The therapy job market has changed dramatically now that the U.S. economy is in a recession. Competition for jobs has heated up as an increasing number of skilled clinicians flood the market. Also, facilities are reconsidering their hiring plans as they wait for the economy to rebound. And while the internet has made it easier than ever for therapists to post their resumes, that convenience has made it harder for them to stand out. Even the basics of a job search – resumes, cover letters, interviews, and salary negotiations have changed as a result of the economy. It’s no longer an employee’s market, and therapy job seekers have to adapt accordingly.
If you are tired of struggling to find the right job and don’t want the economic slowdown to hurt your chances of landing a new one, there are some best practices for conducting a search when times are tight.
Many therapists still use the shotgun method for conducting their job search. They read the newspapers or job boards; then they submit their standard resume to either a handful of opportunities they see, or they submit to dozens of therapy jobs with the same resume as long as the position is consistent with their skill set. As therapy job seekers become more fearful of the economy, they fall back on the shotgun method because it feels like they are out there working it.
The problem with the shotgun method is that it doesn’t work, especially in a job market where the employers have the pick of the litter. In fact, it does more harm than good. Recruiters are not likely to want to help you because you have given your information to all the potential hiring facilities free access to your information, which negates the value they provide to their clients. Second, you commoditize yourself. By posting your resume everywhere, you become indistinguishable from all of the other job seekers in your skill set. Finally, when you try to be all things to all prospective employers by sending out a standard resume to them, you end up being nothing to any of them. Your resume won’t even get noticed because it doesn’t stand out.
What the shotgun method lacks is a specific idea of the therapy job that you want and a plan on how to get it. Yet few therapists start with these ideas since both require thought and time. Pressure causes most job seekers to feel that they don’t have the time to create a strategy. They simply want to apply to as many positions as possible. By taking the time to zero in on a specific career goal, company, facility, and job, you demonstrate to your employer your clarity and ability to manage things.
The amount of time this type of planning requires varies by person, but a long-term, solutions-oriented job search is well worth it. Plan to succeed in your job search and you will. Structure every day with that expectation and get up each morning asking yourself what needs to get done today to meet your goal. Plan for success and enjoy the right opportunity when it comes!
Dean Medley
Vice President of Recruiting
Medical Methods Healthcare Recruiting
904-398-4133 Office
904-398-4148 Fax
904-705-3552 Mobile
877-990-0090 Toll Free
dean.medley@medicalmethods.net
www.medicalmethods.net