holley careers

Career Development Planning: keys to finding and qualifying for the right job for overall career success.

Career development planning is the key to advancement and is a measure of tracking the progress of your career. Also, it is a dependable method to study your overall personal goals and the steps taken as your accomplishments move you toward the right career.

Keys to a well thought out career development plan: The plan is a work in progress. As you move up one step there is another in front of you. You build in flexibility, one door may close but with continued career related research another soon opens. Your career development plan is not focused exclusively on your work but on your career, its direction and your interests and passion.

As you career plan evolves so does your resume. Keep it up dated through a file in which you keep a record of achievements, training, projects completed, new skills, promotions, performance reviews and positive letters and memos.

Begin keeping a file on job announcements in your career and any career in which you have an interest. Even if employed this is a good tip as you can identify where new qualifications are required allowing you to get the additional training and experience.

In the course of writing out your career development plan spend some time on exactly what your overall job objectives are. Both short and long-term and what you see yourself doing. Are there any obstacles you have to overcome? How is your development plan going to help you qualify for your next career or update your current position?

To make your career development plan work for you there are several personal planning steps that it would be productive to consider:

1. Research the proposed career. Use informational interviews to talk to those already working in the career. Attend workshops and seminars and area conferences. Build your network of like minded people. Work to determine what skills, education and experience are required to qualify for the position.
2. If your career direction is not firmly fixed, pick the top two or three and keep researching until a number one comes into focus. Don't worry if you reject a career that at first seemed so promising, this is progress and it's just as important to find out what you don't want as what you look at favorably.
3. If you are planning a career change analyze closely what qualifications are required. Identify your transferable skills, and build a step by step plan to become qualified. In-line learning, self-study and mentoring can go a long way to become qualified in many required skills.
4. Add financial planning to your career development plan. If changing careers requires a reduced level of income, take that into consideration in your overall planning. Reduce overall debt to increase your options and reduce stress.

In any career development plan you have a series of long-term objectives, for example: reading books appropriate to your career, leadership, team building and project management are just a few subjects to consider. If you want to move to another area, you may want to vacation there first.

If you are looking at a career in another industry, research and study of the industry is in order. What are the overall prospects to the industry and the proposed career?

In summary, career development planning is a work in progress, and a valuable partner to growing your career based skills and qualifications. All of which should allow you to discover opportunities that match you career objectives.

For more detailed information about career planning and career development go to career planning and development. You'll also find ideas about changing careers and the stories of individuals just like you who successfully made midlife career changes.

Anyone considering a career in the medical or healthcare industry should look into the rewarding opportunities available today for occupational therapy assistants, an exciting and growing part of the medical industry.

With demand for therapists and assistants expected to increase at a much higher rate over the next ten years at a much higher rate than the general job landscape, there will be many employment openings for those who fit the occupational therapy assistant job description.

Although this job does require a college degree, certification and licensing, two years is a short time to spend preparing for what will likely end up being a career that will provide high levels of personal satisfaction and a competitive salary as well.

What Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Do?

One of the bigger, more confusing questions in relation to becoming an occupational therapy assistant is what do they actually do and how does it differ from a physical therapy assistant?

In a number of ways, the two jobs are similar in that an occupational therapy assistant assists a licensed occupational therapist in coming up with treatment plans for patients, then executes those plans with the patients themselves.

A CTA (certified occupational therapy assistant) is also responsible for documenting treatment progression and discussing it afterward with the therapist in charge.

The main difference within the field of occupational therapy however is that therapists and their assistants work with patients to make their lives easier by teaching them how to live with varying degrees of disability, whereas physical therapists and their assistants help patients heal after illness or injury.

With this in mind, occupational therapy assistants will sometimes have the same types of patients as PTAs, but they can also have a wider variety of patients, too.

The occupational therapy assistant job description is a rehabilitation job that is very diverse, though it is possible for Cots to specialize in an area that they like best.

Patients span from pediatrics to geriatrics and everyone in between, with each specialty demanding different tasks and skills of the CTA.

Pediatrics

Working with children with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, motor skills delays and other conditions to help them learn to participate in school, social settings and to help them improve their life skills as they learn to lead more normal lives;

Aging and Geriatrics

Assisting the aging and the elderly in learning how to continue to care for themselves, how to stay fit and also prevent illness and injury, which can be more of a risk as people age.

This can include anything from teaching people how to deal with the onset of Alzheimer's to learning how to do everyday tasks after a stroke, and much more;

Workplace Related

Teaching people about ergonomics and how to prevent workplace injuries, assessing things like tendon and computer related injuries, helping people stay fit to do their jobs and helping people get back to work without pain;

Disability and Rehab

Helping others cope with their disabilities by teaching them newer, better ways to achieve daily tasks and goals.

