Occupational Therapist CV examples

This guide takes you step by step through writing a CV. You’ll learn how to organise your qualifications and describe your clinical experience and specialisms clearly and effectively.

It’s a competitive and rewarding role, but following these steps will prepare you for your next move – and show exactly how you improve lives through meaningful, person-centred care.

As an Occupational Therapist, structure isn’t just helpful – it’s essential. Whether you’re developing a care plan or delivering interventions, the process depends on clarity and purpose. Your CV structure should reflect that same professional approach. A recruiter should be able to glance at it and immediately understand where you’ve worked and who you’ve supported, as well as the impact you’ve made.

Here’s the layout to follow:

• Name and contact details – Place your name and personal details prominently at the top of your CV for quick access. Adding a photo is up to you.
• Profile – Open with a compelling overview of your skills, experience, and career goals.
• Core skills – List your key abilities in this section, focusing on those that will be most relevant to the job.
• Work experience – Walk through your employment history in reverse chronological order, focusing on your responsibilities and achievements.
• Education – List the qualifications and certificates that make you the right fit.
• Additional info – You can optionally list any relevant hobbies and interests which help to convey that you’re the right fit for the role.
  

Format your CV the same way you’d organise a client file: keep sections clearly labelled, use bullet points to highlight practical detail, and stick to a clean, legible font. Limit the document to two pages in length, and make sure every element earns its place – from your opening profile to your final qualification. A CV format that’s clear and outcome-focused is your first chance to demonstrate the same values you bring to your practice.

Think of this paragraph as your verbal “first impression” – a chance to introduce yourself as a confident, capable OT with a client-centred mindset and measurable impact.

Whether you’re restoring independence after injury or helping patients adjust to life-altering conditions, your work changes lives – and your CV profile should reflect that. It’s not about listing buzzwords; it’s about showing how your clinical knowledge and compassion translate into real-world results.

Here’s what to put in your CV profile:

• Where you worked – NHS Trusts, private practices, social services, schools, mental health services, or rehab centres
• Your top qualifications – BSc/MSc in Occupational Therapy, HCPC registration, and specialist CPD
• Essential skills – Functional assessments, rehabilitation planning, ADL support, mental health OT, equipment provision
• Client groups – Older adults, children, neurological, post-surgical, or mental health service users
• Approach and impact – Mention client-centred practice, holistic care, or multidisciplinary teamwork
  
  

This section provides a clear and concise overview of your key clinical and interpersonal strengths. Include 4–8 bullet points tailored to the specific role – whether it’s community OT, mental health, or paediatric settings.

Make sure these CV skills are aligned with the job advert and focused on hands-on skills – avoid the mistake of listing off generic traits which recruiters overlook.

Here’s where you showcase your practical experience as an OT. Whether you’re working in acute hospitals or specialist services, your work experience section should show how you assess, plan, and deliver effective therapy.

List your roles in reverse chronological order. For each job, use bullet points to outline your responsibilities and achievements – focus on how you supported clients and contributed to their outcomes.

And if you’re newly qualified or recently graduated, include your placements and highlight what you learned and the patient groups you worked with.

• Outline – Provide context by naming the employer, type of setting, and the client group or caseload you supported – for example, community OT supporting older adults post-discharge.
• Responsibilities – Use action words like “assessed” and “coordinated.” For example: “assessed functional ability and developed tailored rehabilitation plans” or “coordinated equipment provision to support discharge planning.” Mention any specific tools, pathways, or frameworks you followed.
• Achievements – Demonstrate the impact of your work: reduced hospital readmissions, improved independence, positive patient feedback, or time-to-discharge improvements. Here’s a tip: use numbers and data to make outcomes feel more tangible.

This section lists your academic and professional qualifications. Your HCPC-recognised OT degree will be the core entry, but also include postgraduate study, short courses, and CPD relevant to the role.

If you’re early in your career, include key modules or placement highlights to provide extra context. List all your education and qualifications in reverse chronological order.