Occupational Therapist (OT) Text-Only Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Melissa Anderson
123 Carpenter Street, Philadelphia, PA 12345
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Profile
Occupational Therapist committed to helping patients regain and develop daily living skills and activities. Recently demonstrated success at a major regional hospital, engaging with diverse patients and collaborating effectively with a team of other OTs and OT assistants. Highly efficient and attentive to detail, drawing on prior work experience in the service industry.
Professional Experience
Occupational Therapist, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
October 2021 to Present
- Consult with patients to understand their condition, priorities, and ongoing challenges
- Set viable treatment plans and activity goals informed by each person’s medical history and current ability levels
- Provide case managers with insight and analysis that supports responsible discharge planning
- Offer ideas and suggestions to make patients’ home or work environment safer and more conducive to a healthy lifestyle
- Educate patients on the effective use of wheelchairs, walkers, and other durable medical equipment (DME)
- Actively engage with patients’ friends, family members, and employers as needed
Education & Certifications
Master of Science (MS) – Occupational Therapy
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, September 2019 – May 2021
3.6 GPA
Coursework and fieldwork focusing on:
Assistive Technology | Client Care Management | Effective Patient & Family Relations | Home & Workplace Evaluation | Hospital Discharge Planning | Neuroscience | Patient Consult & Assessment | Reporting & Documentation | Treatment Planning
Bachelor of Science (BS) – Psychology
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, September 2015 – May 2019
3.7 GPA
Certification and License
- National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), 2021
- Occupational Therapy License, Pennsylvania, 2021
Additional Experience
Server GMS Family Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA,
2017 to 2019
- Maintained high service standards engaging with customers of this popular Italian restaurant
- Quickly built knowledge of an extensive menu with numerous lunch, dinner, and wine options
- Demonstrated strong efficiency, teamwork, and commitment to quality in a fast-paced work environment
Raymond Ortiz
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY 12345
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Professional Profile
Occupational Therapist with nearly seven years of experience in a hospital setting. Committed to helping patients regain independence and navigate a smooth return to daily life following recovery from illness, injury, or major surgery. Natural collaborator. Build productive relationships with nurses, providers, case managers, physical therapists, and respiratory therapists. Expertly balance various duties and priorities in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Professional Experience
Occupational Therapist, NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
April 2019 to Present
- Guide patients through activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and food preparation to support recovery and gauge readiness for discharge from hospital
- Collaborate with physical therapist to help determine and recommend next phase of each patient’s recovery, drawing on broad knowledge of available rehab, home health, and other services
- Recommend appropriate durable medical equipment (DME) such as wheelchairs, walkers, and leg braces
- Praised by colleagues and managers for outstanding efficiency, collaboration, and dedication to patient outcomes
Occupational Therapist, Tisch Hospital, New York, NY
July 2015 to April 2019
- Assisted patients with ADLs to facilitate recovery and discharge planning
- Consulted with patients to discuss and clarify their individual goals for regaining mobility and resuming daily work and life activities
- Maintained open communication with nurse staff, offering a detailed update after each patient consult
- Developed and honed strong skills in patient relations and team collaboration
Education
Master of Science (MS) – Occupational Therapy
Columbia University, New York, NY, May 2011 – June 2015
Bachelor of Science (BS) – Psychology
University of Syracuse, New York, NY, September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
- Home & Workplace Evaluation
- Hospital Discharge Planning
- Patient & Family Relations
- Patient Consult & Assessment
- Reporting & Documentation
- Task Prioritization
- Treatment Planning
Certifications and Licensures
- Certified, National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), 2015
- Occupational Therapy License, New York, 2015
Joseph Corbin
123 Bridge Street, Boston, MA 12345
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Professional Profile
Dedicated and resourceful Occupational Therapist with 10+ years of advancement and experience at major hospital facilities. Demonstrated excellence in helping patients chart a return to daily life following recovery from illness, injury, or major surgery. Draw consistent praise from colleagues and managers for quickly assessing challenges and finding new ways to optimize patient outcomes.
Make highly informed care recommendations based on a close review of each patient’s health status, priorities, and home or work environment. Natural coach and mentor. Recently helped devise new OT training measures and principles adopted by other hospital disciplines. Augment OT expertise with a firm commitment to efficiency, collaboration, and process improvement.
Professional Experience
Occupational Therapist, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
April 2018 to Present
- Create personalized OT treatment plans for diverse patients at this major regional hospital facility
- Assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and food preparation to support recovery and gauge readiness for discharge from hospital
- Coordinate with physical therapist to help determine and recommend next phase of each patient’s recovery, drawing on broad knowledge of available rehab, home health, and other services
- Contribute ideas and strategies to streamline operations further, standardize policies, and advance team success
- Highlight: Co-developed training modules that helped enhance onboarding and performance of newly hired OT assistants. Several other hospital departments adopted successful new training approaches and systems
Occupational Therapist, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
January 2012 to April 2018
- Supported patients in carrying out ADLs to facilitate recovery and discharge planning at this large healthcare facility.
