Speech and Language Therapist - Over a year post-grad and still no job

[BeShy]

Just need to vent.

It’s been over a year since I graduated as a Speech and Language Therapist, and I still haven’t managed to secure a role. I’ve applied to countless Band 5 NHS jobs, Band 4 assistant roles, and even private companies — but I keep hitting a wall.

Originally, I was open to both adult and paediatric roles. The adult route now feels completely closed off, as most positions want fresh graduates with acute experience. Despite volunteering extensively with adults with acquired conditions in the community, I’m still unable to get the “fresh” acute experience they’re looking for. By default, that has left me focusing on paediatric roles.

Even in my last adult post application, I was asked why I didn’t apply as a fresh graduate. I explained that I did, but either wasn’t shortlisted or wasn’t successful — yet it felt like that explanation didn’t count.

I also feel let down by my uni. I was offered general community placements while I saw my peers get better opportunities, and when I tried to change placements, I had no luck. It’s frustrating knowing I worked hard, but never had the same chances to build experience.

When I apply for Band 5, I’m told to “try Band 4” first. When I apply for Band 4, I’m told I’m “too qualified.” There’s so much competition for every job, and because I’m unable to relocate, my options are even more limited.

I’ve put in so much effort — volunteering, CPD, extra training — and still nothing. CPD and training courses are so expensive, and while I’m fully aware of my NQP competencies, private supervision by other therapists can cost a lot too, making it even harder to progress.

Now I’m also hearing things like I’m “too old” or that new graduates will be prioritised.

On top of all this, I’m about to start a Teaching Assistant role at minimum wage — completely unrelated to my degree — just to keep working. It honestly feels like I’ve been left behind before I’ve even had a chance to start my career.

I don’t want to switch careers — I worked too hard for this and I love SLT — but I’m feeling so stuck, deflated, and unsure of what else I can do.

Just needed to get this off my chest. Has anyone got any advice or been in a similar situation in this or similar sector?

I’m really surprised to hear that. My friend is paediatric SALT and is turning away private work at the moment.

How long has she been qualified for though?

I wouldn’t say TA work is completely unrelated. Your skills would be invaluable in a school. Not the level of pay you would expect or deserve though.
Are there any Special schools nearby? They tend to employ more specialist TAs and some have their own SALT. ( though may be NHS allocated)
I’m so sorry you can’t secure a job. Do you know any SALTs or SEN advisory teachers who could review your applications or do mock interviews.
Sadly you can’t change the past only your future.
Are you Signalong trained? Elklan? SALTs often deliver this training.

That must be so frustrating for you. I'm an SLT, and I've noticed jobs where I live have sometimes gone out to post more than once. Are you limiting yourself to certainly areas?

The course is so hard, and it's quite a vocation so I can understand how you must feel so disheartened not to have managed to get a post yet when you are passionate about the job and worked so hard to become qualified. You sound like you are doing so much to keep your skills up, I would be impressed by that at interview.

I really hope something comes up for you soon.

Oh I meant to say, there seems to be a lot of new roles coming up in mental health teams, both paediatric and adult. If you're interested in that area, might be a good idea to look into related CPD (try the Mind Your Words course on the RCSLT website to see if it's your sort of thing).

I think there is either something wrong with your CV or your interview skills especially after reading your part about saying in the interview that you did apply to roles but haven't been successful as that makes you look less attractive as an employee.

I really think you need someone to read through your CV and/or sit in with you for an interview and take on the feedback.

If you’re getting interviews then I wonder if it is based on interview technique. Are the scored competency type interviews? Can you ask for your scores?

The NHS are not employing enough SALTs to actually deliver the services they are needed for. Everyone I know with SEN children had to go with a private SALT to get their child the all-important early help they needed. Do you need a certain amount of NHS experience to go into private practice? If not, what is stopping you from going down this route? We had to try three private SALTs before we found one who could take us on, the private ones are inundated because the NHS is letting so many families down.

Sorry to hear this. It could be about location as I know a few posts have recruited from abroad in my local trusts and did not have many UK based applicants.

Can you email acute managers (email addresses usually within NHS vacancy posts) and request an honorary contract for a few days a week? Might be worth it for a foot in the door?

You need to be doing what Peclet said. You need honest feedback about your interview technique. You obviously aren’t hitting the right scores. Ask an experienced recruiter to look at your application. Keep everything succinct and relevant, use bullet points, do pre-interview visits whenever possible.

It’s likely not you, it’s to do with the recruitment freezes across the nhs. Nhs points based intervenors are also tricky - it’s not always the best candidate that gets the job, it’s the one that scores the most points. Though having said that points won’t be impacted by you being out of salt for just a year so try not to think that you are already a step being this years grads.

I would focus a little on finding out how nhs interviews work
and how the points are scored. Collect a bank of questions you’ve been asked previously and start writing out some model answers. When you go to interviews and aren’t successful make sure you are collecting feedback afterwards.

I’d also try and do some salt based cpd alongside your ta role. The RCSLT has some free training on things like formal assessment and working in mental health, they also have podcasts etc. Have a look at coursebeetle and see if there’s anything there that interests you or contact your local adult education and find out if they run signing courses.

Don’t follow the advice above to jump straight into private work. For you first few years you want a big team with lots of experience for your own professional development. The best way to access this is the nhs. Therapists who go private too early end up lacking the full breadth of knowledge and experience needed.

OP I’m sorry to hear this! I am an OT and I’m assuming the interview process for NHS is fairly similar….we have a scoring process and the applicant has to mention a certain amount of things during interview, so for example if a question in interview is ‘what would you do for this patient’ they are looking for you to mention all the very basic details such as recording in the notes after seeing the patient etc. also make sure you think of good examples where your past experiences can relate to working in an acute setting….skills like time keeping, team work, communication skills etc. Maybe have a good look at interview technique ? Hope you find something!

