advice about career

kiwi07

Hi to you all. I am here for a little bit of advice. I am thinking about a career change and what came into my mind is a retraining for a Occupational Therapist. I would like to know how easy is to find a job as an Occupational Therapist? Is this job in demand? Is it worth it? I appreciate your advice.

alyth

I can't comment on the demand for OT's but I would say that you have to follow what you feel passionately about, rather than just picking an occupation and hoping that there is a demand for it. Have you thought about taking careers advice?

What are you currently doing? I think the thing I always keep in the back of my mind, and I'm re-training to be something quite random, is that if money was no object, what would you do -how would you like to be remembered?

kiwi07

alyth wrote: »

I can't comment on the demand for OT's but I would say that you have to follow what you feel passionately about, rather than just picking an occupation and hoping that there is a demand for it. Have you thought about taking careers advice?

What are you currently doing? I think the thing I always keep in the back of my mind, and I'm re-training to be something quite random, is that if money was no object, what would you do -how would you like to be remembered?

Thank you for your advice. I am qualified in Social work and wanted to be a Social worker but I am struggle to find a job... that is why I am thinking about retraining in Occupational Therapy. Unfortunately the money is a problem to do Master's in Occupational Therapy...(I've already got a BA with Honours in SW)

alyth

I'm a mature student at uni studying history - that's why I said you should follow your passions!

I have quite a few friends at the moment who are training to be social workers - I don't know a huge amount about the job, but are you able to do a conversion course into OT? I note that money is a problem, in which case are you able to work for a couple of years to enable you to retrain?

kiwi07

alyth wrote: »

I'm a mature student at uni studying history - that's why I said you should follow your passions!

I have quite a few friends at the moment who are training to be social workers - I don't know a huge amount about the job, but are you able to do a conversion course into OT? I note that money is a problem, in which case are you able to work for a couple of years to enable you to retrain?

I am not aware if there is a conversion course from SW ot OT. I'll probably need to get a loan to do MA in OT. That is why I want to know if it worth it... and there is going to be a job in the end. I just dont want to end up being unemployed again with a huge debt...:eek:

Armorica

I thought social work was one of the easier fields to find a job in because of the turnover / stresses involved in some places. Have you tried getting work through a temporary agency?

wolfehouse

there is currently a freeze on nhs jobs and that is where a lot of ots are employed.
jobs that are coming up are either temporary or new conditions are being put on
such as a requirement to have done volunteer work in the field (?!!)
social work ot jobs are patchy according to area
and schools that teach ots are big on pushing 'emerging placements'
which is fancy talk for find a job with a charity or some other place that never considered having one.

you should contact cot http://www.cot.co.uk/study-ot/study-ot if you want further info because it is a wonderful job really, but i'm not sure you couldn't find a job in social work that has similar elements.

nonnatus

Hmmm, when I trained as a midwife, we were told we would all struggle to find jobs because at the end of the course, although the country NEEDS more midwives (like it needs more social workers) the NHS won't PAY for them :cool:.
We were told that we would have to be prepared to relocate, probably to a big city, to get a permanent post.
We all carried on anyway, in blissful ignorance and just enjoying the course!

34 of us graduated and 31 found immediate preceptorship work, which was extraordinary! Even more terrific was that only 2 of us had to relocate, all other jobs were local.
Studying alongside us were the Nurses (adult and child) who all got work straight away, the dentists, who did well and the PTs (physical Therapists i think) and the OTs. Very few positions available for this lot, I'm afraid to report . Don't know why but this was 6-7 yrs ago.
Maybe contact the local Uni's and ask them for the figures over the last few years of the number of Graduating OT's who found employment within their field of study? (They WILL have access to this but may be reluctant to let you have it if it doesn't reflect well on them )

I wish you luck. I retrained as a midwife in the noughties and wouldn't change it for the world. It didn't work out in the end and now I'm a Head Chef again but I'm VERY happy with everything I've achieved.
I'm hooked oin that "Protecting Our Children" thing on TV and Social Work is scary! I admire you greatly

ada1988

Just go ahead to choose the one you do really like and better good at.
That will make you do better in your career.

Oldernotwiser

ada1988 wrote: »

Just go ahead to choose the one you do really like and better good at.
That will make you do better in your career.

Not if there are no jobs available.

OP, OT degrees are funded by the NHS so the fact that you already have a degree is irrelevant. You might find this site useful for job vacancies

http://www.otdirect.co.uk/jobs.html

kiwi07

Armorica wrote: »

I thought social work was one of the easier fields to find a job in because of the turnover / stresses involved in some places. Have you tried getting work through a temporary agency?

I thought it as well and the Social work is still in the Occupational shortage list. I had a job interview for the SW post and they had 100 applicants who were invited for the interview and it's for 20 places only.... There are simply not enough jobs for all the qualified Social workers and they still have the SW as a profession with a shortage... That is why I am thinking about retraining...