It’s graduation season again! Congratulations to all of the OT and OTA graduates!
AOTA can be a huge help to you at this early point in your career. We rounded up some of our top tips for new grads—from studying for the NBCOT exam to acing your job interviews.
But, first, let’s celebrate the fact that you graduated!
Melissa Stutzbach, AOTA’s staff liaison to the Assembly of Student Delegates, and I put together a list of gifts for the recent OT and OTA graduates in your life. Hopefully your family and friends will happen upon this gift guide (hint. hint.) or maybe you want to gift yourself a present!
Show Off Your OT Pride!
You should be super proud of your accomplishment, so these gifts are great for displaying your OT Pride:
1) Store all your therapy notes and supplies in an OT-themed tote.
2) Keep your notes organized in an OT-themed portfolio with a privacy cover and storage.
3) Whether you’re making adjustments to a wheelchair or scooping out dimensions for adaptive equipment, chances are that you will need a tape measure. Might as well get one that says occupational therapy on it!
4) Wear your OT pride with this OT customized ID holder.
5) On your off hours you can promote the profession with a little humor with one of our OT-Rex shirts or hoodies.
Help Them Pass the NBCOT Exam!
Sorry to bring it up, but you’re not quite done studying yet. Next up is the NBCOT exam. You can help your gradate be prepared with these gifts:
6) This is basically the ultimate OT graduation gift: all the tools you need to pass the NBCOT. Consider purchasing a year-long subscription to AOTA’s NBCOT Exam Prep.
7) Looking for something beautiful to inspire your OT or OTA graduate as they study for the exam and look for jobs? We love the Simply Yours Day Planner designed by two occupational therapists. Using their OT background, they developed a planner that will help your reach short- and long-term goals.
8) Once you pass that exam, it’s time to show off your OTR or COTA credentials. This engraved business card holder will look so beautiful with your name and credentials on it!
Leisure Activity Gifts: Graduates, Have Some Fun!
As OT graduates, you recognize the importance of occupational balance, so here are some fun ideas for leisure gifts:
9) Give the gift of a movie night! Check out this list of TV shows and movies that portray mental health accurately - your OT new grad will (probably) love these! Buy or rent the movie Downsizing, which features Matt Damon as an OT. Bonus: You can wrap it in a microwavable movie theater popcorn bucket with some of your grads favorite movie theater candy as well.
10) Your new grad is probably (and understandably!) tired of looking at text books. So buy them some leisure-friendly books instead. Like these 14 books OT peeps love. Another idea would be coloring books for adults, which are super popular right now! Buy your graduate a coloring book and some colored pencils and markers.
A Gift That Keeps on Giving!
Bonus: Buy your graduate an AOTA membership! In addition to a years’ worth of member benefits (like 22 issues of OT Practice magazine, subscription to the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, access to members’ only content on the website and forums on AOTA CommunOT) AOTA has the tools to help you transition to your practitioner role. We have a discounted rate for 1st and 2nd year practitioners!
Have you received (or given!) a great graduation gift for OT & OTA grads? Tell us about it!
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