When you start a job search for a therapy aide you first need to consider what an occupational therapy aide actually does. Think about some of the duties that you may very well be facing, and ask yourself if you are ready for them. In the first place, you will find that there are plenty of tasks that you may be called upon to handle. For instance, you may need to guide a person to the treatment area or you may need to push a wheelchair. You may also be called upon to do some clerical or desk work, and some basic filling out of forms. Remember that this is a position that will have different duties depending on the kind of facility you are working in
Another thing that may tip the position over in favor of trying to find work as an occupational therapist aide is that there is no training required. Though you may be asked to help patients around, you will not be asked to do anything more complex than that; that is the area that is taken over by therapy assistants. This can be a great way for you to see the field first hand and to figure out what your options are going to be. In many cases, you will need to think about what you are willing to do and what is not going to work for you. This job, however, is a great way to move forward. There are a number of different things that you need to think about when you are looking into this profession, and you will find that this is a good situation to be in if you are looking towards licensing later on.
When you are looking for a therapy aide job, start by making sure that you have a high school diploma or a GED. This is the basic certification that you need, and at the end of the day, you are going to discover that this is something that will help you out a lot. Take some time and really consider what your options are and what you need to do to get this job. Make sure that you use the contacts that are available to you. Do you know anyone in the field, or do you have any one in the family who can guide you? Sometimes, just a word in the right ear will go a long way towards getting you the position that you have been coveting, so make sure that everyone you know knows that you are looking for a therapy aide job.
Also make sure that you do your share of cold calling. Chances are, the office that you are going to be working in has a lot going on, and unless you take the time to really stop and think about what your options are going to be, you might get left behind. These are typically small offices that you are dealing with, so openings might not come up as often as you would like. Take some time and do lots of calls around. This is something that can go a long way towards making that personal connection that you have heard so much about. There are plenty of different ways to make a first impression, and this is definitely one of them. You really need to think about what you should to do in order to be the first on their call back list when they do have an opening.
Prepare your resume to perfection. Your resume should not be your life story; rather it should tell why you would be perfect for the job and should also specify if you have any pertinent experience.
If you are on the hunt for a therapist aide job, keep in mind the fact that there are a number of things that you need to remember. The job is out there; all you need to do is find it!
