1. Employment Profile: What exactly does a Speech-Language Pathologist do? |
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 What field is your job in?
Education
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What is your job title?
Speech-Language Pathologist
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Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for
(size and general description of what type of organization it is)
I work for an agency that contracts speech-language pathologists with public school systems. It is a relatively small company with less than 100 employees, however it is nationwide with its main office in Illinois but with therapists working from coast to coast in various places.
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How long have you been employed in this position?
About 10 months.
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How many hours do you work a week on average?
35-40
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Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I provide speech and language treatment to elementary school students in a large urban school district. I complete evaluations, participate in Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, and treat students.
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What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
5,000
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What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
45000
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Please
list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation,
sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
All school vacations (i.e. spring break, christmas vacation, holidays), 401k, 3 paid sick days, 3 paid personal days, health & dental insurance.
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Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
I feel I am well compensated.
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2. Work environment! |
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Does
your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this
something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
I work with colleagues and students all day, every day. I enjoy this about my job. In particular, I enjoy collaborating with my coworkers in different disciplines (e.g. occupational therapy, physical therapy, classroom teachers) to best benefit each individual student on my caseload. I also enjoy working with parents to promote carryover of skills to the home.
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Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes
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Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
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Describe
your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what
you like/dislike about working in it
I collaborate with almost every one of my coworkers in order to design and implement effective education plans for each student.
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Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
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6 Income
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2 Work Environment - co-workers
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3 Work Environment - supervisors
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7 Benefits
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5 Hours
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4 Level of responsibility
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1 The actual "work" you do at your job
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8 Job Title
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3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours? |
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If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
In order to become a speech-language pathologist, you must first obtain a masters degree in the field from an accredited program. However, the job market in this field is excellent, and with an M.A. or M.S., you will likely have several job offers before you even graduate. Speech-Language Pathologists are very much in demand right now.
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What
skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a
position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social
skills, organization skills, technical skills)
You must have an excellent ability to work with others and a genuine commitment to helping people. As a school-based speech-language pathologist, a desire to work with children and help them succeed is key. It is impossible to do this job without collaborating with other professionals, therefore social skills and interpersonal communication skills are also key. The day-to-day activities can be hectic and overwhelming, so organization and attention to details are also necessary in order to stay on top of all your responsibilities.
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Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Yes, you must have a masters degree to practice.
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What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Make sure your first job (your clinical fellowship year) offers a very supportive work environment where it is easy to get advice and your supervisor is approachable and helpful. Also, STAY ORGANIZED! If you fall behind in your duties, it is very difficult to catch up without sacrificing an afternoon or weekend of your own time.
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