This frequently includes pain management, exercising and fitness and re-learning tasks after permanent injuries and conditions such as brain or spinal injuries, stroke, tendon injury, hip replacements and more;

Mental Health

Helping those with mood and mental health disorders in regard to personal, stress, time and home management, learning how to remain self-sufficient and keep up important life roles, teaching how to adapt at home and in other environments and more.

It should be easy to see that the occupational therapy assistant job description involves a lot more than treatments and tasks of a physical nature, which is the main importance in this role.

Therefore, it is especially important for anyone considering becoming a CTA understand this, as it is a job that requires great amounts of patience, diligence and compassion for all types of people with many different problems.

Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant

In order to become a certified occupational therapy assistant, prospective students will need to complete an educational program that is accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association (ATA) and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (COTE), which usually involves a 2-year commitment as most of these programs are Associate's degree programs.

After completion of schooling, graduates may take their national certification examination; upon passing the certification exam they are awarded with the title of certified occupational therapy assistant (CTA).

At that point, Cots are eligible to seek employment, although currently 40 out of 50 states require state licensure before any CTA can be employed within that state.

In those areas, a state-issued licensing exam must then be taken and passed in order for the CTA to obtain licensure to practice within that state much the same as a PTA job description; if moving to a different state, the test must be taken again so that licensure can be updated.

Although it may seem like a difficult career path, becoming an occupational therapy assistant requires the same effort and schooling commitment as a physical therapy assistant, which also requires state licensing.

The occupational therapy assistant job description is one that may be more appealing to some however, especially if there is a greater interest in working with the disabled, in a mental health setting or some of the other more specialized areas.

Recruitment agencies are great businesses that specialize in locating the best graduate opportunities and graduate careers. After you graduate, it can be tough to pin down that ideal job or work out what profession would match you the best. Not only are there a lot of choices, it is increasingly difficult to get an interview with some of the firms in the market because of a lack of jobs currently available as well as the amount of graduates applying for work.

Registering with an agency can enhance the probabilities of getting a graduate career that you want. Recruiting agencies frequently partner with certain businesses across various industries. Through these partnerships, the agency agrees to publish available jobs on their website. They additionally agree to look over new graduate applications, CVs, and cover letters in order to propose possible applicants for the company's available positions. Considering recruiters will be in continuous contact with these businesses, the likelihood of landing an interview at one of them should be comparatively high.

In addition, as recruiting companies are talking with businesses on a daily basis, they know the precise specifications and requirements the employer is in search of. Making use of this, along with their own knowledge, recruiters will help graduates construct a curriculum vitae and cover letter that better enhances their abilities. New graduates occasionally send generic CVs and cover letters to potential employers. Recruiters know the best way to direct you when drafting a good cover letter that will impress the company.

They will also offer you inside industry guidance. In such a competitive industry, you need all of the help you can get. You'll find lots of companies who publish positions which have already been filled or positions where they are interviewing candidates even as they are submitting the job notice. They're generally under a legal obligation to publish the position - or they may be curious about having a look at the quality of other applicants available in the market.

Recruitment Consultancy are frequently informed of these jobs before they have been published externally. As a result of their relationship with the firm, they can often let you know about new positions before they become available to the general public. This gives graduates at a good recruiting agency considerable leverage. In this kind of a competitive job market, you should be proactive about finding a job.

Recruiters and businesses are also dedicated to finding a job where graduates are satisfied. They do not wish to place you in a non permanent placement. They want to put you in a situation where you've got the chance to grow. Graduate careers need to be built - nearly everyone needs to start their initial job at the bottom and steadily work their way to the top. It is finding the chance to start developing graduate careers that is usually the dilemma.

When you join up with an agency, a recruiting consultant will interview you to be certain they understand the graduate careers that you're interested in and what industries that may be pertinent to you, as well as finding out about your educational or professional background which may help your application. With a recruiter's vast awareness of the job market and their contacts in numerous firms, they're going to be able to concentrate on customizing your job search so you can find the perfect career. Their objective should be to guide you into a position which you like and that's a benefit to you and also to the business that you work for.

1. Do you see what she's wearing! "Don't judge a book by its cover," unfortunately is not a metaphor that interviewers follow. In fact, more often than not, the way you dress for an interview, are groomed, and even the way you smell - yes, smell - will all be judged for or against you. Even if you are interviewing for a casual work environment, the general rule of thumb is to always dress professionally when interviewing. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to wear a suit; however, you should opt for more conservative and conventional attire - no sneakers, no jeans, and avoid trendy fashions.


