“Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”

By Natalie Picciano, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Young professionals are often asked this daunting and frustrating question: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

The pressure starts in high school.

Students feel the pressure to ace standardized tests, create well-rounded college applications, plus add an essay that sets them apart from others. Their parents want them to pursue S.T.E.M. majors and graduate with post-professional degrees to excel in the job market and, in addition, make up for the thousands of tuition dollars they are spending.

Graduation time, while bittersweet, poses many challenges as emerging young professionals tackle the interview and hiring process.

They find themselves in a race, a feverish competition, combing through endless job postings online plus networking with their universities and internships to make lasting connections and land them their “dream” jobs.

When I first graduated, I was only thinking about how fortunate I was to have the chance to get a steady job-one with a salary, benefits, and a network of people to rely on to get me through my first few months.

I entered into my occupational therapy program thinking I was going to work in pediatrics. I figured I’d never been in the geriatric field unless it was in a skilled nursing facility to make extra money on the weekends.

I graduated with my Master’s five years later, still thinking that was my plan until no pediatric position of interest was either hiring or looking for an entry-level graduate.

What drew me to my first – and current – job was this picture painted before me: I, as a new graduate, would be guaranteed a one-on-one mentor for six months. This mentor would be assigned to me and walk me through those first six months on the job to make sure I felt safe, comfortable as well as proficient enough to take a caseload of patients independently.

This was superior to any plan I could have created myself, even if it wasn’t with my ideal population.

My new plan had to be one where I felt I could succeed. It needed to include one-on-one guidance, a company that cares about the people it serves, and one with values that matched my own.

Have A Mentor

Applying for and landing the first job as a physical, occupational or speech therapist can be challenging unless you know what you are looking for in your professional development. For me, having a mentor was one of the best ways to integrate into my first job and into home care.

My mentor was a seasoned OT from FOX Rehabilitation. My mentor walked me through the field. My mentor slowly weaned me away from direct to indirect support over a six-month period until I was ready to take on a full caseload independently.

Now that I have a few years of practice under my belt, I am able to pass on these initial skills.

Find A Practice That Cares About Both The Patient and YOU

When you work for a practice like FOX that not only cares for their patients but also cares for its clinicians and home office staff, you can’t help but want to grow with that practice.

I became a mentor this past year in order to achieve that.

As a new grad, you are asked to take on responsibilities you only dabbled into during fieldwork: conduct well-versed evaluations, sound treatment plans and provide sufficient documentation for insurance reimbursement.

Tackling therapy in the home, however, is a beast in of itself.

You have no chart to go from for past medical history.

You have no idea what a patient’s home environment is like.

It was during moments like these when I could rely on my mentor for guidance and realize that even great therapy services can come from little knowledge at first hand. Plus, it is within this realm of house calls that we are able to provide the best services and really make a difference in our community.

The homes of our patients: What better place can a clinician create a meaningful plan of care while also focusing on function?

Find A Practice With A Mission That Speaks To You

As I’ve grown with FOX, I’ve realized this was exactly the type of setting I was meant to be in – not only can I make a difference in people’s lives, but I can discover my professional identity as an OT and as a mentor.

Three values FOX prides ourselves on are compassion, clinical excellence, and respect. I find each of these to be equally important not only as an occupational therapist but in my role as a house-call clinician.

When our patients have sustained a fall or become frailer as a result of progressive disease, they are desperately looking for understanding and kindness in the care they receive.

Our society is witnessing a growing generation of the “oldest-old.”

Those in their 80s and 90s need not only compassion but clinically-excellent care when we treat.

We fight ageism with the evidence-based practice we use in our treatment sessions.

We fight ageism when we educate our caregivers on how to carry over effective strategies.

We fight ageism when we discuss at our team meetings how we can make our practice even better.

Finally, we are entering peoples’ homes. Our pillar of respect cannot be undervalued. Unless they are residing in a senior living community or attend an adult day care we serve, most of our patients are in the homes they’ve lived in for more than 40 or 50 years. We as clinicians are stepping into their worlds and helping them achieve what they once thought impossible.

Be Open

When something is a little bit out of your comfort zone, say tackling a difficult patient or mentoring a fieldwork student, say, “yes,” to these opportunities.

Securing Your “Plan”

So when thinking about that five-year-plan, where do you even start?

It starts with that first job hunt where the outcome is to land more than just a good salary.

Find a network of people who truly care about the growth of its employees and who value the people they serve, the “product” they sell. There should be a sense of community and a positive mission of the company upheld by each member of every department to the best of his or her ability.

It is true that, when applying for a new job, the job placement is not only interviewing you, but you are interviewing the job.

While it may not be perfect, it needs to be a good fit for you and in line with your passions, goals for learning, self-awareness, and leadership, no matter how small.

In short, having a “plan” may not look like a drawn-out tree of what you hope to accomplish in five years. This “plan” should be your words, actions, and how you see yourself growing within both your professional network and out in the community.