Hello! I’m Rachel, Lead Occupational Therapist and Director of All Star Therapies.
I remember this time of year being so overwhelming when I graduated. “Burnout” seemed to be the buzzword at the time, and there were so few positions available to new grads that I was really worried about taking on the wrong job, just because I was so desperate to get that dream OT job.
Now, clinics all over the country are competing to hire new clinicians. The job market is currently very much in favour of applicants, rather than prospective employers, so use this to your advantage! Be confident and self-assured enough to interview your prospective employer just as much as we interview you.
Our Tips
Every new graduate is looking for something different in their first role, but here’s our tips to secure your perfect first position:
Freshen up your resume, and personalise your cover letter for every job you apply for
When I (as the potential employer) see that someone has written “Dear Hiring Manager…” and not named my company once in a cover letter, I instantly dismiss the application. In allied health, and particularly disability, we’re looking for team members who put in that extra effort, have attention to detail, and genuinely sound like they want to work with us.
Google the company you’re applying to, and see what they’re about. This way you can write a cover letter that speaks to their values and way of working. A deep dive of their social media might also give you a clue as to whether or not this is really somewhere you want to work. Making sure your prospective employer’s values align with your own will also help with long-term job satisfaction.
Get a tour
See if you can do a walk-through of the workplace, with someone who isn’t conducting the interview. This will allow you to vibe check the team and environment, and see if it will be the right fit for you. If this isn’t an option, see if you can contact another team member to chat with them about the role and workplace
Consider what's really important to you, and be confident to ask the questions!
When we took this topic to the All Star team, there was a huge range in responses for what was most important to them. Some of these include:
The flexibility to choose your hours, work from home, or manage your calendar. The flexibility for area of practice/specialty was also reflected.
What support will be available to you as a new graduate?
Most workplaces offer professional development, but does that include paid leave to attend? What is the professional development budget? How much choice does a clinician have over the professional development events they are offered?
How regular will your supervision or mentoring sessions be? Is this offered in house or do you have to find a clinical mentor yourself?
Does the clinic already have templates and examples for you to use to write reports and programs?
Are you expected to see the same number of clients as a more experienced clinician?
Do you get given the opportunity to observe other clinicians’ sessions as part of your orientation?
$$$. Let’s be honest, the world revolves around money so no point pretending it doesn’t.
Most new graduate positions pay around $70-85K a year (not including super contributions and leave loading). If the position you’re applying for is advertised as inclusive of super and leave loading, you might just want to confirm your take home wage.
If the role is asking you to also use your own car, clarify if you will be provided with a travel allowance. Most clinics who pay their team a travel allowance pay per kilometre. We pay our team 80 cents per kilometre to help cover the upkeep of their car, fuel, servicing, insurance, etc.
How are pay rises awarded? Are there any bonuses offered?
What we think you should ask about
From our experience, we would also recommend that you ask about some of these - you won’t realise they’re important to you until they are!
Does the workplace take into account everyone’s unique strengths and challenges?
Will you have a designated desk or will you share/hot desk?
How does the employer manage stress and burnout?
What are the general expectations of team members? This is likely explained as key performance indicators (KPIs) and might be related to the billable hours per day expected, due dates for reports and clinical notes, contributing to social media etc.
What does the orientation process look like for new team members?
So! If you aren’t completely overwhelmed and are still with us, yay!
If you’re wondering if we would be a good fit for you, please contact us! We consider ourselves to be “always hiring” for the right clinicians to join our team and support our growth.
Alternatively, you can sign up to receive updates on our workshops and team resources here.
Lastly, good luck with your application and career journey, we hope it’s amazing!