Why a good resume is essential when applying for a new occupational therapist job

A well-crafted and effective resume is key to securing a position as an occupational therapist. Your resume is your first introduction to a potential employer and should be used as a tool to showcase your professional qualifications, skills, and experience. A compelling resume is your initial point of contact with an employer and should be written to make a lasting impression.

The salary for an OT is influenced by the demand for practitioners, cost of living, and regional economic conditions. It is used to effectively communicate your proficiency in patient care and to differentiate you from a field of competitive candidates.

We will provide a few important tips and an example of a template resume to help improve your resume/CV and secure a job interview.

How long should the occupational therapist job resume be and what information should be included?

An OT’s resume should be comprehensive but concise. You should provide enough information to showcase your qualifications, skills, and experience. Generally, a resume should be around two to three pages in length, but it’s important to prioritize your content over the length.

The following information should be included in your resume: contact information, resume summary or objective, education, licensure, clinical experience, skills, research and publications, teaching and academic roles, professional membership, continuing education, and any honors and awards.

Points that need to be included in a resume

Contact Information: Include your full name, professional title, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable).

Pro Tip: Your name should be highlighted with the biggest text on the page and listed near the top. Your address should only include city and state. The provided email should be a professional email, but not an employer email. (Never use your current job email for a resume.)

Resume Summary or Objective: Provide a brief, targeted statement summarizing your expertise, career goals, and what you offer as an occupational therapist.

Education: Include your educational background, including the name of the institution, degree earned, and graduation date. List your education in reverse chronological order with your most recent and highest degrees first. List your doctor/master’s degree and training.

Pro Tip: If you are a new graduate, you may want to place the education section above the experience section. As you gain work experience, your education section should be shortened. If you have not graduated, you can add “expected graduation date” to the school.

Certifications and Licenses: Specify your occupational therapy license and any relevant certifications.

Clinical Experience: Include your work history in reverse chronological order. For each position, include the name of the hospital or clinic, location, and dates of employment. Highlight any specialized procedure or technique you have experience performing.

This is the most important section as an OT. Your professional experience should be presented in bullet points and a separate section should be created for each relevant previous job. The headline for each previous job experience section should be in bold with the addition of the time you were employed. Beneath the company name, the position should be mentioned, and the bulleted points should list the job responsibilities.


Pro Tip: It is important to mention not only the job responsibilities but also the achieved results at that job.

Research and Publications: List any research projects you’ve been involved in and publications that you have authored or co-authored.

Presentations and Conferences: Include any conferences or seminars where you have presented your work or research findings.

Skills: Outline both your technical and interpersonal skills that are relevant to anesthesiology. Include your proficiencies in relevant technology or subspecialties, such as gerontology, pediatrics or autism.

Professional Memberships: List any occupational therapy associations you are a part of.

Awards and Honors: Highlight any special recognition or awards you have received for your contributions to the profession.

Professional Development: Showcase ongoing education, training, and workshops that you have attended to stay current in the field.

Note: If applicable, mention any languages that you are proficient in. 

An OT resume should highlight a combination of medical, clinical, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Here are some important and relevant skills to include:

  • Medical Skills:
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the human body including musculoskeletal and neurological systems.
    • Knowledge of various diseases, conditions and their impact on patient’s physical function.
  • Medical Equipment Proficiency:
    • Skilled in using equipment like splints, orthotics, and mobility aids.
    • Proficiency with tools like the Functional Independence Measure and Activity Sort Card
  • Clinical Skills:
    • Expertise in applying techniques like sensory integration, cognitive-behavioral therapy and adaptive techniques.
    • Skillful in the development of individualized treatment plans to help patients regain and improve their daily living and skills.
    • Knowledge of adaptive tools and devices to aid patients in daily activities.
  • Teamwork and Communication Skills:
    • Collaboration with colleagues including other doctors and other health care professionals.
    • Work in coordination with other medical or education professionals.
  • Leadership:
    • Leadership among the team.
    • Mentorship and teaching occupational therapy students.
  • Continuous Learning:
    • Commitment to professional development and remaining current with advancements in healthcare.
    • Attendance at relevant conferences and workshops.
    • Proficiency in a specialized area like pediatrics, cerebral palsy, autism or brain injury.
  • Communication Skills:
    • Effective communication with colleagues, patients, and their families.
    • Detailed documentation of patient records.
  • Time Management:
    • Efficient time management during clinic time.
    • Ability to balance multiple responsibilities and prioritize tasks.
  • Advocacy/ Quality Improvement:
    • Advocating for patients, the profession, and improvements in healthcare policies and practices at the institutional, local, and national levels.
    • Leading and participating in quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient safety, care, and efficiency within healthcare and the community.

Pro tip

It is common for each job post to receive hundreds of applications and a resume-checking system is often in place for recruiters to filter through relevant applications. You should customize your resume to each specific occupational therapy job you are applying for. Be sure to emphasize your relevant skills and experience to demonstrate to the employer you understand the requirements of the job and are the best candidate. You will be more successful if you identify the key phrases in the job description and incorporate them into your resume. 

Resume example-template

You can find a template resume for an occupational therapist on LiveCareer.com. You can also build, view other similar resumes, and customize your resume on their site.