Crafting a CV that effectively showcases the diverse range of skills and experiences you've gained as an occupational therapist can be a daunting task. Our guide provides tailored advice to help you highlight your unique qualifications and clinical expertise, ensuring your CV stands out to potential employers.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
How to ensure your profile stands out with your occupational therapist CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your occupational therapist CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your occupational therapist CV:- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your occupational therapist CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
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Be mindful of white space; too much can make the CV look sparse, too little can make it look cluttered. Strive for a balance that makes the document easy on the eyes.
The top sections on a occupational therapist CV
- Professional Summary to showcase your expertise in therapy.
- Education and Qualifications to highlight relevant training.
- Clinical Experience for a history of professional practice.
- Therapy Specialisations section to detail your areas of expertise.
- Licenses and Certifications to present your legal credentials.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Detail your hands-on experience with diverse patient populations, emphasising the range of conditions you've treated, such as physical, mental, or developmental disorders, to showcase your versatility and expertise in the field.
- Highlight specific therapeutic interventions you're proficient in, such as sensory integration or cognitive-behavioural techniques; this demonstrates your practical skill set and familiarity with industry-standard practices.
- Include any specialist areas you have worked within, such as paediatrics or geriatrics, to indicate your areas of expertise and potential alignment with specialised roles.
- Outline your commitment to professional development by listing relevant courses, seminars, or conferences you've attended, underscoring your dedication to staying abreast of the latest occupational therapy practices and research.
- Showcase your ability to collaborate with other healthcare professionals by providing examples of interdisciplinary teamwork, which is crucial for holistic patient care in occupational therapy.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning occupational therapist CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for occupational therapist:
- Occupational Therapist | Paediatric Specialist | Sensory Integration | MSc in OT | 5+ Years of Experience
- Senior Occupational Therapist | Stroke Rehabilitation | Neuroplasticity Advocate | BSc Honours | 10+ Years' Practice
- Clinical Lead OT | Mental Health Focus | Trauma-Informed Care | Advanced Practice Certificate | 15+ Years' Expertise
- Occupational Therapy Consultant | Work Rehabilitation | Ergonomic Assessments | PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences | 8 Years Professional
- Junior Occupational Therapist | Community-Based Services | Holistic Care Approach | BSc OT New Graduate
- Specialist Occupational Therapist | Learning Disabilities | Assistive Technology | MSc in OT | 7 Years Dedicated Service
Catching recruiters' attention with your occupational therapist CV summary or objective
Located closer to the top of your CV, both the summary and objective are no more than five sentences long and serve as an introduction to your experience. What is more, you could use either to entice recruiters to read on. Select the:
- Summary, if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience. Feature your most impressive accomplishments and up to three skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for;
- Objective, if you're just starting your career off. Provide your career goals and answer how you see the role you are applying for will match your professional growth.
Judging which one you need to add to your occupational therapist CV may at times seem difficult. That’s why you need to check out how professionals, with similar to your experience, have written their summary or objective, in the examples below:
CV summaries for a occupational therapist job:
- Seasoned Occupational Therapist with over 12 years of dedicated experience, specializing in paediatric care and sensory integration techniques. Acclaimed for significant contributions to the development of cutting-edge therapy programs tailored for children with autism, resulting in a 35% improvement in client outcomes at a leading London health centre.
- Compassionate Occupational Therapist with a 9-year track record of enabling elderly patients to achieve maximum independence. Expertise in orthopaedic rehabilitation and adept in the use of adaptive technology. Pivotal in increasing patient satisfaction scores by 40% at a renowned Manchester rehabilitation facility through individualized care plans.
- Dynamic Physical Therapist making a career transition into Occupational Therapy, bringing over 8 years of experience in injury rehabilitation. Combines a deep understanding of biomechanics with a passion for client-centred care. Spearheaded a successful injury prevention program that decreased patient recurrence rates by 25% at a top Bristol clinic.
- Highly motivated Special Education Teacher eager to apply transferable skills to a new career as an Occupational Therapist. Comes with a solid 10-year background in creating and implementing individualized education plans aligned with therapeutic goals. Led a multi-disciplinary team to integrate assistive technologies, boosting student participation by 50%.
- Eager to embark on a career as an Occupational Therapist, bringing forth a strong academic foundation with a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy, completed with distinction from University of Glasgow. Committed to employing evidence-based techniques to foster client independence and well-being, despite lacking hands-on experience in the field.
- Enthusiastic recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy, aiming to leverage comprehensive knowledge gained through internships at multiple healthcare settings. Keen to apply learned assessments and intervention strategies to assist clients of all ages in achieving their personal and functional goals.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your occupational therapist CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Assessed individual patient needs and developed customised treatment plans to improve their ability to perform daily activities.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams including doctors, nurses, and psychologists to ensure a holistic approach to patient care.
- Implemented interventions for motor skills, sensory processing, cognitive functions, and psychosocial activities to enhance patient independence.
- Led group therapy sessions to improve social interaction, community reintegration, and adaptive skills among patients.
- Documented patient progress meticulously, adapting treatment plans as necessary and communicating changes to relevant healthcare professionals.
