finding the perfect job

So, here I am about to graduate. I've been looking for jobs in the field of Speech Language Pathology. I've noticed that no one has ever really taught me how to interview for a "big girl job." I've been going to interviews completely clueless as to what questions to ask and what questions I will be asked. I've created this blog to assist others in the job search process. It may turn into a personal blog after the job hunt, if I enjoy using it. I've been to two interviews so far (one in a private practice and one in a hospital). After speaking with several other "job hunt experts" I have compiled a list of questions to ask yourself, ask others, and a tip of something to do after the interview. So here goes.

Questions to ask!:

• For any setting other than a school, be sure to ask about productivity requirements (in a salaried position). In many clinics, they want you to have a certain % of time with clients vs. doing paperwork/ planning, etc. If there is a productivity requirement, be sure you find out who is responsible for scheduling your caseload. It’s very difficult to meet productivity if they aren’t even providing you with enough clients to meet it. Also, if travel is required, you’ll need to know if driving time is considered client-contact or not. There again, you’ll need to know who works out your schedule and if they try to work times out with the least amount of drive-time. If you spend 20% or your day driving and 80% with clients, that leaves no room for paperwork, planning, cleaning materials, etc. If you work out your own schedule, you’ll need to know whether you’re allowed to “turn down” clients that are not in your driving area. Also, you’ll need to know how “no shows” and absences are handled. If there’s no attendance policy, you could get stuck with a habitually absent client sucking valuable productivity time. A good clinic will have an attendance policy that basically boots the clients out if they don’t show up on a regular basis. Not fair to them, but you have to protect yourself first. Also, be sure to understand what happens if you don’t meet productivity. I interviewed at one place that made you pay them out of your paycheck based on the % you missed by.
• In a school setting (just in case), you mostly want to understand what the caseload is. Check out the ASHA website for recommended guidelines and make sure to account for the fact that you’d need extra time with your supervisor as a CFY.
• For ALL settings, be sure to ask about paperwork requirements. Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually.
• Ask straight out about responsibilities outside the typical SLP job description. For example, you might have case management requirements.
• Ask about collaboration with other therapists/ therapies and whether or not co-treatments are encouraged/ allowed. Usually the answer is “no” because of funding, but some places will make exceptions, if it’s in the best interest of the client. (I would strongly encourage a setting that allows significant interaction with other therapists of other disciplines. I learned as much or more from the OTs, PTs and vision specialists I’ve worked with as I did from SLPs.)
• Be sure to understand the size of the SLP department and the Therapy department, as well as whether there are regular meetings to interact with them. (Again, I recommend at least a few other SLPs in addition to your supervisor and regular meetings. You can learn a lot from interacting with others in your position.)
• If possible, try to meet your expected supervisor and ask about their supervision style. Do they provide written feedback? Do they lean toward observation or more phone contact. (Be sure you’re aware of the requirements with regards to supervision before you go!)
• Of course, understand what ages/ disorders you can expect to work with. In my opinion, greater variety is better.
• Know where therapy materials come from and if you’re able to order others if you need them. (If not, you’ll need more planning time.)
• Understand how much planning time you will get once you are at full caseload.
• Will you be starting with a full caseload or building one up as you go?
• If you’re starting with a full caseload, how long will you have with charts/ records before you have to go “hands on.” Will someone be walking you through each child’s typical therapy session before you get started?
• Know who your boss will be. SLP supervisor? Principal? Clinic manager?
• Try to get a feel for how much involvement is expected from parents (if it’s not obvious).
• If it’s a job that requires travel, will it be reimbursed? Will you have to use your own cell phone?

In addition to all of those questions, someone shared with me a tip to use after an interview that I had no knowledge of. SEND A THANK YOU NOTE. It's as simple as that. Thank them for your time and consideration of you as their employee. It looks good. Maybe it makes you look like a brown nose, but that's not a terrible thing in the beginning =)

That's all for now. I have a phone interview later today, and another interview later this week so perhaps I'll update again after that.

Much love.