Mar 18, 2013

Creating a job that doesn't exist

PLEASE READ "Wanting to be an OT when not an OT" first. It will explain a job role of Occupational Counselor and my basic desires for that job. This I feel could be applied to any idea for a profession/career!

So how do you create a job that doesn't exist. Well if you actually listened to the entire lecture, I wish I could give you a hug, a car or a ginormous present because it is dry and it most likely doesn't apply to you. But I do want to be involved in this type of position, this area of work, if simply part-time. So how to I begin to start this idea in to a physician's head. How do I begin to set up for myself a place where OT's rarely (if never) dabble in?

Two broad answers that come to my head: Networking and Leadership skills.

Networking skills:

  • befriend and hold professional relationships with OT's
  • maintain professional relationships with doctors of many fields
    • ask questions
    • show interest in their field and their patients
  • seek out opportunities to get involve and work along side doctors. not just OT related events but show support to for other fields. Why be segregated?
Leadership skills
  • Take time and effort to really understand profession
  • Show initative! place yourself in situations that will require work and commitment to solve a problem or to interact with others
  • Get co-workers on your team, 
    • ask for advice from even the "smallest" of employee. Just because their role is considered smaller than yours does NOT mean they are less important! Consider their ideas, their suggestions equally to those above or equal to you! Even ask them for help/ideas too.
But how do you START to take these skills and then push yourself into that position? Is it as simple as sitting down with a physician and sharing your idea? Actually that is a great start for me now... I think I have an idea of a timeline....

  1. Collect basic info on the idea (Profession's development). 
    1. What would position look like?
    2. What are the specific roles? What would be involved in this position?
    3. What is the purpose of this position?
    4. What is the goal of this position?
    5. What is the mission of this position?
    6. What could be the expected outcomes of this position?
  2. Sit and discuss profession idea with a variety of OT's 
    1. share info gathered
    2. Gather ideas, reactions, worries, advice
  3. Re-look at profession's development (step one)
    1. re-write based off of OTs' suggestions
  4.  Find an OT mentor that could help share this idea with other physicians.
  5. Repeat steps 1-3 at least three times!
  6. Sit and discuss needs of client and patients with physician regarding functional needs and desires and fears
    1. suggest broad idea
    2.  gather reaction, ideas, tips, suggestions
  7.  Re-look and rewrite profession's development.
  8. If physician is interested, meet again, discuss changes and other ideas.
    1. continue with changes until it "perfect" with you and physician and an OT mentor
    2. discuss who to talk to next to form position at facility
    3. then what?... 
  9. If physician is not interested, network to others. 
    1. ....then what? 
Now i am lost... Suggestions? help? I have two more years of schooling to develop necessary skills such as writing, proposal writing, program development, and networking. I wonder if this could be my capstone project! :D

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