Most of the SALTs that I work with are very good communicators and lovely to work with. It might be that you are nervous at interview and not coming across as such a people person. You work with some tricky characters in this area so having supportive, easy to get along with people in the team is really valued. It is likely to be something they are looking for but not something you will get genuine feedback about.

I also wouldn’t tell them that you have been turned down in the past as that will worry them. You need to come up with something more positive.

The newly qualified SLT drive me crazy I dont think we have seen the same therapist twice. Every appointment it's a new therapist because the last one left. I'd much prefer a therapist that was going to stick around. I believe ds would do much better if he was able to form some sort of relationship with the therapist.

Are you tied to a particular area of the country?

If not I would start applying for roles all over the country and be willing to move if you get one. Even if you only stay a year, to get your foot in the door.

Do you know any SALTs who could give you advice about your CV and interview technique?

Not quite what you are looking for but

https://www.seek.com.au/speech-therapist-jobs

What about charities?
What about setting up a charity to provide SLT to disadvantaged kids or those on a waiting list?

TA is related, it's working with kids, sorting out problems. There are many transferable skills.

When you go for jobs where they say you're overqualified it makes no sense they would turn you away when they can hire the cream of the crop. Are they worried about you leaving? I'd start putting in my applications that I was seeking a permanent role to remain at long-term.

Thanks so much for all the replies — it really does help to read different perspectives and feel a bit less alone in this.
A few things I wanted to respond to:

• TA role: It’s a literacy TA post in a secondary school, so not completely unrelated. I’m hoping I can bring my SLT skills into it. I’ll also try to liaise with the NHS-commissioned SLT for the school to see if there’s any chance of shadowing or getting some of my NQP competencies signed off. I guess my frustration is that after years of training, I thought I’d be using my SLT skills directly by now. But I will try to make the most of it and keep CPD going alongside.

• Specialist schools/private/nhs: I know a lot of schools prefer specialist-trained TAs. I’ve looked, but roles are limited locally. I’ve also reached out to all my local NHS trusts to ask about honorary contracts or acute shadowing, but unfortunately these requests weren’t welcomed.

• Location: I can’t afford to relocate right now, which I know really restricts me. That said, if I absolutely had to for the sake of my career, I would consider it, but financially it would be a huge stretch.

• Interviews: I don’t usually mention being unsuccessful in the past, but in one interview I was directly asked why I had “left it so late” to apply for adult rotational posts compared to fresh graduates. I found this difficult, because I did apply straight after university — I just wasn’t shortlisted or successful at the time. When I request feedback, it’s often quite generic, which feels frustrating, as it doesn’t always help me improve. Only on a few occasions have I received specific points to work on. In several interviews I’ve been told I came across well, answered appropriately, and would fit into the team, but was simply “pipped at the post” by one other candidate. On other occasions, the post went to an internal applicant or someone already in a Band 5 role transferring from another Trust. I find it disheartening that NQPs are advised to apply for these roles, but the reality is that many are not truly open to us. I think my applications are okay, but in interviews I might come across as nervous. I’m not sure whether I’d qualify for reasonable adjustments just based on anxiety around interviews — has anyone else requested adjustments for this, and if so, how did you go about it? i am warm, supportive, and good at building relationships, and maybe ask if others have tips for showing that at interview.

• Training/CPD: I’ve tried to keep building on my skills, I’m Makaton trained up to Level 2, and I’ve completed courses like Mind Your Words on RCSLT, along with volunteering and extra bits where possible. The challenge is that a lot of CPD and supervision is expensive, which makes it hard to do consistently.

Thanks again for all the advice and encouragement — it’s given me a few practical ideas to try as I keep pushing forward.

@BeShyglad you have found the feedback you have got here helpful!

I think your literacy TA role sounds great, it will give you really valuable experience. I think the idea of chatting to the SLT assigned to your school is a great one, a personal relationship with an existing member of the team is worth SO MUCH when you apply.

I feel for the new grads at the moment the job market is not as boyant as it was a couple of years ago. Our requests for empty posts to be filled have started being rejected. I know a few people who are struggling so it's not just you at all. Keep at it. Something great will come up.

When my son needed speech therapy I remember our head of primary school telling us about a TA in the school who was a SLT and how beneficial it was to the school and the children. I would hope the school could help you become a specialist TA once you have worked for them - I appreciate schools are underfunded but I know TAs who have had extra training to move them further up once they have worked at the school for a while.

Does anyone know how the nhs interview scoring is done or a points frame work?

Can you do locum or agency work?

Hi
This must be really frustrating

NHS interviews are notoriously hard due to the point scoring method and sometimes I believe this can come down to small things like the word you used to describe something (if it's an NHS term or not)
Make sure you've thoroughly read the person spec as interviews are extremely closely tied to that

Might be preaching to converted but have you tried all jobs websites eg Indeed and total jobs
My first job I found out about via a job email alert - working in a send college
Consider roles outside of NHS I think they often have fewer applicants

Can you afford a term time only contract in a school or college again I believe these may attract fewer applicants due to the pay reduction - my interview for my first job in particular was much easier than my two NHS interviews
Look at this https://www.rcslt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Interview-practice-sheet-for-students.pd I found this incredibly helpful

Best of luck Xx

I think that your first job is always the most difficult to get. I worked nights as a carer whilst applying for my first SaLT job and it did take me a few months for sure. Once you have that things get much easier and now 10 years on I am inundated with work. Don't get it get you down, it will happen. Also don't go into paediatric work if you want adult work, it can be quite difficult changing track later. It takes a lot of patience, but keep your spirits up and know your worth - it will happen.