Learn about the important requirements, skills, and keywords that should be included in an occupational therapist resume.
Learning to write an occupational therapist resume can feel challenging. More patients than ever are seeking occupational therapy. The job industry for occupational therapists is expected to grow 14% by the year 2031.
You will be hired by an occupational therapy manager or perhaps the senior occupational therapist for the organization you’re interviewing for. It’s important to spend time to craft a strong professional resume that can help you land an interview and potentially get the job.
Want to save time? Just check out our roundup of the best resume writing services. This is a quick and easy way to have your professional resume created for you. Once your resume is ready to go, you can start applying for OT jobs on ZipRecruiter!
Occupational Therapist Resume Example
MARY THERAPIST
Occupational Therapist
+123-456-7890
hi @ me.com
123 Anywhere St. Any City, ST 12345
PROFILE
Compassionate, caring occupational therapist with a passion for helping patients. Background in patient healthcare with 8+ years of professional experience. Eager to join XYZ Healthcare Practice to help patients recover and regain skills using occupational therapy.
EDUCATION
YOUR DEGREE
University/Location University
EXPERIENCE
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST/ABC CO.
2019-Present
- Staff occupational therapist on rotation with Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing units
- Assessed patient's physical and mental status to determine a comprehensive treatment plan
- Monitor patient vital signs and responsiveness to therapy
- Prepare personalized treatment plans
- Adjust treatment plans to align with patient goals, aptitudes, and abilities
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure patient needs were being met
- Document patient treatment and recovery plans
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST/BLUECARE
2015-2019
- Acute care therapist in Pediatrics unit
- Prepared personalized treatment plans for patients
- Worked with interdisciplinary teams to provide treatment and support
- Documented and recorded patient treatment and recovery plans
SKILLS
- Communication
- Adaptability
- Team Player
- Patient Assessment
- Patient Documentation
Join The Break Community
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- MS Office Suite
What Is Unique About An Occupational Therapist Resume?
An occupational therapist resume should include the key skills, qualifications, and relevant experience that make you a desirable candidate for the hiring company.
The idea is to highlight your top skills, show how you shine as an occupational therapist, and tell the company why you’re the best person for the job.
What Should Be Included On An Occupational Therapist Resume?
There are key parts of an occupational therapist that are a must:
Education and Certifications
A qualified occupational therapist must have a master's degree in occupational therapy and a valid state license. Additionally, they may have obtained certifications in specialized areas of occupational therapy such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or other areas.
Expertise
Occupational therapy involves working with different people. You’ll help them achieve their goals so they can improve their ability to do everyday tasks and help them adapt to a disability.
The expertise shown on an occupational therapist will highlight your ability to adapt to new situations, work with different people, prepare and execute personalized treatment plans to help patients achieve a desirable outcome.
Communication Skills
Communication is a very important part of this job. With strong communication and interpersonal skills, you’ll be able to work well with patients and families, build trust, and work collaboratively with others to achieve optimal outcomes.
A strong occupational therapist resume will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work in a team environment.
For more information, check out our guide on how to include communication skills on your resume.
Adaptability
Occupational therapy is a profession that needs creativity and flexibility.
Each patient is different and so the ability to adapt and be flexible is necessary to work with each patient’s unique needs.
An occupational therapist resume should highlight the candidate's ability to think outside the box, adapt treatment plans to individual needs, and modify plans as necessary to achieve optimal outcomes.
Technology
The field of occupational therapy is constantly evolving and growing. Technology plays a big role in this.
An occupational therapist resume should highlight the candidate's familiarity with electronic medical records, telehealth, familiarity with common software/programs used in the industry, and other technologies used in occupational therapy practice.
What Should Be Left Off An Occupational Therapist Resume?
When crafting an occupational therapist (OT) resume, it is important to ensure that it is tailored to the specific job and employer you are applying to. While there are no hard and fast rules about what to leave off an OT resume, here are a few things that you may want to consider omitting:
Personal information: Detailed personal information beyond your name, address, phone number, and email address does not need to be included on your professional resume. This includes information like your age, marital status, social security number, or religion.
Irrelevant work experience: While you may have had many jobs in the past, not all of them may be relevant to the position you are applying for. Consider leaving off jobs that don't relate to your OT experience or the position you are applying for.
Hobbies and interests: While it can be tempting to add a section about your hobbies and interests, it's generally not necessary or relevant to the job.
References: Most employers will request references separately, so there is no need to include them on your resume.
Ultimately, your resume should showcase your relevant experience, education, and skills in a clear and concise way that highlights why you are the best candidate for the job.
Important Job Skills For Occupational Therapists
When preparing your occupational therapist resume, it’s important to consider adding relevant job skills.
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Time management skills
- Organizational skills
- Adaptability
- Flexibility
- Assessment skills
- Documentation
- Record-keeping
The Bottom Line
Writing a professional resume is important but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are some key takeaways to remember:
- Include all relevant sections on your resume like education, experience, and skill, and skip the unnecessary stuff (i.e. like references, etc.)
- Focus on highlighting top skills relevant to the job you’re applying for
- Make sure your educational background and experience have plenty of information and detail
Use this as a guide in creating your occupational therapist resume so you can feel confident crafting your resume for the OT job you’re applying to.
We hope you found this information helpful but, if it’s all too much, you can skip it altogether and go straight to the best resume writing services to work with the pros who can write your resume for you! Once you are happy with your resume, we recommend applying for jobs on ZipRecruiter.
