Therapy Careers: Using LinkedIn for Career Success

Posted on February 16, 2012 by admin
Occupational Therapy Jobs

Connect on LinkedIn

LinkedIn for Occupational Therapy Jobs

Whether you work in speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy, there’s no substitute for LinkedIn in the world of therapy careers. If you’re looking for a job, or want to find career resources for your current position, your involvement in LinkedIn will prove to be invaluable.

Why You Need LinkedIn

Whether you want to learn about companies, connect with recruiters, or participate in professional groups, LinkedIn is the wave of the future. To make the most of finding employment in your chosen field, you need to maximize your use of LinkedIn’s system. Here’s what you need to do in order to find great work opportunities:

  • Follow Company Pages: You can track new hires and keep up-to-date with company movements through “company pages.” Know what’s going on in your industry and within the company without leaving your desk (or your couch) when linking your profile to these pages.
  • Join Groups and Monitor the Job Postings: Whether you’re job seeking, hiring, or just waiting on the perfect opportunity, being in these groups can give you an inside look at the state of your industry.
  • Update Your Profile: Frequently. Keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date like a resume – you never know who is looking.  Optimize your profile for job hunting and put your best foot forward for clients. Don’t let your profile fall behind your current professional life.
  • Stay Professional: LinkedIn is where the grown-ups go to network. This isn’t the place for Facebook’s casual photos or Twitter’s casual thoughts. Keep it tight, keep it professional. Follow this useful “Don’t Do It” Guide to make the most of professional-quality LinkedIn activity.

Getting Started

If you’re not yet on LinkedIn, there’s no time like the present. If you’re in the job market, the information and resources on LinkedIn is crucial. And if you’re not currently in the job market – don’t wait until you’re looking for something new to start building connections. Here’s how to get started.

  • Create a profile. Use a professional-yet-friendly photo and supply the most recent information on your occupational therapy job and specializations.
  • Reach out. Search for individuals you know from your personal and professional spheres. Check out company pages and start to build your network. Connect with people you know or have an interest in learning from.  In addition to co-workers and colleagues, people who are friends of friends, share a group, or who work in a company you’re interested in are great to connect with. Remember the more interaction, the more likely good opportunities can make their way to you.  Don’t be afraid to request a recommendation from those who know your work and can add something positive to your professional therapy career.
  • Update, update, update. Commit yourself to having a LinkedIn presence. Pay attention to what’s going on in your professional sphere.  Join groups and take time to be a contributing member. The mentality in LinkedIn is business networking – you could offer a hand to someone, pose questions, or help people when they have questions as well. The more you participate, the more visible you are – be expecting to see benefits from your professionalism.

Start now and you’ll be well-positioned later. Whether you wind up contributing to a community, needing advice on a therapy technique, or are seeking the best work opportunities, LinkedIn can help you be better at what you do.

To learn about occupational therapy jobs at Santé Pediatrics, find us on LinkedIn, follow us on Twitter, join our talent community, or visit santepediatrics.com/sante_careers. Santé also has home and clinic-based speech and physical therapy careers for those looking for the benefits of an integrated-therapy approach.

 

Posted in Jobs, Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Therapy, Pediatric Therapy Resources, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Find Jobs in Healthcare Using Facebook

Posted on February 9, 2012 by admin

physical therapy jobsCan Facebook Really Help You Find Physical Therapy Jobs?

Jobs in healthcare can be difficult to find these days; however, reports indicate physical therapists don’t have a problem putting their expertise to work. Regardless of how good you are, your online image and savvy can be the make-or-break in landing the best physical therapy job.

Even for the highly-demanded physical therapist, networking opportunities can be the key to setting yourself apart. LinkedIn is an obvious choice, but any career-minded individual shouldn’t stop there. There are other personal social networking tools that can be invaluable – as long as your ‘personal persona’ is clean enough to be visible to your professional contacts.

How Can Facebook Work for You?

