1. Identify if location is a priority for you then you can target or widen your search.

2. Be honest with yourself; do you want to specialise or do a rotation? Have you got to get any job immediately due to finance or can you afford to wait?

3. Once you have identified where you want to go and how quickly, do your homework, apply for a relevant job or wait for the right one.

4. Check your networking, have you been on placement, do you know anyone who knows anyone?

5. Arrange a visit with any of the above or the contact person. Also meet or ask permission from the person writing your reference.

6. Visit and make mental notes of conversations and everything you observe for future reference.

7. Review the person SPEC and write up with balanced quotes from your placement educator including comments from each section of your assessment booklet integrating the summary of your strengths.

8. Think about your development as an occupational therapy professional. Make a list/diagram/recording of the significant light bulb moments you have had from the day you heard you had place on the course. Go through old diaries, placement booklets and people you have met.

9. Post/ email and then take a deep breath and believe you have just the combination of knowledge, skills and personality they are looking for.

10. Arrive early for the interview and just be yourself, it’s not an audition, if you fit into the jigsaw they will have you, if not keep applying till you find the perfect fit.