Ontario’s senior population is growing quickly. While personal support workers help a variety of patients – including those recovering from illness or surgery – the elderly represent a large portion of their clientele. As baby boomers retire, that client base will only get bigger.
Provincial governments are responding to this change in demographic by hiring more healthcare professionals – especially PSWs. Over the next few years, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will add approximately four million hours of PSW care to the health care system. That amounts to up to 2,080 full time jobs!
For students looking to start their career as personal support workers, there will be no shortage of job opportunities for them to choose from once they graduate. To help you land the job, here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when reaching out to employers and sitting down for interviews.
Personal Support Workers Need Networking
Networking is an important strategy for any job-seeker. For a people-oriented career like personal support worker, networking can be an especially effective tool when looking for a job. PSW students should make the most of their clinical placement and introduce themselves to staff, doctors, and patients. Connecting with other professionals who have personal support worker training can also help you find employers who are in need of fresh graduates, and a referral from a contact always helps put you in good standing in an interview.
Students in PSW Programs Should Use School Resources
Many colleges that offer personal support worker diplomas also offer career-placement resources to help students find work after graduation. CTS Canadian Career College even includes job placement training right in the curriculum of our personal support worker program!
Students completing their personal support worker courses in North Bay can use their college’s resources to get exclusive knowledge about which employers in the area are most in need of workers.
PSWs Should Always Research Potential Employers
Potential employers such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, and private agencies will want to know that their future employees are enthusiastic about working with their organization. That’s why it’s important for PSWs to do a bit of research before a job interview. Being able to cite recent changes in provincial PSW policy, or recent developments at the facility, will impress interviewers and show them that you are passionate about the job and up-to-date on your training.
PSWs Should Prepare Answers to Common Interview Questions
When interviewing for a PSW position, there are certain questions that are bound to come up, no matter what workplace you are applying at. These common questions include:
- “Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult client.”
- “What accreditations and certifications do you have?”
- “Why do you want to work as a PSW?”
For recent graduates on the job market, taking the time to prepare thoughtful answers that highlight their strengths can make all the difference. Rehearsing interview answers can take some edge off any pre-interview nerves. It also ensures that answers to those questions stay on topic and don’t go on unnecessary tangents.
What other strategies would you use to land a rewarding job as a personal support worker?