Occupational Therapist Resume Example

The role at a glance: key responsibilities

• •Conduct comprehensive occupational therapy evaluations (motor, cognitive, and sensory assessments) to establish individualized rehabilitation and functional goals
• •Design and implement individualized treatment plans targeting recovery or compensation of impaired functions
• •Recommend and customize adaptive equipment (wheelchairs, orthotics, assistive devices) and home or workplace modifications to maximize independence
• •Train patients in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs), including personal hygiene, dressing, meal preparation, and home management
• •Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and coordinate treatment recommendations with physicians, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and social workers
• •Evaluate and facilitate safe discharge planning for return to home or return to work, collaborating with social workers and home health agencies
• •Educate and train family caregivers and support staff on compensatory strategies, fall prevention, and adaptive techniques
• •Document evaluation findings, progress notes, and reports for clinical teams and payers (insurance carriers, Medicaid/Medicare, workers' compensation)

The ideal resume structure

Key skills to highlight

Resume summary / title example

« Occupational Therapist, OTR/L — 9 years of experience in inpatient neuro rehabilitation and home health. Guided 400+ post-stroke patients through the discharge-to-home process with a 70% success rate, completed 60+ adaptive equipment evaluations annually, and mentored 3 cohorts of Level II fieldwork students. Specialized in home modification planning and executive function rehabilitation. »

Common mistakes to avoid

• ❌ Listing job duties instead of clinical impact

  ✅ Replace 'Provided therapy to patients in neuro rehab' with 'Managed a caseload of 18 patients per week in inpatient neurology; achieved a 74% discharge-to-home rate over 12 months.' Quantify caseload size, turnaround times, and outcomes.

• ❌ Failing to specify patient populations and diagnoses

  ✅ A geriatric inpatient role and a pediatric school-based role require entirely different skill sets. Always specify diagnoses (stroke, Parkinson's, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury), age groups, and care setting so recruiters can immediately assess fit.

• ❌ Leaving out coordination and education responsibilities

  ✅ OTs are central to care coordination. Mention your involvement in interdisciplinary team rounds, caregiver training sessions, staff in-services, and any school or community-based outreach. These show leadership beyond direct patient care.

• ❌ Omitting specific assessments and tools

  ✅ Hiring managers look for precise clinical competencies. Name the standardized assessments you use (FIM, Barthel, MMSE, AMPS, MOHO) and the technologies you work with (EHR platforms, home simulation equipment, telehealth tools).

Our tips for a standout resume

1. Tailor your resume to every posting: a recruiter at an inpatient stroke rehab unit and a director at a supported employment program are not looking for the same candidate — adjust your highlighted skills accordingly.
2. Quantify your workload: weekly caseload size, number of evaluations per month, volume of adaptive equipment recommendations, average treatment duration. Concrete numbers give scale to your experience.
3. Highlight cross-functional contributions: care coordination, student fieldwork supervision, participation in quality improvement projects, continuing education courses taught. These demonstrate professional investment beyond direct care.
4. Optimize for ATS compatibility: use a clean single-column layout with no tables or images in the body text. Terms such as 'functional assessment,' 'adaptive equipment,' 'discharge planning,' and 'ADL training' must appear explicitly.
5. Include your NBCOT certification number and state license number, and note any professional memberships (AOTA, state OT associations) — these signal credibility and commitment to the profession.

Frequently asked questions