If you use Facebook for keeping up with friends, it can be difficult to see it as a ground for connecting with great job opportunities. Here are a few strategies to get you noticed and get in position to land your dream job.

  • “Like” businesses you’d like to work for. Use business pages for more than just points of interest. Connect with businesses you’d like to know more about and watch the day-to day-activities they post online. If there’s a job opening, it’s likely to be posted on their Facebook feed.
  • Watch business pages for opportunities to engage. Don’t just lurk. When you see a question or a comment that catches your attention, respond. The business will appreciate the “bump” and you’ll be making contacts – and having a little fun at the same time.
  • Put your best foot forward. Don’t be afraid to ask relevant, professional questions on the page.  Remember, you are actually connecting with someone on the other side of another computer. Keep your language clean and behave like an adult, even if something angers you. When you comport yourself like a professional, you’ll gain the respect of professionals.
  • Update your status. If you’re looking for a job, say so. Put that vast network of contacts to work for you. Tell people what you’re good at, what you’re looking for, and what you do. Use several little blurbs over the course of days or weeks to stay in peoples’ minds.

Remember that people are paying attention (even if you’re not looking for a job at the moment), so it matters what you post and how you interact with your friends.  Facebook is meant to be personal; however,  keep the drunken photos to a minimum, keep the language minimally floral, and remember that your 80-year-old grandmother may want to be your Facebook friend. If she can see it, a potential employer can see it.

To learn about physical therapy jobs with Santé Pediatrics, follow us on Twitter, join our talent community, or visit santepediatrics.com/santé_careers. Santé also has home and clinic-based openings for speech and occupational therapists looking for therapy jobs in Texas.

 

Posted in Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Therapy, Pediatric Therapy Resources, Pediatric Therapy Tools, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy | Tagged | Leave a comment

Therapy Jobs: Use This One Little-Known Secret for Your Next Career Move

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

speech therapy jobsUsing Social Media for Job Searches

We all know that social media is changing the face of business. Speech therapy jobs are no different. You may already have a profile on LinkedIn and know your way around responsible, business-friendly Facebooking. If you’re looking for a job, we’d bet you’re using the Internet in your search.

Whether you’re looking for physical therapy jobs, occupational therapy jobs, or some specialty within speech pathology, you might not be aware of all the ways you can leverage these social sites find the best career opportunities.

The Power of Twitter in the Job Search

Twitter is a hugely under-used resource when it comes to job hunting. Put this little powerhouse in your pocket, and you’ll have an edge over your market competitors. Here’s how:

  • Follow. Twitter’s power is in its connections. Follow businesses that interest you, professionals with known track records in your field, and people whose opinions matter to you. You’ll get up-to-date industry info and be the first to know if a company you’re interested in has a job opening.
  • Use Hashtags. Insert a hashtag (#) before a keyword when you search on Twitter, and you’ll bring up streams of pertinent topics and people to follow. Use #therapy or #speechtherapy, for example, to find general information posts; use #jobs, #therapy or even #SLP and #(your target city) for job hunts.
  • Be Professional. Keep your posts G-rated. Friendly and casual posts are expected; comments about your hangover are not. Avoid general Twitter faux pas… promote others first, and avoid putting out constant streams of self-important tweets. You are not the center of the universe but a part of it. Act like it.
  • Use Twitter lists. Find new people and companies to follow using Twitter lists, and keep up to date with the latest industry news and information. You can even make your own lists to help you filter people only on those lists.
  • Move immediately. Twitter may be a step ahead of the game, but it’s just one step. When you see a job announcement pop up, use an “@ post” or direct message to respond to the business or business rep that tweeted.  If you know the name of the person you’re connecting with, consider looking them up on LinkedIn or their company up on Facebook to engage in the full social media community. You’ll set yourself apart from the other resumes in the stack if you’ve had direct contact with a business representative and the company online.
  • Keep it up. You don’t want your Twitter account to look neglected, so regular tweets and follows are a must.  Tweet about your career, talk to others who are in the industry or “retweet” (RT) interesting news and information.  It doesn’t take much.  Log on at least a few times a week for a few minutes at a time and keep your stream up to date.  It sends a message of involvement, responsibility, and interest when your account is active.

