Graduate Occupational Therapist CV Template Example
As a graduate Occupational Therapist entering the healthcare profession, the importance of your CV cannot be overstated. Your CV is often the first impression you make on NHS recruiters, private clinics, or community health providers. This single document determines whether you progress to interview stage and showcase your skills in person. Occupational Therapists play a vital role in helping individuals of all ages regain independence, manage illness or injury, and improve their overall quality of life. From working in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, schools, to care homes, OTs are trusted professionals making a tangible difference every day.
In the UK, a newly qualified Occupational Therapist can expect a salary starting at Band 5 of the NHS pay scale, typically ranging from around £28,000 to £34,000 per year. With experience and specialisation, OTs can progress to Band 6 and Band 7 roles, reaching salaries of £47,000 and beyond. For those who step into management or consultancy, salaries can exceed £55,000. With strong demand for Occupational Therapists in the UK, both in the NHS and private sector, your CV is the golden ticket to securing these rewarding roles.
Why Your Graduate Occupational Therapist CV Must Stand Out
The healthcare job market is competitive, and graduate Occupational Therapists often apply for the same entry-level positions. Recruiters spend on average less than 30 seconds scanning a CV before deciding whether to shortlist a candidate. That means your CV must be structured, focused, and filled with relevant skills, experience, and achievements. Simply listing your education isn’t enough – you need to present yourself as a confident professional ready to make a positive impact.
A winning CV should demonstrate your clinical placements, practical skills, patient-facing experiences, and key competencies aligned to the standards set by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). At the same time, employers want to see your personality, motivation, and professional growth potential.
The Job Description for a Graduate Occupational Therapist
Most graduate-level job descriptions will include responsibilities such as:
Assessing patients’ needs and creating treatment plans.
Supporting people with illness, injury, or disability to adapt and thrive.
Conducting home and workplace assessments.
Working alongside multi-disciplinary teams including physiotherapists, nurses, and doctors.
Encouraging independence and improving patients’ quality of life.
Maintaining accurate patient records and adhering to NHS or HCPC standards.
Your CV must reflect that you understand and are capable of performing these responsibilities, even at an early stage in your career. Evidence from your clinical placements, voluntary work, or part-time care roles will help you demonstrate this.
How to Structure a Graduate Occupational Therapist CV
A clear structure makes your CV much more readable and ensures recruiters find the information they’re looking for quickly. For Occupational Therapists, I recommend the following structure:
Personal Details – Full name, contact number, professional email, LinkedIn link, and HCPC registration (or student/awaiting).
Personal Profile / Professional Summary – A concise paragraph (4–5 lines) highlighting who you are, your specialisms, and your career ambitions.
Key Skills – A bullet-point list of your most relevant clinical and transferable skills.
Education & Qualifications – Degree, university, relevant modules, dissertation, and professional memberships.
Clinical Placements / Professional Experience – Detail where you trained, patient groups you supported, and key achievements.
Additional Experience – Any part-time roles or voluntary positions that demonstrate transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, and resilience.
Professional Development / Training – Short courses, CPD activities, or additional qualifications.
References – Usually available on request.
Writing Your Personal Profile
Your personal profile is the ‘shop window’ of your CV. As a graduate Occupational Therapist, you want to highlight your enthusiasm for the profession, your patient-centred approach, and your readiness to contribute to a multi-disciplinary team. Avoid clichés like “hard-working” or “team player” unless you provide evidence. Instead, focus on:
Your passion for occupational therapy.
The types of placements or patient groups you’ve worked with.
A forward-looking statement about your career goals.
Example: “Compassionate and motivated Graduate Occupational Therapist with HCPC registration and diverse clinical placement experience across acute hospitals, community rehabilitation, and paediatrics. Skilled in conducting patient assessments, implementing personalised treatment plans, and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams. Seeking to contribute my knowledge, empathy, and drive for patient-centred care within an NHS Band 5 Occupational Therapist role.”
Key Skills to Highlight
Recruiters will be scanning your CV for specific skills. Use a clear bullet list and include keywords that match the job description, such as:
Patient-centred care
Assessment and treatment planning
Communication and empathy
Knowledge of NHS frameworks and safeguarding
Time management and prioritisation
Manual handling and equipment provision
Multi-disciplinary teamwork
Report writing and record keeping
Showcasing Your Education and Clinical Placements
As a graduate, your degree is a core asset. Include your BSc (Hons) or MSc in Occupational Therapy, the university, and graduation year. It can also help to include any specialist modules, research projects, or dissertation topics.
Clinical placements are crucial – don’t just list them, describe what you achieved. Example:
Acute Stroke Unit – NHS Trust, London
Conducted initial assessments and contributed to treatment plans for patients with mobility, communication, and cognitive challenges.
Assisted in group therapy sessions focusing on independence and recovery.
Collaborated with physiotherapists and speech and language therapists to deliver holistic care.
Experience Beyond Placements
Many graduates also have part-time work or voluntary experience in care homes, schools, or disability support. These roles are highly relevant and should not be overlooked. Transferable skills like empathy, resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving all strengthen your CV.
Advice for Graduate Occupational Therapists
Tailor Every CV – Align your CV with each job description. Highlight keywords and mirror the language recruiters use.
Be Results-Focused – Wherever possible, demonstrate outcomes: “Improved patient independence through implementing assistive equipment.”
Keep It Concise – Two pages maximum for a graduate CV. Use clear, professional language.
Show Enthusiasm – Employers value passion and commitment in early-career professionals.
Advice for Middle and Senior Management Occupational Therapists
As you progress in your career, your CV focus will shift from placements to leadership, service development, and specialist expertise. Senior Occupational Therapists should highlight:
Management of junior staff and students.
Leading service improvement projects.
Budget or resource management.
Evidence-based practice and advanced clinical knowledge.
Contributions to research, training, or policy.
The Do’s and Don’ts of an Occupational Therapist CV
Do:
Use a professional layout with clear headings and consistent formatting.
Start with a powerful professional profile.
Highlight HCPC registration and relevant memberships (e.g. RCOT).
Include action verbs and measurable outcomes.
Keep the CV tailored and targeted.
Don’t:
Include irrelevant personal details like marital status or date of birth.
Use overly casual language.
Send the same generic CV to multiple jobs.
Overload the document with jargon or acronyms.
Exceed two pages (unless senior management).
General Tips for a Winning Occupational Therapist CV
Make it ATS-friendly – Many NHS trusts use applicant tracking systems, so keep formatting simple and use job description keywords.
Proofread thoroughly – Spelling mistakes can cost you an interview.
Add LinkedIn – Employers often check social profiles, so ensure your LinkedIn mirrors your CV.
Prioritise clarity – Recruiters want quick access to your skills and experience.
Conclusion
Creating an interview-winning Graduate Occupational Therapist CV is about more than listing qualifications. It’s about presenting yourself as a professional, confident, and compassionate healthcare worker ready to make a difference. From structuring your CV effectively, writing a compelling personal profile, and showcasing clinical placements, to tailoring applications for graduate and senior roles – your CV is the key to unlocking opportunities in the NHS and beyond.
If you’d like expert support, I’d love to help you personally. With over 25 years of experience coaching professionals across the UK, I know how to craft CVs and LinkedIn profiles that get results. Book an appointment today to have your CV and LinkedIn profile professionally improved: Book an appointment here
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