What OTs Look for in a Job Ad: A Guide for Employers
If you are hiring an occupational therapist, your job ad is usually the first thing a candidate reads about your practice or service. A good one saves time on both sides, because the right people can see quickly that the role suits them, and others can see that it does not.
Here is what I would include, starting with the item that has the most research behind it.
Say what the role pays
A 2023 SEEK survey of 400 job seekers found that 87% thought advertising pay was important or extremely important, and 75% said they were more likely to apply for a job that listed a salary range. That survey covered job seekers in general and not OTs specifically, and it is a few years old, so it is a guide rather than a rule.
SEEK's data from the same period found that only 34.5% of ads on its site listed a salary, and for healthcare providers the figure was about 30%. Because so few ads give a range, one that does is likely to stand out.
Describe the clients and the week
Say which client group the role works with and where the work happens. A paediatric OT who splits the week between clinic sessions, school visits and home visits is doing quite a different job from one who is in a clinic five days a week, and candidates will want to know which one you are offering. If the role involves driving, mention it. Say whether a vehicle or an allowance is provided.
Be clear about supervision and support
It helps to say who a new hire will report to, how often supervision happens and whether it is paid time. Graduates are likely to look for this, as are experienced OTs moving into an area that is new to them. If the OT will be the only one on site, say so plainly and explain how they will be supported.
Mention professional development
Continuing professional development is a requirement for every practising OT under the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia's registration standard, so how you support it is a fair question for a candidate to ask. If you offer paid study leave, a course budget or time to attend conferences, put it in the ad.
Keep the ad readable
In my view, a long list of requirements is more likely to put people off than to attract them. A template that could describe any workplace gives a candidate nothing to hold on to. A few plain sentences about your team, your clients and what a normal week looks like will do more than a list of buzzwords. It also helps to keep the essential criteria separate from the things you would like to see, so that a graduate or someone returning from a break does not rule themselves out unnecessarily.
Where to post it
Listings on OT Jobs Australia are $49 AUD for 30 days, and your ad is seen by people who are looking for occupational therapy roles specifically. You can see the details on the Pricing page.
If you post a role, I also invite you to take part in the Behind the Listing series, where I feature the practice on the blog, as I did with One 3 Care in Brisbane. It is a friendly way to introduce your team to the people who may one day work with you. Let me know if you are interested in this by clicking here.