Job hunting is never easy, but leveraging every online tool in your arsenal can make it easier. Use your Twitter account wisely and well, and you’ll be on the way to job hunting success.

To learn about speech therapy jobs with Santé Pediatrics follow us on Twitter, join our Talent Community, or visit santepediatrics.com/sante_careers. Santé also has home and clinic-based openings for Occupational and Physical Therapists looking for the benefits of an integrated therapy approach.

 

Posted in Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Therapy, Pediatric Therapy Resources, Pediatric Therapy Tools, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Siblings with Special Needs: Talking to Your Children

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

pediatric therapyChildren who have siblings with special needs can often feel that they occupy an uncertain space both in their home and the world around them.  As their parents’ time and energy may be occupied with pediatric therapy and caring for the sibling with special needs these children may wait in the wings for much needed time and attention.

It’s a difficult position for both the parent and the children; however, the parent of a child with special needs can ease the uncertainty by talking with the healthier siblings about the situation – not just once, but on a consistent basis. Here are some suggestions:

Make Time

Out of necessity, parents will probably spend the balance of time helping their kid or kids with special needs. The sibling of a child with special needs can easily become resentful, even wishing they had more problems so that they could receive more attention.

Even if parents are unable to allot a truly balanced portion of their time to the siblings of a child with special needs, they can make sure that they dedicate some special time, preferably one on one, with each sibling who does not have special needs. This gives parents a chance to keep tabs on each child’s thoughts and emotions, and will help every member of the family feel loved and respected.

Parents should talk with each child as they mature, and choose age-appropriate phrasing when talking to the sibling of a child with special needs. Aboutourkids.org has an excellent article on what children can understand in each age bracket, and how to talk with the siblings of kids with special needs about everything, from special needs services to household chores.

Encourage Independence

Whenever possible, encourage children to make friends and find activities outside of the family. Children with healthy social lives and personal talents are often healthier and more confident.

For example, if a child is working on her softball swing and planning for her next movie night, she is less likely to be worried about the time her parents are spending with her brother, who has special needs. She will see the activities that she is able to enjoy that perhaps her sibling cannot, and will likely have a more balanced view of the situation.

Set Rules

Most all children thrive when they know what to expect. Parents should set rules and stick to them. If a child with special needs has some movement and understanding, parents can assign chores that are appropriate for each child according to their capabilities.

Parents should strive to make sure each child is rewarded and punished fairly but firmly, without anger. Any parent can learn to speak to children with calmness and reason, and children will  learn to do the same (eventually… it takes awhile).

Pay Attention

The best thing a parent can do for any child is pay attention. If the brother or sister of a child with special needs shows signs of anxiety or depression, such as changes in mood, sleep patterns, low self-esteem, fear of separation, or headaches and stomach aches, seek medical or psychological help for your child.

These are not symptoms to be ignored. Each child deserves the best possible time and input, within the limits of reason. Even parents who can’t spend as much time as they’d like with each child can make sure to keep a pulse on a child’s thoughts and frame of mind as they grow.

When children know that their parents care, they’ll respond.

To find a team of therapists who specialize in pediatric therapy services and a place where children with special needs can reach their potential, visit us today at santepediatrics.com.

 

Posted in Occupational Therapy, Parenting Children with Special Needs, Pediatric Therapy, Pediatric Therapy Resources, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Jobs: Making the Transition

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

occupational therapy jobsOccupational therapy jobs Texas-wide and nationwide are stable but at a bit of a premium in the current economic climate. To find the best occupational therapy job opportunities, some therapists are opting to change their specialty in order to remain competitive – or simply to find a more fulfilling position, or one that better fits the therapist’s personality. In this post, you’ll hear from a therapist who successfully made such a switch.

