Whether you’re just out of college or changing jobs later in your career, starting at a new job is an important step on your career ladder. And how you approach your first year on that job can have a major impact on your future career. Yet the statistics for newly hired employees succeeding at new jobs are dismal. A study by the training firm Leadership IQ, for example, found that 46% of new hires failed at their jobs within 18 months.

• 26% couldn’t accept feedback
• 23% couldn’t manage their emotions
• 17% lacked the drive to excel
• 15% had the wrong attitude for the job
• 11% lacked the technical skills needed
  

What can you do to help avoid career mistakes from the start? We asked recently graduated physical therapists to share their first-year career experiences and offer advice.

Finding the Right Job

It all starts with finding the position and company or clinic that are the best fit for you. We asked newly hired PTs, "What would you have done differently in the job-hunting process?" Here's what we heard:

• "I would have been more persistent with following up on job applications," says Rachel from Plainview, N.Y. Rachel says she applied to many different jobs that varied greatly in settings and patient populations. "If I didn't hear back from a job in 3 weeks, I usually followed up, but sometimes the positions had already been filled without notifying me." Instead, Rachel believes she should have followed up 1 to 2 weeks after applying, "just to see if my resume had even been reviewed yet or if the position had already been filled."

• Looking back at his job-hunting experience, Paul from Glendale, Ariz., says he would have followed a staff PT for more than 1 day. "Facilities act like it is great to work there" he explains, "but if you follow a staff PT on more then one occasion, then I believe that you receive a better understanding of the facility." To help make a final decision on which facility to choose, Paul also found it helpful to make an Excel spreadsheet listing all the important features of each PT facility, including salary offered, contact person, benefits, and paid days off. This way, he could easily compare the advantages and disadvantages of the jobs he was considering.

• Soon after graduating from Alabama State University, Melody, who lives in a small Alabama town, was offered a job at an outpatient facility in her hometown. At first, the situation seemed perfect for her. "This afforded me an opportunity to live at home and serve the underserved," she explains, "which is the mission of Alabama State University. I enjoyed the people I worked with along with the company's core values and mission." However, soon after she started working there, she discovered issues about the way the facility conducted business that made her look for opportunities elsewhere. Based on her experiences, Melody's job-hunting advice to other PTs is to thoroughly research the company or clinic they're considering. In addition to finding out the exact PT responsibilities, Melody advises, "Research the turnover rate of PTs, the benefits the employer is offering, patient case load, goals for continuing education, hours of business, reputation in the community, how the company has handled issues regarding personnel and patients, etc."

Advice for PT Professionals Starting a First Job

We also asked the newly hired PTs to share one piece of career advice:

• “Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” says Rachel. “I think a lot of new grads just want to jump right into their first job and act as if they know exactly what they’re doing because, after all, they’re no longer students but official licensed physical therapists.” However, Rachel discovered employers and co-workers are “well aware that you’re a new grad and don’t expect you to know everything.” “My senior therapist loved that I came to him with questions,” she adds. “Never be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure. Always err on the side of caution.”
  

• Paul’s advice is similar. “Be curious,” he says. “If you don’t know something, don’t act as if you do.” Paul also recommends attending “as much continuing education as possible.” In addition to staying current with PT methods and research, he found that it’s a great way to foster professional relationships with other health professionals in the area.

12 Steps for First-Year Success*

            1. Adopt the right attitude.

            2. Manage your expectations.

            3. Master your “breaking-in” skills.

            4. Manage the impression you make.

            5. Build effective relationships.

            6. Be a good follower.

            7. Get to know your organization’s culture.

            8. Develop organizational savvy.

            9. Understand your new role.

            10. Develop work savvy.

            11. Master the tasks of your job.

            12. Acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities you need.

*From: Salisbury University's Career Mistakes and How to Overcome Them. Visit this site for additional information about ways to avoid mistakes in your career.