RehabCare

The Deciding Factor

There are many different types of settings that a Therapist can practice in, so just how does a Physical Therapy student decide what setting they want to work in post graduation?  What influences a students decision when it comes to accepting a position?  During the educational process students complete multiple clinical rotations.  These rotations are the sole contributors in helping a student distinguish their likes and dislikes of the various settings.  The Admissions Counselors blog at College Recruiter explains further:   

"....In college, continue to volunteer. Arrange to “shadow” a practicing therapist in order to learn firsthand exactly what physical therapists do and to verify your interest."

"A successful job search begins by developing clear career goals that reflect an understanding of what you are looking for in a position and what you have to offer employers. Your goals may change as you learn more about yourself, jobs, and employers, but developing an initial focus will help you narrow your options and target appropriate employers."

While many companies, hospitals, home-health providers and long-term care facilities open their doors to students for their clinical rotations in hopes that the student will come to work for them after graduation, how many of these companies and facilities are actually taking steps in providing a better clinical education program for these students?  Will providing a better clinical education experience make these students choose one facility over another? 

Are There Jobs For COTA's?

This morning I came upon a Blog entry by Tim Banish, COTA, which caught my eye. The title of the posting is “COTA Jobs in Demand, or Not?” In his entry Tim tries to discover if, 1.)there are there plenty of jobs for COTA’s to pick from in the U.S., or, 2.) there are very little jobs available for today’s pool of COTA’s? 

Job Fairs - Still A Great Resource For Students

     With the advent of social networks and online job search engines many students feel that attending job fairs is a thing of the past -€“ on the contrary my friends.  Job fairs sponsored by your school are still key in advancing your career as a therapist.  The face to face element of a job fair has far more impact than submitting a resume to a job posting. At a fair you are able to speak directly to a knowledgeable representative who is genuinely interested in getting to know your career aspirations. You, in turn, are able to judge if certain companies fit your future career goals. Since job fairs are still an important factor in one's job search, CollegeRecruiter.com wrote a blog titled Job Fairs: Tips for Finding an Internship or Entry Level Job. The blog lists a €œto-do list for students when they attend a job fair. It is broken down by things to do before the job fair, at the fair and after the fair.

"€œBefore the job fair:

1. Update your resume and make multiple copies of it.
2. Do in-depth research on two or three employers who are of interest to you and who will be at the career fair.
3. Practice what you'll say and how you'll say it. You may only have 10 seconds to get your message across so don't be long winded. At the same time, you may have 10 minutes to talk with a recruiter so have enough to say about yourself and enough questions to ask about them to more than fill that time. Leave them wanting more but not too much more."€

     So, if your school is offering a job fair this semester I strongly encourage you to attend. They are a great way to network and identify potential employers. Refer to the blog linked above and get the most out of your next job fair.   Check out our Calendar of Events to see where we are scheduled to participate. We hope to see you at our booth, and be sure to mention our blog.  No matter if you graduate this year or have a few more years to go, it is never to early to put your feelers out there and network.

RehabCare Sponsors Alumni Reunion Weekend

Calling all UTHSCSA PT's.  RehabCare is excited to announce our continued partnership and sole sponsorship of the "All Classes" reunion.  The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio will be holding their 4th Annual PTAA Weekend Reunion November 2nd and 3rd.  As a participant and sponsor of the 2007 PT Olympics, the 2007 Allied Health Job Fair, and our continued efforts in providing Clinical Education Sites to the UTHSCSA PT students we are looking forward to our newest sponsorship and continued involvement with the program.  Special thanks to Chris Rabago, UTHSCSA PTAA- President and Mike Geelhoed, Director of Clinical Education for their invitation to sponsor this event. RehabCare will be featured as the Special Guest at the Alumni Reunion Bash Dinner with Barb Wallace, AVP of Campus Relations and Lauren Brody, Campus Relations Manager in attendance.  We also look forward to mixing and mingling with both Alumni and current students during the happy hour on Friday at Howl at the Moon.  We hope to see you all at the event, Barb and I will be armed with our camera for photo opportunities of the Alumni and Students to post on our blog once we return.  So make sure to stop by, say hi and get your picture taken for your spot on the blog.

Oops, Did I Make The Wrong Employment Choice?

I've focused all my attention towards networking with new grads this year.  Each time I visit with students, it seems like there are so many possibilities to match the best and brightest students to great employment opportunities with RehabCare.  Students are being lured to accept positions solely based on money.  Compensation is very important, but there are many other things to consider as well.  Work environment, mentorship, growth opportunities.  I also want to have a great time at work and at the end of day, I want to feel like I've contributed and made a difference in someone's life.

How many times have we learned about students making the wrong decision.  See note below from a new grad that is having trouble fitting in with her supervisor.

Feeling Like A Doormat

I am a recent graduate and I am in a new full time job. I have only been working here two months, so I am still fairly new and in a learning mode. As a result, I still make small blunders at work. The problem is my supervisor -- I work closely with her and she is very condescending towards me. She loves to "rub it in" every time I make a mistake.

I consider myself to be a very hard worker, and on many occasions I have stayed later then I should. At the end of the day all my self confidence is gone. The way she speaks down to me seems unfair. How can I handle this so I don’t feel like a complete doormat?