Charisa Hood, a successful practitioner of pediatric occupational therapy with Santé Pediatric Services, was once an adult and geriatric therapist. She has effectively transitioned from her adult and geriatric practice to a pediatric therapy focus. Now, she works with children on a daily basis. In her own words, Charisa shares some of the reasons that making the leap to a pediatric practice has proved to be a fulfilling choice.

Charisa’s Story

“If you’re like me, you probably spent most of your training and career working in adult or geriatric occupational therapy. I love what I do. I always enjoyed my adult practice, and found that working with the adult segment of the population was very, very rewarding.

“Once I began to work with children, I discovered that pediatric work has its own particular set of rewards. It can be a little scary to make the jump from working with adults to practicing pediatric care. Still, when you get a chance to see – first-hand—the benefits of working with children, the decision is easy.”

The Benefits of Pediatric Occupational Therapy Jobs

“When you work with adults, you tend to find yourself working with individuals who are mourning a loss of function,” Charisa continued. “That sadness and energy directed inward and “backward” can impede their progress going forward.

“It’s amazing to see the progress that children can make. Children tend to trust and to focus on moving forward. When they do make progress, their level of confidence absolutely soars and their quality of life improves at every step.

“Working with children also has much wider impacts. Pediatric occupational therapists have the chance to impact the welfare of whole families. We can give parents and siblings hope for the future as they see improvement in a child’s abilities – and perhaps most importantly, in a child’s attitude and outlook.

“Children can have such joy at their accomplishments that they become a joy for their therapist to work with. The satisfaction inherent in the business of improving the life of a child can make the transition to pediatric care worthwhile for almost any therapist.”

Want to Know More?

If you’re interested in making the switch from adult therapy to pediatric therapy, Santé can help you make a smooth transition. For more information, visit us online, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and connect with us on LinkedIn. Want to really keep in touch? Check out our blog!

For information on pediatric occupational therapy jobs or other positions in pediatric therapy, from a service provider that will help you make the transition visit santepediatrics.com.

Posted in Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Therapy Resources: Sensory Integration Resources – Therapy Books Part 2

Posted on January 13, 2012 by admin

therapy resourcesSpecial Successes

Access to the proper sensory integration resources can help kids with sensory integration issues succeed. Children with special needs of all sizes, shapes, and abilities are navigating the worlds of learning and social play with increasing success. Kids with sensory integration issues are no different. From ADHD children to young ones with sensory integration issues, any child who has access to the right therapy resources, help, and understanding adults can have a bright future.

Your Resource Library

If you have the privilege and responsibility of caring for a child with special needs, whether at home or at work, having a access to a vast resource library is absolutely crucial. To help the children in your care, you need to understand their conditions and know how to help them make sense of the material they need to learn (and to make sense of life in general).

To help you help the children in your life, here are a few recommendations for special needs books that can improve the quality of life for teens and kids with special needs.

  • Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder. Sensational Kids is an excellent book for caregivers and teachers who come in contact with children who have this surprisingly common condition. Sensory processing disorder encompasses a continuum of perception-related issues that can affect all five senses or only a particular type of sensory input. With a little help and practical therapy, these children can grow up to live healthy, normal lives. This book is the primer for that help and therapy.
  • All Kinds of Minds: A Young Student’s Book About Learning Abilities and Learning Disorders. This breakthrough book, by Mel Levine of the University of North Carolina, tells the stories of five elementary-school children with various “learning disabilities” who share a class. It’s designed to help children understand their own “kind of mind,” whether they have attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, language disorder, social, or even motor skills deficits.  This book helps children to focus on their unique strengths, rather than feeling “different” or “dumb.”
  •  The ADHD Workbook for Teens. The ADHD Workbook for Teens is a therapy resource specifically written to reach a teenage reader. By this age, students are struggling to define who they will be as adults and determine how they will make their way in the world. This excellent workbook helps these kids to identify their own strengths and use them to make headway against the difficulties inherent in dealing with ADHD.

