Are you interested in understanding the speech pathology job outlook in the U.S.?
If you are focused on helping people as a speech language pathologist, the ever-growing market is truly set up for your success.
This field is projected to grow by over 21% in the next decade. You may be here because you’re ready to find the best job available—and grow in your field.
So how do you find that dream job with growth potential?
The most effective way to accomplish this goal is by partnering with a recruiter.
Maybe you are thinking:
- “There are so many online job boards, why do I need a recruiter?”
- “Why can’t I just send out applications by myself?”
- “Won’t I make less money by going through a recruiter?”
Those are valid questions!
Whether you’ve just earned your Master’s degree in Speech Pathology or have years of experience in the field, working with a recruiter can give you an edge over your competition—and access to the best speech pathology jobs on the market.
A recruiter possesses a large network of contacts including:
- Hiring managers
- Company executives
- Health care professionals
These contacts usually know about open positions long before they’re posted on job boards.
According to CNN Money, only 15% of open positions are filled through job boards.
The other 85% are filled either internally or through professional references.
So chances are, a recruiter will know about the speech pathology job outlook; sending you jobs before they are even advertised.
In many cases, your recruiter will connect you directly with the hiring manager.
[clickToTweet tweet=”According to @CNN, only 15% of open positions are filled through job boards #itstaffing ” quote=”According to CNN Money, only 15% of open positions are filled through job boards.”]
Taking Advantage of the Positive Speech Language Pathology Job Outlook
The SLP job outlook maintains itself as one of the top allied health careers in demand. Therefore, you’ll want to arm yourself with the best chances for success.
With such positive growth happening in a short period of time, it’s inevitable that more and more qualified professionals will be obtaining their SLP degrees and entering this field.
The great news is: there is room for everyone to reach new professional heights as an SLP now more than ever.
Below, we highlight the ways a recruiter can help you take full advantage of the many potential opportunities:
Save Time
If your dream job doesn’t come up in the first job board search, it will require time and effort to find it.
If you’re studying or working, you won’t have much time…or energy.
Since it’s your recruiter’s job to look for the best position, you can confidently leave it in his or her hands. Imagine all the time and work you will save yourself!
Customize For The Best Outcome
Your recruiter can also help you fine-tune your résumé and cover letters. It’s always best to tailor your application materials to each specific position. A recruiter can advise you on what attributes and skills a specific employer is looking for.
Maximize Earning Potential
In most instances, you’ll find better-paying positions through a staffing agency.
That’s because the agency absorbs a lot of the costs for the client company. As a consequence, your employer can give you a higher salary.
Gain Career Support
If you want to be a travel SLP, it’s great to have the support of a recruitment agency.
Your recruiter can help you obtain the necessary certifications and licenses for any given state. The staffing agency provides housing at your destination. Your recruiter can search for your next speech pathology job while you go to work and gain more experience.
[clickToTweet tweet=”It’s always best to tailor job app materials to each specific position #jobsearch #gethired” quote=”It’s always best to tailor your job application materials to each specific position #gethired”]
Best Practices for Working with a Recruiter
Because the speech pathology job outlook is so great, we bet you are ready to hit the ground running when it comes to securing a fulfilling, well-compensated position.
As stated, a recruiter can help ensure your professional path to success—but you have to make it easy for them!
Working with a recruiter is definitely a two-way street.
If you want your partnership to be successful, you also have to live up to your end of the deal.
Keep the following best practices in mind:
1. Interview a number of recruiters before selecting one.
Different recruitment agencies have different cultures. Plus, every recruiter is a unique person.
Meet with a number of recruiters to discuss what your goals, your must-haves, and your desired perks.
Find out what the recruiter’s success rate is in terms of placements for a speech pathology job. Then, choose the one with which you feel most comfortable (and who has the best track record).
Though it is not unusual to start out with a number of agencies, you’ll be able to develop a better relationship with your recruiter if you concentrate on one.
2. Always be professional.
This is key! Your recruiter needs to be confident when presenting you to hiring agencies. A few easy things you can do to increase your professionalism is:
- Be prompt.
- Dress appropriately.
- Always be polite and considerate.
Follow up your calls and appointments with a “thank you” e-mail, to recap what you discussed and decided. An actual thank you note (in the mail) goes quite a long way.
3. Be transparent.
The better you explain your wishes, needs, and situation to your recruiter, the better he or she can narrow down the job search. Clearly state what you do and don’t want from an employer and a position.
For example, if you want to gain diverse experience in a number of different settings, say so. Or if you only want to work with children, be sure to communicate this.
The best thing you can do is be completely upfront with any hard limitations that affect your professional life.
Ensuring your recruiter knows your strengths and non-negotiables means they won’t waste time looking into positions that aren’t right for you.
4. Keep your résumé and online profiles up to date.
Even if you’re busy, it’s important to keep your showcases up to date. That way, every time your recruiter suggests you to a potential employer, he or she will have access to your most recent information.
If you’re a LinkedIn user, consider taking advantage of their “activity” feature and showcasing industry knowledge by sharing relevant news and/or articles you write about your experiences in the field.
5. Make sure your social media profile is representative of a healthcare professional.
Believe it or not, many employers review candidates’ social media pages.
Go through your various social media accounts, and remove any content you wouldn’t want an employer to see. You can either delete it or change the privacy settings to “hide” it.
If you want to keep your profiles public, consider including professional topics in your posts every so often to showcase your passion for your profession.
6. Communicate any changes in your situation to your recruiter.
Let’s say you originally wanted to work with young adults in a clinical setting. Then after a while, you decide it’s time to work with elderly people in rehab.
Communicate your decision to your recruiter right away. Then he or she can change the search parameters in a timely manner.
7. Touch base after any interviews.
If you’ve done a phone or in-person interview, touch base with your recruiter afterward. If you have any questions or concerns, your recruiter can address them.
SEE ALSO: 19 Common Speech Language Pathology Interview Questions
8. Stay in touch for the next speech pathology job.
Especially if you’re working short-term assignments, stay in touch with your recruiter. You want to know how the search for your next assignment is coming along. Plus, your recruiter will be interested in your experiences with the client company since he or she will likely place more candidates there.
Some staffing agencies even offer a candidate reward program, based on consistent assignments. So it will pay to keep them in the loop!
9. Refer colleagues and friends to your recruiter.
Referring professionals you respect to your recruiter can really help strengthen your relationship. It’s easy to see the parallel here:
Recruiters excel based on relationship building so providing them with more opportunities to build relationships will only strengthen your value to them.
Furthermore, agencies will often offer referral bonuses for your effort!
Conclusion
When it comes to the job outlook for speech language pathology, consider it very optimistic! Find your dream job by working with a knowledgeable recruiter who can ensure you make the most of your degree and experience in this thriving professional field.
Establishing a strong relationship with your recruiter is key to getting the best speech pathology job outlook. Use these tips to cultivate a strong relationship:
- Interview a number of recruiters before selecting one.
- Always be professional.
- Be transparent.
- Keep your résumé and online profiles up to date.
- Make sure your social media profile is representative of a healthcare professional.
- Communicate any changes in your situation to your recruiter.
- Touch base after any interviews.
- Stay in touch for the next speech pathology job.
- Refer colleagues and friends to your recruiter.
So don’t waste any time perusing online job boards…improve your speech pathology job outlook by looking for a great recruiter today!
Does the positive speech pathology job outlook make you more interested in working with a recruiter? Why or why not?
Share with us in the comments below!
