Please help! Trying to find the perfect job!

[Rosie Palmas]

I have recently finished studying the VTCT Sport and Fitness therapies Certificate which consisted of Level3 Diploma in Body Massage, Level 2 Diploma in Sports Massage, Level 2 Diploma in Non-Medical Nutritional Advice and Level3 Certificate in Anatomy and Physiology. Ihave also completed the FA Level 2 Treatment and Management of Sports Injuries.

Since I finished college in July, I have written to many Physiotherapy places and also Beauty Therapy places to see if they have any positions available for me to practice my massage.
Ihave also applied for a job at a local hospital as aPhysiotherapist Assistant.
Ihave not had a replyfrom one single person to say they have not got anything available.
I find this very upsetting and ignorant. It seems as though I have wasted 3 years of my life studying something that I love all to be flushed down the toilet!

I was wondering if any of you therapists out therecould give me some advice on how you went about getting the job you have and where I am going wrong.
Please help! I just keep thinking that this seems to be a waste of time and just give up hope. [sm=banghead.gif]

Thanx alot for reading this post (if anyone does!)

Claire. x

* * * * Dreams can come true! * * * * *

 

[HenHoxEncot]

Hi Clare

Sorry I am not a therapist.It must be so frustrating for you.Can I just say you have not wasted three years of your life studying.Dont give up.Sometimes things in life take longer to get than you would like. The right job will come along. Just stay positive I know thats hard,when you apply for jobs and dont get any replys.Hope you get some other replys, from people on hear thatcan help you.

Best wishes and good luck
Sunrise

 

[Helen Scott]

Hi Claire,

Dont Give UP!!!
I have been qualified for 2 years now, (holistic Therapist massage/aroma/reflex) I did what you did and wrote to loads of places and didnt get anything from it, but fortunatly I went to a local community sports centre and asked them if they had a room to rent and to my suprise they did! Now its not the most amazing place to have a treatment room but it has ment I can build up a client base. I pay as I go, I give them a percentage of what I earn and this works out brilliantly for me. I also have a part-time job 2 days a week in a call centre ok its awful but its a guarenteed income while I build up my clients.

Basically to get the clients in I did a load of leaflet drops, told all the people I know what I was doing and went from there, It is hard work but worth it. I didnt spend any money on marketing did all my own leaflets.

So I suggest you try and find a room to rent in somewhere like a gym or a community centre. Also you say u did the FA course do you belong to a football club and do the physio for them?? My mum is a football physio this could be a way of getting clients, or instead of football perhaps hockey??

I hope this helps, please dont give up, you will get there it just takes a bit of time.

Take care and GOOD LUCK!!!

B x

 

[Jack R]

Hi I have to say learning to hewlp folk heal isn't ever gonna be a waste.

Keep banging that head on that wall, and it will give!

You could try martial arts clubs or boxing gyms these guys have abig interest in their bodies and recovery. Theyreally appreciate an elbo in the back or the increase you can get them in terms of flexibility. You just have to get them to understand it isn't all relaxation and that it hurts and they love it.

Body builders are generally big on massage too. Keep it up. G'luck.

(big smile) jono

 

[trnvjhqs]

Hi Claire

Unfortunately there are currently many more therapists being trained than there are jobs available. This was discussed in a recent SMA newsletter, and has also been discussed on the ‘sports therapies’ forum of HP. I agree with ‘B Holistic’ that your best course of action is to go self-employed on a part-time basis, making contact with a local sports club or clubs to try to gain clients.
Personally I would recommend joining the SMA (although I think you may need a level 3 sports massage qualification), as they supply new therapists with some very professional-looking ‘flyers’. As has been discussed on several previous threads on this forum (see for example [link=http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=363904]Male Clients- urgent! [/link]), one danger with over-enthusiastic advertising is that it can attract people who are looking for sexual services rather than a genuine massage.

Regards

Alan

 

[Dumsealse]

Gosh Claire,

I really feel for you, but it looks like you've been given quite a lot of good advice. Working for yourself is a bit daunting initially but lots of people assure me that once you adapt and set up some regular clients you'll never look back. You just have to get out there and make various sports clubs and groups aware of what services you have to offer.

As the others have said, something will come up. The New Year is always a brilliant time for starting something new and gettingfresh clients on board.

Good luck. I hope it all works out for you and I look forward to seeing how you get on.

Take care,
Z

 

[just wondering]

Yes, Dont give up and develop a thick skin.

The places you applied to, I would telephone and ask for the name of the person who deal with recruitment, get to speak with them and ask if they have looked sat your application. They wont even remember you but say that you will send in another one.

WHen they get to speak to you, you will have entered into the number 1 position shoudl they be hiring or hiring in th enear future.

In the meantime get out there and rent a room somewhere.

Gice your local newspaper a call and speak to the relevant journalist (if they have a health page section-maybe weekly) and offe them a treatment so that they can review it in the article/newspaper. Then on that same article you can offer say 5 treatmens to giveaway in a competition-but you should have a room rented soemwhere before doing this.

So-dont give up-try again with no hears-take every opportunity to promotoe yourself.


Lucky

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thanx to everyone who replied!
Thanx for all your advice and I will certainly look into renting out a room.
At the moment it's a bit difficult for me to travel as I haven't passed my driving test so I think renting a room out would be ideal.

Thanx again, you've really helped!
I just hope that something will come along soon.

Claire.x

*All things good come to those who wait!*