The top five things you need to do to land a Sports Therapy job.
Updated: Oct 25, 2022
Are you looking for a job in Sports Therapy?
I bet you have heard phrases like...
...it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, or,
...you just need to get your foot in the door, or,
...there aren’t many jobs for Sports Therapists.
Am I right?
So firstly let’s put this into perspective... there aren’t many degree programmes* that once you have completed the course provide you with eligibility to gain Membership from the leading Professional body (The Society of Sports Therapists). Secondly, upon successfully joining as a member and gaining insurance you can start treating people straight away... which can lead to you earning money nearly instantly!!
*if you are on an accredited programme.
How awesome is that?
So let’s revisit the phrases above...
Did you need to know anyone? No, you just need to find out how best to market yourself to sports people and teams in your local area.
Did you need your foot in a door? No, your foot was in the door the moment that you entered University. Now that you have graduated, you have stepped through the door and into the working world.
Did you need to see a job listed? No, you can create your own opportunity - you won’t realise how powerful this is until you are at least half way through your working life. However, there are lots of Sports Therapy jobs listed in comparison to when I graduated and, as long as excellent Sports Therapists continue to get into the highest positions, more will be created.
"Your foot was in the door the moment that you entered University"
So, I can hear you asking... what are the top five ways to land a Sports Therapy job?
Here we go..
1. Setup as self employed - yes it is hard work initially and you need to learn quickly, but you should already have the main skills to start. If you do then you have created your own job.
2. Keep going to courses to expand your skill set. You learn skills at Univeristy, but there are so many courses that you can use to expand your current skill set (and learn new things too).
3. Start to network. This can be a little bit daunting at first, but you should be networking with other Sports Therapists, Practitioners and those in Sports Medicine. You never know where this may lead!
4. Be ‘coachable’. What does this mean?? This is the ability to learn from others, be willing to fully immerse yourself in listening and taking onboard others opinions (and be willing to admit your weakness or where you may have originally been wrong).
5. Get working with a team. Yes I am about to say the V word... volunteering. This by far provides the most steepest learning curve. For example, look at how the environment can help improve your communication skills (think about how you do this with players, coaches, referees, spectators, other therapists, doctors). Being able to draw upon skills, stories and experiences from the voluntary position will only enhance your chances of being successful at interview.
Do you have some advice for Sports Therapists looking for work? Below, state three things that they should be doing right now...
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