All Those Jobs!

Everyone searches for available jobs using the Internet, but how can you be sure that sending your resume off to an unknown company or email address will yield a response? It may seem obvious once you hear it but there are many different kinds of job boards out there and depending on what you're looking for you may have much better results with some than with others. Sometimes it can feel like you are sending your information into a black hole, so if you do not receive an acknowledgment of your resume within a week, you may not receive one. It’s not you! It’s them!

Profession Specific

The first is an SLP profession-specific job site such as ASHA, or your state Speech-Language and Hearing Association. These organizations vet the companies that are allowed to post vacancies on the site so you are likely to find more suitable positions and fewer non-relevant opportunities. However, smaller companies are under-represented on these sites as they can be expensive for an employer to post jobs when they only have one or two vacancies a year. 

General Want Ad Sites

Another good source for your job search is the larger general job boards such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and Zip Recruiter. Larger companies and nonprofits such as hospitals are more likely to post their jobs on these sites. 

Social Media Sites

Newer to the job posting scene, but still important to consider, are LinkedIn, Glass Door, and Facebook. The nice thing about these sites is that it is much easier to evaluate the company as well as the job post and see if you know others in your profession who have worked for them before you apply. It’s nice to have someone in your profession who has information about a company prior to interviewing.

Government Sites

If you are interested in a position with the Government or Military, you will need to go to their official job sites. These jobs are almost never posted in any other location. Competition can be fierce for these jobs and expect that the application process will be longer. 

Private Sites

Private companies, Schools, and Agencies/Staffing Companies almost all have dedicated job sites on their websites. If there are specific employers that interest you, check out their websites directly. You can generally apply with Agencies/Staffing Companies and School Districts at any time, but many companies no longer allow you to submit a resume unless there is a position available.

Recommendations

Decide what types of companies you will consider before posting or sending your resume. There are advantages and disadvantages for each. Being employed by the government, public schools, military, and nonprofits currently qualify you for some loan forgiveness programs that you cannot participate in if you are employed by a for-profit company. Private and public for-profit companies tend to offer higher salaries and stronger mentorship for new graduates, but the pay gap closes over time. Private and smaller companies and organizations tend to have more accessible leadership. 

Decide what employment structures and employment terms you will consider before applying for a position. There is a huge difference between being an employee or being an Independent Contractor. Independent Contractor means that you are self-employed and will receive no benefits and will be responsible for both the employer and employee payroll taxes due. Read more about Independent Contractor requirements on the IRS website here.

Find out about what IRS Travel Status means before considering this option. If you qualify, it can be financially advantageous to have a portion of your income given or reimbursed on a tax-free basis. The companies that use this type of employment structure have different policies for how they provide for their staff who meet the IRS qualifications for Travelers. Make sure you have a good understanding of this compensation structure before accepting a position on Travel Status. You should talk with a CPA Tax Accountant prior to signing a contract for this type of employment. You can read more about the benefits and requirements of Travel Status on the IRS website here.

Define Terms

Make sure that you have all the terms defined before accepting a position. AND YOU ARE NOT COMMITTED TO ANY POSITION UNTIL YOU SIGN THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT/CONTRACT. Don’t be rushed to accept a job before you understand all of the terms being offered and don’t feel compelled to accept a position if the written terms offered are not what was discussed with you verbally. Below are some of the terms that you will want to make sure are defined by the employer you select as definitions can vary from company to company.

• Full-time can be any number of hours per week from 30-40 or more.
• Full Time can mean anything from 9-10 months in a school setting to 12 months in most medical settings.
• Find out about mandatory overtime or required holiday work hours. Find out how holidays will be handled by your future employer.
• Make sure you understand your benefits, including your payroll deduction contributions, co-pays, deductions, maximum out-of-pocket, and scope of coverage. Benefits vary widely and can add up to 40% additional value to your compensation package.
• Full and part-time employees generally have guaranteed minimum work hours, while PRN and/or Per Diem employees usually do not have guaranteed work hours. Usually, PRN and Per Diem employees receive a higher hourly rate of pay since there is no minimum number of guaranteed work hours. A Per Diem employee is not the same as an employee who receives a Per Diem payment as part of their compensation.
• Companies may describe a position as Float, Itinerant, or Travel but how each company defines and supports these types positions is different. Make sure that you know what the company you are considering means by these terms and how that definition affects your interest in the job and ability to be successful in the position. Travel Status almost always refers to your employment status as a Traveler under the IRS tax code.
• Make sure that you will have both an Employment Supervisor and a CF Mentor. Since not all states require you to complete a CF, not all companies provide CF Mentorship. You do not want to discover this type of miscommunication after you start the job.