- Utilised various assistive technologies and adaptive equipment to maximise patient autonomy and participation in preferred activities.
- Provided training and education to patients' families and caregivers, empowering them with strategies to support the patient's continuing care at home.
- Supervised and mentored occupational therapy students and assistants, ensuring adherence to best practice guidelines and professional standards.
- Conducted home and workplace assessments to identify potential modifications, ensuring environments are safe and supportive for the patient’s needs.
- Managed a caseload of 45 patients per week in an outpatient setting, providing one-on-one therapy to improve motor skills and promote independence.
- Devised individualized home exercise programs for 90% of patients, enhancing their recovery process and reducing hospital readmission rates by 15%.
- Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to deliver comprehensive care, leading to a 95% patient satisfaction rate.
- Spearheaded the Pediatric Occupational Therapy Program which served over 60 children with developmental disabilities, resulting in a 30% improvement in ADLs for participants.
- Conducted ergonomic assessments and modified workstations for 200+ corporate clients, reducing reported discomfort by over 60%.
- Facilitated weekly patient rehabilitation workshops, focusing on fine motor skill development and sensory integration techniques.
- Integrated cutting-edge virtual reality technology into cognitive rehabilitation therapy, enhancing engagement for 150+ stroke recovery patients.
- Formulated a research-backed therapeutic program for wrist fracture recovery which accelerated patient healing time by 25%.
- Mentored and supervised a team of 5 junior occupational therapists, fostering professional development and clinical proficiency in complex patient care.
- Led a task force to redesign the geriatric therapy program, which increased patient mobility scores by an average of 20% across the board.
- Developed a falls prevention initiative that reduced inpatient falls by 35%, securing a hospital-wide recognition award.
- Provided expert guidance in assistive technology, helping over 100 patients regain autonomy in their daily lives.
- Initiated a community reintegration program for veterans with PTSD, achieving a 90% success rate in improving participants’ social participation.
- Facilitated cognitive-behavioral strategies workshops for other healthcare professionals, increasing the clinic's service offerings by 25%.
- Developed and maintained an evidence-based practice guideline database for internal use, enhancing treatment consistency and quality.
- Oversaw the successful launch of a constraint-induced movement therapy program, improving upper limb function in stroke patients by 40%.
- Created partnerships with local gyms and fitness centers to provide adaptive sports programs, increasing the community services catalog by 50%.
- Effectively managed departmental budget, reducing costs by 10% while maintaining high standards of patient care.
- Implemented a tele-rehabilitation service that expanded therapy access to rural areas, serving an additional 200 patients annually.
- Developed a return-to-work program that assisted 120+ individuals with disabilities in securing employment, improving their economic status and well-being.
- Conducted detailed progress reports and patient assessments that informed treatment refinements, establishing a database that improved long-term patient care strategies.
- Launched a successful occupational therapy podcast series, which received over 100,000 downloads, focusing on self-help techniques that empower patients worldwide.
- Directed a quality improvement project for hand therapy practices, leading to a 20% increase in post-surgical recovery success rates.
- Served on a federal advisory board to advocate for occupational therapy funding, contributing to a $5 million increase in national grants for the profession.
- Piloted an assistive technology program in schools that helped over 250 children with disabilities better engage in educational activities.
- Authored a departmental best practices handbook which was adopted by 5 neighboring hospital systems, standardizing occupational therapy services region-wide.
- Designed and implemented an effective tracking system for measuring therapy outcomes, guiding continuous improvement initiatives.
How to ensure your occupational therapist CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your occupational therapist CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your occupational therapist CV:
Patient Assessment
Treatment Planning
Therapeutic Interventions
Sensory Integration Therapy
Hand Therapy
Neurodevelopmental Techniques
Assistive Technology Proficiency
Medical Recordkeeping
Home Modifications
Occupational Health Knowledge
Compassion
Communication
Problem Solving
Flexibility
Time Management
Empathy
Interpersonal Skills
Patience
Teamwork
Active Listening
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Listing your university education and certificates on your occupational therapist CV
The best proof of your technical capabilities would be your education and certifications sections. Your education should list all of your relevant university degrees, followed up by their start and completion dates. Make sure to also include the name of the university/-ies you graduated from. If you happen to have less professional experience (or you deem it would be impressive and relevant to your application), spotlight in the education section:
- that you were awarded a "First" degree;
- industry-specific coursework and projects;
- extracurricular clubs, societies, and activities.
When selecting your certificates, first ask yourself how applicable they'd be to the role. Ater your initial assessment, write the certificate and institution name. Don't miss out on including the completion date. In the below panel, we've curated relevant examples of industry-leading certificates.
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
Write your professional occupational therapist CV by studying and understanding what the role expectations are. You should next:
- Focus on tailoring your content to answer specific requirements by integrating advert keywords through various CV sections;
- Balance your technical know-how with your personal skills to showcase what the unique value would be of working with you;
- Ensure your CV grammar and spelling (especially of your key information and contact details) is correct;
- Write a CV summary, if your experience is relevant, and an objective, if your career ambitions are more impressive;
- Use active language by including strong, action verbs across your experience, summary/objective, achievements sections.
