Madiba Buggies
- FCE and report writing according to standardised measurements
- Advocate for patient's rights and needs with team members; attend MDT ward rounds
- Expand own knowledge and skills by shadowing specialised therapists
- Expand administrative tools by developing new policies
- Expand knowledge and skills by regular attendance of in-service training and journal clubs
- Gross income: R23 000
- Obtained my own practice number after doing locum work for a private paediatric OT
- Complete all administrative and organisational duties, including claiming from medical aids
- Asses and treat school going children after hours
- Plan creative treatment sessions targeting specific developmental delays
- Managed the OT Department's resources and staff (I was the only appointed OT)
- Ran out-patient based clinics within a MDT
- Travelled to rural areas for home-based assessments and treatment
- Expanded theoretical knowledge and practical experience by visiting neighbouring therapists
- Worked with students from age 7 to 14 years old.
- Provided one to one sessions, consultations and classroom interventions.
- Providing therapy for students with difficulties in self-regulation, motor coordination,sensory processing and handwriting.
- Worked closely with Teachers and other Allied health professionals on how to assist the child in the classroom and home.
- Lead a team of staff in the Alert Program which aimed to teach students activities to regulate level of alertness.
- Part of the community mobility team to enable independence in students when moving around in the community.
- Supervising therapist developing all individualized treatment plans, monthly reassessments, discharge plans, and completing all evaluations
- Facilitate family training and education to patients and families regarding therapy process, plan of care, goals established, safety, and discharge planning
- Corresponding with therapy team, medical doctors, department directors, nursing, case management, and families
- Development of the new Occupational Therapy program to enhance treatment plan outcomes and client satisfaction through innovative creation and formulated goals
- Display strong leadership by collaborating with therapy team, doctors, nursing, case management, and plan care coordinators daily and attend care conference meetings
- Create and design documentation templates for clinic use, insurance updates, and interdisciplinary communication throughout the company
- Gain client independence with daily living, vocational skills, and community integration by implementing individual, group, and community based therapy
- Promote innovative therapeutic techniques to gain socialization and coping strategies
- Collaborated with team, patients, and families to develop beneficial plan of care to apply client-centered approach and achieve treatment and personal goals
- Implement treatment through use of carious intervention strategies to attain significant outcome in improved levels of independence in all areas of the Practice Framework
- Provide education to patients and families in equipment, wellness, and transitional processes in the home setting to ensure optimal health
- Implement treatment and evaluate clientele in homes and facilities where patients reside through use of modalities, electrotherapy, therapeutic exercise, and adaptive equipment
- Evaluate, treat and assess adult and geriatric patients in skilled nursing, in-patient, out-patient, long term care, dementia care and assisted living settings
- Received “Remarkable Achievement” honor for excellence in patient care
- Presented in-services for nursing and rehabilitation staff on transfers, body mechanics and proper use of equipment
- Collaborated with rehabilitation supply company regarding appropriate equipment for assisted living residents
- Utilized and trained others on use of electronic point of service documentation for improved productivity
- Led "Compass" program to assist in staging residents with dementia to better serve needs by training entire caregiver staff
- Evaluated, treated and assessed adults and seniors in mental health in-patient setting
- Implemented therapeutic occupations to address patients’ psycho-social, cognitive and physical functioning
- Liaised with medical staff and community in preparation for patient discharge
- Conducted research on perceived benefit of relaxation education
- Supervising therapist developing all individualized treatment plans
- Consistent five-star patient ratings for service and friendliness
- Manage group events for improved socialization and life skills
- Implements creative treatment plans to enhance quality of life based on client needs
- Development of the new Occupational Therapy program with community events, group activities, work/life skills for increased independence
- Supervising therapist developing all individualized treatment plans
- Create and design documentation templates for clinic use and communication throughout the company
- Implement treatment and evaluate clientele in homes and facilities where patients reside
- Collaborated with team, patients, and families to develop beneficial plan of care to achieve personal goals
- Provide education to patients and families in equipment, wellness, and transitional processes in the home setting to ensure optimal health
- Demonstrate flexibility by floating to other hospitals to fulfill staffing needs
- Adaptable and able to quickly adhere to specific hospital policies
- Facilitate family training and education to patients and families
PRO TIP
Include quantitative data throughout your Occupational Therapist resume to impress the hiring manager. Real facts and figures that show off your competency as an audit manager go a long way. Did you reduce the costs of audits? Manage a large team? Boosted efficiency? Show off the real numbers!
Action verbs for your occupational therapist resume
Recommended reads:
An impressive skills section for your occupational therapist resume
Writing a skills section that stands out:
- Check the job advert for keywords that you can use: this will help you pass ATS;
- Focus on relevant and valuable skills that will support your application;
- Make sure to include both hard and technical skills, leaving soft skills for other sections of your Occupational Therapist resume;
- Don’t list skills you don’t have.