No matter the age or disorder your child faces, having the appropriate literature in hand can be invaluable. The right book can help you understand how to care for your child’s unique needs or help your child come to terms with their own strengths and learn how to manage their own weaknesses. Books like these help both you and your child to know that you are not alone, and that there are ways to make life easier.

Find a team of therapists who specialize in pediatric therapy services and a place where you can help children with special needs reach their full potential! Visit us today at santepediatrics.com, and get on the path to a brighter future.

Posted in Disorders, Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Therapy, Pediatric Therapy Resources | Tagged | Leave a comment

Santé Pediatric Services: Top Therapy Blogs of 2011

Posted on January 5, 2012 by admin

Did you miss any of these top therapy resources and blogs of 2011?

Where to Find Special Needs Apps for Children

Technology is being used more than ever as therapy resources and to help children with special needs learn in a variety of situations.  Devices such as the iPad provide a unique way for these children to play games and do activities that help them learn new information and generalize information that they have learned in other settings.  The Internet is full of descriptions of great special needs apps; here are five sites that can help you narrow your search.

The site iKidApps provides reviews of the latest apps for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod that are aimed at children with special needs.

Click here to read the rest of this blog.

Pediatric Therapy: An upbeat, fun and creative career choice for those who love kids

If you love children and want to work in a dynamic, hands-on environment, why not consider a career in a pediatric therapy? There is perhaps no greater feeling than knowing you are helping children reach their speech goals, learn social skills and overcome limitations. Whether it’s occupational therapy for kids, physical therapy for pediatrics, or speech and language therapy, you’ll be lending a helping hand every day and making a difference in children’s lives.

Occupational therapy gets them prepared for life

What is occupational therapy? Pediatric occupational therapy focuses more on the human aspects of a therapeutic setting. Instead of focusing on math and science, this therapy focuses more on how children are different and what motivates them…

Click here to read the rest of this blog.

Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of Dysphagia

This blog is the first of a three-part series on treating pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders.

Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorder, known as pediatric dysphagia, occurs when children have problems moving food from the mouth into the stomach.  The definition of dysphagia comes from the Greek word which means “disordered eating”, and refers to difficulty eating as a result of a disruption in the swallowing process.  The disorder is common among premature infants, Down syndrome patients, children with craniofacial abnormalities, children in the autism spectrum, or those with development disorders.  Children who cannot pick food up and get it to their mouths or cannot completely close their lips to keep food from falling out may also have dysphagia.

Click here to read the rest of this blog.

Feeding and Swallowing: Evaluation and Treatment Process

This blog is part two in a three-part series on treating pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders.

It can be daunting to work with a child that has feeding difficulties, but pediatric dysphagia can often be improved with timely and proper treatment.  Understanding the process from evaluation to the treatment of dysphagia can help build your confidence when offering  pediatric therapy to patients with swallowing disorders.

There can be many reasons for feeding/swallowing problems – from head injury to birth defects – and it is important to learn as much as possible about the patient’s medical history.  Valuable information is gathered during the evaluation process that is used to determine the best course of treatment for the child.

Click here to read the rest of this blog.

The Benefits of Home Based Pediatric Therapy Services

Pediatric therapy services can be provided either in a clinic setting or in the patient’s home.  While there are clear advantages and disadvantages to both settings, sometimes many of the advantages of home therapy services are overlooked.  It is important to keep these benefits in mind before deciding for or against home therapy.

Because clinic settings often look and feel a lot like a doctor’s office, clinics can be intimidating for some children.  When this is the case, it means that it is necessary for the therapist to spend a significant amount of time helping the child become comfortable and familiar with this environment before actual therapy work can begin.

Click here to read the rest of this blog.