2. Are you talking to me? You don't need to speak like an intellectual, but you do need to refrain from using slang terminology or unsavory language; this will be to your detriment. During the interview, you will connect with many people, some of whom may present themselves in a relaxed and laid-back manner - don't get caught off guard. The way you present yourself is your brand, and this includes the words you use when you interview.
   
   
   Never forget that you are taking part in a professional interaction. Always keep your conversation polite and professional - and refrain from using colorful language, period. You are being judged by each individual you meet - and their feedback will be solicited and taken into consideration when it comes to the final vetting process.


3. They like me; they really, really like me. Face it; if the job is between you and another candidate with the same credentials, but the interviewer perceives the other candidate as a better fit, chances are they will get the job. People want to work with people they like and who have similar attributes. The way you fit into a company has a lot to do with your ability to get hired. This does not mean that you should change your personality - or who you are - to get the job, but interviewers do consider personality in terms of "company fit" when assessing job candidates.


4. Quiet, please. "Tell me about yourself?" doesn't mean an interviewer wants you to go into a soliloquy about your entire life story. They want you to answer questions that you are only being asked and relevant to the job, and answer them in a complete, yet concise manner. When presented with questions about your past work experience, present high level details and then wait for follow-up questions to determine if you need to delve further. And do not speak negatively about past employers and associates; even if prompted to do so. Sometimes too much information is just that - too much.


5. Stop selling, already. The automatic response during an interview is to feel the need to sell you. While promoting your qualifications and experience is a necessary part of the interview process, there's a fine balance between outlining your job skills and over selling. Interviewers can tell the difference between a salesman and genuine experience. Present your credentials - and try to refrain from hyperbole. If you are the best fit for the job, there is no need to over sell!

1. Not keeping receipts. If you plan to itemize your deduction, instead of taking the standard deduction, make sure you have receipts to back up your claims. Even if you don’t itemize, some other credits and deductions require receipts to prove your claim, so make sure you keep them. If you’re audited by the IRS, you will need to provide them.
2. Missing the deadline. There really is no excuse for missing the tax filing deadline anymore, unless you’re otherwise incapacitated. If you know you can’t make the April 15th deadline, you can file for an extension. But since the advent of electronic filing, it is simple to file your taxes well in advance of the deadline. Failing to file a return will results in fines, so it’s best to file as soon as you have all of the necessary documentation.
3. Improperly claiming a home office deduction. There are very specific IRS guidelines as to what qualifies as a home office and how much of that home office is deductible, including the costs associated with it. The home office deduction is also a trigger for an IRS audit, since so many taxpayers apply it improperly.
4. Making miscalculations. If you’re filing your own taxes, make sure you get quality tax preparation software. Not only will they walk you through the entire process, but they’ll also ensure your calculations are correct. There is nothing worse than a simple math error on your return to result in a required payment instead of a deserved refund.
5. Not filing a change of address. If you move after you file your taxes, you will need to inform the IRS using Form 8822. Otherwise you could get notifications from the IRS at your old address, which could include an audit notification. Not getting the notice do to an old address is not an excuse when it comes to the IRS.
6. Paying by credit card. If you owe money when you file your return, paying by credit card will end up costing you more. Merchants typically pay a percentage fee of each credit card transaction to the processing company, plus a per transaction charge. The IRS, however, does not pay this. Instead, the taxpayer has to cover the charge. So you’ll end up paying about 2.5 percent more if you pay your taxes via credit card.
7. Not paying payroll taxes for employees. If you have a housekeeper, nanny, gardener or someone else that you employ, make sure their payroll taxes are paid. Failing to do so will land you in the hot seat with the IRS.
8. Forgetting your charitable donations. If you itemize your tax return you can claim your charitable contributions. Just make sure you have receipts to back up the donation.
9. Not hiring a CPA. You’re biggest mistake of all could be not hiring a CPA to do your taxes. CPAs are skilled in taxation, are highly qualified and have to take CPE to ensure they know the latest tax rules. They’ll easily catch common mistakes you might make and may even be able to find some deductions and credits you missed on your own.

• Women made up about two–thirds of all workers who were paid minimum wage or less in 2012, and 61 percent of full–time minimum wage workers. Women were also nearly two–thirds of workers in tipped occupations in 2012. These workers provide care for children and frail elders, clean homes and offices, and wait tables. [v]
• Women of color are disproportionately represented among female minimum wage workers. Black women were just under 13 percent and Hispanic women were just under 14 percent of all employed women in 2012,but more than 15 percent of women who made minimum wage were black and more than 18 percent were Hispanic.[v]
• Most women making minimum wage do not have a spouse’s income to rely on, including more than three–quarters of women 16 and older and 59 percent of women over 25 earning the minimum wage.[v]