– Doormat

Now what should Doormat do?  Where is Doormat's mentor?  Who else can Doormat turn to?  How about RehabCare Job Opportunities                           

I am a recent graduate and I am in a new full time job. I have only been working here two months, so I am still fairly new and in a learning mode. As a result, I still make small blunders at work. The problem is my supervisor -- I work closely with her and she is very condescending towards me. She loves to "rub it in" every time I make a mistake.

I consider myself to be a very hard worker, and on many occasions I have stayed later then I should. At the end of the day all my self confidence is gone. The way she speaks down to me seems unfair. How can I handle this so I don’t feel like a complete doormat?

– Doormat

Now what should Doormat do?  Where is Doormat's mentor?  Who else can Doormat turn to?  How about RehabCare Job Opportunities                           

Social Networking - Just Be Smart About It

These days you can't turn on the TV or read an article online without running across a story on the new uses of social-networks like Facebook and LinkedIn. Employers are now getting savvy in the social-networking arena and are using these sites to gather information on potential candidates that they could not get from the conventional resume or face-to-face interview.  This topic was being discussed as early as 2005, when Jessica Mintz wrote an article, Social-Networking Sites Catch the Eye of Employers, on Wall Street Journal Online.  A candidate can put all their efforts into creating an impressive resume and putting up a professional appearance at an interview, but if they have information out on the web about their weekend keg parties and shenanigans, employers might see that and cross them off their list. 

"Someone will come in [for an in-person interview], be all buttoned-up and seem very proper, but you know you just saw their profile, and on it, their friends were talking about how they were wild and crazy and party seven nights a week," she says. For Ms. Prieto, that's fine. "I want to know what your real personality is like," she says. However, bad grammar or typos, even on candidates' friends' pages, give her second thoughts."

Now, in 2007 with more and more talk about the harm of social-networks, students are becoming more conscience of what they post on sites like Facebook and MySpace.  If you are a student who uses one of the social-networks you should tune into the season premier of Minnesota Public Radio "In The Loop Show".  The show is mentioned on www.collegerecruiter.com and in entitled "Your Exposed Life".

“The show airs this Sunday at 6pm CT on MPR. If these issues are of concern to you, and they should be to everyone, then you should listen. You'll be entertained and learn a lot. For those outside of the MPR listening area, listen on-line. If you want to see the studio audience, guests, host, head over to Flickr.” (www.collegerecruiter.com )

 Tune into the show, it is bound to have some useful information on how to protect your personal information out there on the web. How do you feel about employers being able to do “background’ checks on you through your social-network? Do you think it is fair? Does it make you want to not use those sites?

Recruiting Is Like Dating

How many of us have gone on a date and not heard back from them until a week or so later?  After that happens, if you are like me, you toss the idea of going on another date out the door and move along to the next suitor.  Well, recruiting a candidate is kind of like dating...if you want to succeed in dating or recruiting you can't wait too long without contacting someone or you will lose their interest. While doing my weekly blog reading on Hiring Revolution, I came across a blog that reiterated this idea, the blog was titled The Importance Of Timely Feedback.  It spoke about the need for recruiters to keep communication open between candidates and themselves.  The days you don't speak with your candidate leave your candidate open for the taking by other companies or "suitors".

"Don’t be so complacent in your search. One day you can have a whole pool of candidates and the next they are gone due to promotions or other offers. It is very important you keep an open line of communication with either your recruiter or candidate and push to get the ball rolling ASAP upon receipt of the resume."

Minimal waiting period between your initial contact, the interview, and hopefully, the offer is the best way to assure yourself of getting that hire - and after all, that's what it is about.  Getting that hire makes your company and managers happy and that can only lead to your happiness.  So, get that ball rolling and call your candidates.

Will I Have A Mentor?

"Will I have a Mentor?"  When interviewing a potential employer one of the first questions you should ask is, Will I have a Mentor.  While reviewing the APTA website I came across their Mentor Program and thought to myself, if the APTA is putting a focus on Mentorship for future Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistants will this become a topic of conversation during an interview? 

"According to many experts, career success often requires the assistance of people willing to support and encourage another's career development--a mentor. In fact, the Department of Labor has identified the lack of mentoring as one of the "organizational or attitudinal barriers" preventing career advancement for working professionals, especially women."

You have just spent the last three years finishing your Masters in Physical Therapy and now it's time to take everything you have learned in the academic world and transfer it to the clinical world. How would you feel being a new Physical Therapist in a facility just out of college and the only treating Therapist in a facility with no one to turn to for guidance? I am sure that you would be very unhappy in that position feeling very alone and unsure. Why would a company find it beneficial to themselves to place a New Grad therapist in a facility with no one to support and supervise? Many new grad therapist want that guidance and support of a mentor to go to for questions and advice. This has become a very hot topic in the student world when looking at future employment.  During many of the job fairs I attend the number one question I am asked is.... "do you have a mentor program?"  Happily I can say yes.  RehabCare and the Campus Relations Department has put a focus and emphasis on providing mentor's to all the New Grads that we are hiring on a daily basis.  Our Mentor Program is designed to follow the new grad through their first year of employment with the company to help develop strong and successful therapist.