- Consulted with patients to help set clear, attainable goals for regaining mobility and resuming daily work, life, and social activities
- Provided a detailed update after patient consults to ensure nurses’ full awareness of progress and any ongoing concerns
- Demonstrated early leadership overseeing and motivating three OT assistants. Gained appreciation for coaching as the primary means to tap employee talents and drive team success
Education
Master of Science (MS) – Occupational Therapy
Boston College, Boston, MA, January 2008 – January 2012
Bachelor of Science (BS) – Psychology
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, January 2004 – January 2008
Certifications and Licensures
- Certified, National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), 2012
- Occupational Therapy License, Massachusetts, 2012
Key Skills
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
- Home & Workplace Evaluation
- Hospital Discharge Planning
- Large-Scale Hospital Operations
- Operational Streamlining
- Patient & Family Relations
- Patient Consult & Assessment
- Process Redesign & Improvement
- Reporting & Documentation
- Task Prioritization
- Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Training Development
- Treatment Planning
Tips for Writing a Better Occupational Therapist Resume
1. Emphasize your passion for OT in your profile.
Occupational therapists make a substantial positive impact on patients’ lives. Citing your commitment to this mission can give your resume a personal touch and help the reader see your dedication to serving others. And with a sentence that drives home your overall dedication, you can turn a good profile section into a great one.
To write a profile statement in this vein that feels true to you, ask yourself these questions:
- What do I value most in my work with patients?
- How does my role help people overcome the (medical, physical, emotional) challenges of recovering from an illness or injury?
- What gets me out of bed each morning? How does OT continually challenge and motivate me to apply my talents?
Example
- Occupational Therapist with nearly seven years of experience in a hospital setting.
- Committed to helping patients regain independence and navigate a smooth return to daily life following recovery from illness, injury, or major surgery.
- Natural collaborator. Build productive relationships with nurses, providers, case managers, physical therapists, and respiratory therapists.
- Expertly balance various duties and priorities in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
2. Highlight your medical, therapeutic, and communication skills.
Occupational therapists do much more than support a patient’s physical recovery — they also help people make a positive mental and emotional return to daily life after a health event. Moreover, OTs use strong communication skills to coordinate their efforts with physical therapists, case managers, other healthcare professionals, and patients’ family members and employers. When drafting your job descriptions, start by writing at least one point on these three core objectives. By developing these points, you can capture the true scope and influence of your multifaceted role.
Example
Occupational Therapist, NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
April 2019 to Present
- Guide patients through activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and food preparation to support recovery and gauge readiness for discharge from hospital
- Collaborate with physical therapist to help determine and recommend next phase of each patient’s recovery, drawing on broad knowledge of available rehab, home health, and other services
- Recommend appropriate durable medical equipment (DME) such as wheelchairs, walkers, and leg braces
- Praised by colleagues and managers for outstanding efficiency, collaboration, and dedication to patient outcomes
3. Don’t forget to list your credentials.
In occupational therapy hiring, credentials matter. In addition to a relevant bachelor’s degree, OTs typically must have a master’s degree in their field, an active certification from the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy, and a license from the state where they work. You may have these four things under your belt, but don’t assume the reader knows that. And when a hiring manager is unclear about your credentials, they will likely put your resume in the “no” pile. Keep that from happening by listing out your credentials fully.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
- Master of Science (MS) – Occupational Therapy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
- Bachelor of Science (BS) – Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Certified, National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
- Occupational Therapy License, Pennsylvania
Key Skills Hiring Managers Look for on Occupational Therapist Resumes
A keyword-rich Skills section can help most any resume, particularly for an occupational therapist who uses so many different medical, technical, and social skills. If you’re a mid-career or senior-level OT, you’ll find examples of organizing this section in the resume samples at the top of this page. (And if you’re an entry-level OT, consider omitting a distinct Skills section but instead having it take the form of a coursework topics list under your master’s degree.)
Naturally, you should base your Skills section on your specific strengths, but here are some skills that hiring managers often look for when filling OT positions. Consider including any of these to help your document catch interest and reflect the breadth of your expertise.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Assistive Technology | Client Care Management |
| Cross-Functional Collaboration | Durable Medical Equipment (DME) |
| Family Relations & Education | Home & Workplace Evaluation |
| Hospital Discharge Planning | Patient Assessment |
| Patient Consult | Patient Relations & Education |
| Reporting & Documentation | Task Prioritization |
| Treatment Planning | |
Common Action Verbs for Occupational Therapist Resumes
We know it’s easy to get stuck when writing the professional experience section of a resume. You might find that you start to run out of action verbs to describe your work. To help you over the hump, we put together a list of common action verbs that can describe occupational therapist roles.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapt | Assess |
| Collaborate | Consult |
| Coordinate | Demonstrate |
| Determine | Develop |
| Document | Educate |
| Enable | Evaluate |
| Guide | Improve |
| Instruct | Monitor |
| Organize | Pinpoint |
| Recommend | Teach |
How to Align Your Occupational Therapist Resume With a Job Posting
If you already have a specific job posting you’d like to apply for, try tailoring your resume to that opportunity. This step may seem tedious, but it’s one of the single most powerful things you can do to make your resume stand out. To understand why, consider the reader’s perspective. Hiring managers usually must look over a large pile of resumes and view each one solely in light of the job being filled. When they happen upon a resume that strongly reflects the requirements on the job posting, that’s as clear a sign as any that they should call you for an interview.
A great (and pretty quick) way to tailor your resume is to revisit your Profile and Key Skills sections. Read through your information in these sections closely, taking it one sentence or keyword at a time, and ask yourself, Does this also appear as a requirement on the job posting in front of me? If not, then delete that information.
With that step done, look at the list of job requirements on the posting and for each item, ask yourself, Do I have this particular qualification? And, Have I not included it in my Profile or Key Skills section? If your answer is no, consider adding it in. For example, say the posting calls for an occupational therapist with strong knowledge of durable medical equipment (DME). If that’s something you can claim, then be sure to include that term in your list of Skills, and you’ll make the document that much more inclusive to the job at hand.