“Not everybody talks about employability and career progression” “Career progression was never really discussed” “We don’t know what theories and principles are out there” “No or limited knowledge” “Me me me individual being a drive of their own career (although it shouldn’t have to be like this and it would be great to have support/guidance” “There is a gap in lifelong learning. Everybody’s got a different journey but there isn’t always the resources available for everybody” “ Progression forwards not just up” “Person centred career progression” “There has to be more to OT than this” “My passion for occupational therapy drives me forward” “Individual confidence and assertiveness and being open minds with job roles” “ You get out what you put in” “Career progression on my own terms – progressing career to suit with life” “We don’t know what theories and principles are out there” “Easy to use resources about where to start/ tracking employability goals e.g questions to ask yourself/reflect on. Don’t know where to start really” “Learn about yourself as a practitioner and a human” “In your career but in life as well, all of the skills and all the experience you bring to the table”
Employability is life wide and life long – a process of personal and professional development through your career with employment outcomes on the way. Employability resources are the knowledge, skills and attributes that you have as an individual. Several models exist to provide an understanding of employability (you can read more about these here https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100588 ) which have mostly been developed for use within higher education, but the principles of them are applicable throughout your occupational therapy career.
There is a synergetic relationship between occupational therapy principles and employability with a need for an individualised approach to your own employability and occupational identity within the workplace (Taylor, 2021 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03080226211062489 ). What is your macro professional identity – this will be mostly determined by professional standards of practice and organisational policies and procedures? What is your micro professional identity – this is that makes you you, as an individual Occupational Therapist?
Within challenging work environments with increasing workloads, there can be limited support, guidance and time to focus on employability and career development. Therefore, it is essential for you to take ownership and build your agency and self-efficacy around your own employability in the way that best suits your individual personal circumstances.
Please find below a video and supporting activities for you to work through.
