Occupational Therapy Assistant Employment

As a veteran recruiter, I feel comfortable in saying the playing field has changed when it comes to a job search.  Recruiters have changed the way we source candidates, especially now since there are so many people looking for jobs.  How do we decide, out of the hundreds of applicants, who we talk to and who we don’t?  Networking.  Simple as that.  Recruiters are doing it, hiring managers are doing it.  If you are a job seeker, you had better be doing it!  But what about the passive job seeker?  Those of us who are in a stable job that we enjoy may not be thinking about the next step in our career at this moment.  We need to see how the things we do now will drive our careers forward.  I find this to be the biggest mistake made by many healthcare workers, including Physical and Occupational Therapists.  In many healthcare disciplines, there is a tremendous shortage of available staff.  For instance, the availability of Occupational Therapy jobs in Indiana is staggering.  You just have to know where to look.  These positions are not advertised and filled in the traditional way.  Many are filled by the hiring managers through networking.  The old saying, “It’s not what you know but who you know,” may be cliché but is most certainly true.

 

Even if you are not looking for a new opportunity at this time, you may want to keep your door open to networking opportunities.  Yes, even to recruiters!  You just never know who you are going to meet that may be able to influence your career (and hence your wallet) in the future.  It always amazes me, the number of people who are not open to speaking with recruiters.  Why?  Is there anything bad that could come from networking with someone?  How is it a waste of your time to spend 3 ½ minutes exchanging mobile numbers and e-mail addresses?  I encourage everyone to keep that door open.  At some point in time, we all find ourselves in a position where we are interested in pursuing a new opportunity, or at least know someone who is.  There is also money to be had in referrals!  If you want to make a recruiter’s day, tell them you have a referral and watch the party dance begin!  If they don’t tell you about their referral bonus, make sure you ask!