Posted in Disorders, Feeding and Swallowing, Pediatric Therapy, Pediatric Therapy Resources, Pediatric Therapy Tools, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Kids with Down Syndrome Reaching Their Potential

Posted on December 28, 2011 by admin

children with special needsChildren with special needs are often treated differently than other children, and sometimes their potential for success is overlooked because focus is placed on their disabilities rather than on their abilities.  Pediatric therapy and special groups like the “Superstars”, a cheer squad with Cheer Texas, are helping kids with Down syndrome and other disabilities reach their potential.  Kenzie, a member of the squad, helps show how much potential can be reached.

Kenzie is surrounded by supportive parents and friends; at school the kids are eager to kids with down syndromespend time with her, and her mom says, “Everyone knows who Kenzie is.”  Her life is very full of activities, including cheerleading and Special Olympics, and she participates in several activities, such as speech therapy and occupational therapy, that help her grow.

According to Kenzie’s mom, all too often when people first learn that Kenzie has Down syndrome, they end up saying, “I’m sorry.”  But she and her husband are not sorry – they are thrilled with all that Kenzie brings into their lives, and they are very proud of all she has accomplished.

Being part of the cheerleading squad has taught Kenzie more than just tumbling and a few cheers; it has given her the opportunity to learn the value of teamwork, and to show off her athletic skills.  It gives her the chance to do something that she loves, and she knows that nothing can hold her back.

Kenzie is an inspiration to her parents and to the many others who know her and have seen how hard she works on her cheerleading squad.  She demonstrates the potential that children with special needs are able to reach if they are given the opportunity to do so.

For more information on how the right pediatric therapy provider can help you child reach their potential visit santepediatrics.com.

Posted in Disorders, Family Activities, Occupational Therapy, Parenting Children with Special Needs, Pediatric Therapy, Pediatric Therapy Activity, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy | Tagged | 1 Comment

Pediatric Occupational Therapy: Making the Transition

Posted on December 27, 2011 by admin

 

Charisa Hood, a pediatric occupational therapist with Santé Pediatric Services, shares her experience with transitioning from adult and geriatric therapy into an occupational therapy job that focuses on children. For information on pediatric occupational therapy jobs from a service provider that will help you make the transition visit https://santepediatrics.com/jobs/

Posted in Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Therapy, Pediatric Therapy Resources, Pediatric Therapy Tools | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pediatric Therapy Dance Stars Children with Special Needs

Posted on December 21, 2011 by admin

children with special needsThe popular ABC show Dancing with the Stars has inspired Santé Pediatrics clinic in El Paso to organize a similar competition called “Dancing with the Therapists.”  This therapy dance competition is designed to give children with special needs the chance to shine.

This competition is a fun way to incorporate therapy goals into activities that help build confidence, coordination, strength, and self-esteem for these children.  They get to experience a variety of music and learn new ways to express themselves while also building physical strength.  It also gives both the children and the therapists a chance to break away from therapy routines and learn skills in a new way.

Getting ready for the competition includes a variety of activities that are all designed to integrate the therapy goals of each client into the process.  Learning dance moves is a fun way to incorporate gross motor skills and improve functioning.  Clients also work to create their own costumes, which helps accomplish therapeutic goals for fine motor skills.  The scoring criteria used in the competition are also based on the therapy goals that were used to complete the necessary tasks.

The competition, held in mid-November, featured seven patients who have used their courage, hard work, effort and determination to meet the challenges set before them and dance like no one is watching.  This unique opportunity has given them the chance to improve their skills, strength, and confidence all while having a lot of fun.  They all had the chance to get a lot of exercise and have fun up on stage in front of their friends and family.

To learn how you can be part of a therapy provider that puts children with special needs first, visit our website.

Posted in Occupational Therapy, Parenting Children with Special Needs, Pediatric Therapy, Pediatric Therapy Activity, Pediatric Therapy Resources, Pediatric Therapy Tools | Tagged | Leave a comment