Top skills for your occupational therapist resume
WordPress
MS Office
Email Marketing
Social Media
Screenflow + iMovie
Siebel
Salesforce
Siebel CRM
Trello
Communication
Compassion
Patience
Flexibility, adaptability, and emotional stability
Proactive, ethical, and responsible nature
Honesty
Team-player
Strong work ethic
Time management
PRO TIP
When describing your experience, don’t go too far from its terminology. Recruiters use ATS systems to filter resumes based on them having certain keywords, so make sure you use at least a few keywords mentioned in the job description.
Recommended Reads:
Occupational therapist resume header: Tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your occupational therapist resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have policies about identifying information like photos on your Occupational Therapist resume. Be sure to check all the relevant rules before submitting yours. If you’re in doubt, you can always try contacting the company’s HR department to ask for their policy.
The occupational therapist resume summary: tips and tricks
Making a strong first impression.
- Keep your summary section short and easy to read; avoid long sentences;
- Highlight your total years of experience in the field;
- Mention 1-2 of your biggest achievements and strengths;
- Add a couple of keywords from the job advert.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
You’re not going to get hired simply because of a good summary or objective. However, your recruiter can bump you up in front of similarly experienced candidates who didn’t demonstrate such passion and drive.
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Occupational therapist resume: a strong education section
What to include in your education section:
- Your highest education degree (incl. major, duration, name of institution);
- A bit more about the certifications you’ve got (if they are relevant to what you’re applying for);
- Some extracurricular activities that have helped you develop and strengthen your skills;
- If you’re an entry-level applicant: Relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your occupational therapist resume
Occupational Therapy Introduction - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
How to become occupational therapist, basic Psychology, Physiology & Anatomy, working with disabilities, children adults
Occupational Therapy Introduction & Career Guide - Pre-OT
How to become an Occupational Therapist. Introduction guide to OT. Learn specific OT concepts. Kickstart your OT Career!
Medicare Provider Enrollment - Occupational Therapist PECOS
Step by Step Process For Completing Your Medicare Enrollment Using PECOS for Occupational Therapists in Private Practice
Electronics for Occupational Therapists
Basic electronics for adaptations and interfaces for assistive technologies in occupational therapy
Practical tips for a Home Health Clinician-Physical Therapy
A Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech Therapist's guide to home health care.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Occupational therapist resume: How to choose the right format
The content of your resume is necessary for showcasing your expertise, skills, and education. Great formatting, on the other hand, is essential for highlighting your attention to detail, creativity, and ability to stand out.
There are three basic resume formats to choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Which one of these you choose depends on a couple of things, but most importantly: the industry and your level of experience.
The reverse-chronological resume format, for example, is great if you’re an Occupational Therapist with many years of experience and no career gaps. It doesn’t really matter if your company of choice is a multinational corporation or an early-stage startup – this resume format is considered to be a safe bet.
If you’re someone with little or no experience, however, we advise you to go for a functional skills-based resume format. It focuses on skills, competencies, and education, rather than experience. This makes it great for entry-level applicants, career changers, and graduate students.
And if you’re tired of traditional formats and want to go over the top when it comes to your application, the combination or hybrid resume format is here to help. Here, you can focus on both your experience and your skills, there’s even space for you to highlight your most spectacular personality traits. If you want to give a modern feel to your Occupational Therapist resume, this resume format is just what you need. Add a ‘my life philosophy’ section for additional bonus points!
Looking for ways to perfect your Occupational Therapist resume layout and style?
- Don’t risk it: choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for traditional resume fonts (sized 10-12p);
- Match the length of your Occupational Therapist resume with your years of experience – choose a one-page template if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- To be on the safe side, save your resume in PDF. This will help you avoid formatting issues and unauthorized editing.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Occupational Therapist resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Your occupational therapist resume: Other sections to include
Tired of resumes that focus only on your professional side? Want to show you’re an actual human being with a real personality that goes beyond your work experience? Then add some other sections to your Occupational Therapist resume!
Depending on the industry, company, and position, you can go for a more creative or less creative approach. Choose 1-2 of the following:
Making your occupational therapist resume shine
In a pile of boring black and white resumes, a creative Occupational Therapist application feels like a breath of fresh air. And trust us, recruiters love this.
There are two ways to add a splash of creativity to your resume. You can either go for a creative layout (bright colors, modern fonts, etc.) or add some creative sections (e.g. ‘what my typical day looks like’).
It’s up to you! Just make sure to keep the position, company, and industry in mind. Otherwise, you risk going over the top. And that’s not always a good idea.
What makes a great occupational therapist resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
