u/Commercial_Drummer53

Hi, I’m a new Occupational Therapy graduate in the UK looking for a job. I’ve been shortlisted for 5 interviews and 4/5 have had feedback of “you interviewed really well but we have chosen someone with more experience”. How am I supposed to get a job if I can’t get experience😅

What other roles can I search for? Losing hope for getting an OT job so really open to anything! Also interested in law, marketing and research. Any advice on highlighting transferable skills?

Feeling a bit stuck tbh and looking for advice moving forward. GP filed as normal, can’t find a pattern in my results and hoping someone may be able to help because I just feel awful.

In 2022 I had iron deficiency anaemia and b12 deficiency during pregnancy. In 2023 my levels had improved slightly and thyroid tested (all normal). Since this time though I’ve never felt well or ‘myself’, put it down to being a new parent/stress etc but starting to look into it more. I’ve recently felt as bad as late pregnancy and also developed hair loss/digestive issues. Tested for coeliac and IBD which are showing on NHS app but no result, haven’t received a call in 2 weeks though so assuming normal.

Current results:
• Serum ferritin: 30 ug/L (normal) - highest I’ve had in this time, lowest 10 ug/L in pregnancy or 17ug/l or 25 ug/l
• Serum b12: 219 ng/L (normal) - on downward trend again
• Serum ferritin: 13 ug/L (normal) - raised loads since 2023 which was 3.1 ug/L
• Serum Iron: 22 umol/L (normal)
• Transferrin: 3.81 g/L (high)
• Unsat iron binding capacity: 87 umol/L (high)
• Percentage iron saturation: 25% (borderline normal/low)
• RBC: 5.02 (normal range)
• HB: 138 g/l (normal range)
• Haemocrit: 0.398 (normal range)
• MCV: 79.3 (low) - always been abnormal since late pregnancy
• MCH: 27.5 (normal) - previously always low
• RBC distribut width: 12.7% (normal) - have been high or normal

Looking for advice around becoming a counsellor/psychotherapist. I am about to qualify as an Occupational Therapist but have always been drawn to a career in counselling or psychotherapy. I haven’t decided on an approach I’d like to start in but drawn to EMDR, DBT and internal family systems. I’d like the option to work in the NHS and privately.

A university near me offers an MSC in counselling/psychotherapy but is this the best option? What other routes are available to me. Would I have to complete level 2 certificate if I have an AHP background?