Anyone on the career path of a Speech-Language Pathologist knows that the profession is more than just a job – it’s a calling. Working with students takes compassion, patience, and a true passion for helping children. So, it can be overwhelming when aspects of your current Speech-Language Pathology role are holding you back.
While some discomforts in your position may be growing pains of advancing your career, others may be signs it’s time for you to move on. Let’s take a look at some of the signals that it’s time to make a change in your Speech-Language Pathology career.
1. You don’t feel valued or supported.
Feeling underappreciated or like you’re doing it alone in your role is a red flag. If you’re not getting the tools, training, and continued education you need, it may be a sign that your administration isn’t correctly supporting you or your students’ growth. If you’ve brought these issues up to your administration and seen little to no change, it may be time to seek a new Speech-Language Pathology role.
2. You don’t feel part of a team.
Working as a team is valuable in most careers but is especially critical in an educational setting. You need to collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to make the most meaningful impact on your students. If you constantly feel like you’re working alone, it’s time to look for an opportunity with more collaboration and teamwork.
3. You live in constant overwhelm.
As you get your footing, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed during the first few weeks or months of any job. However, if you’re six months, a year, or more into your Speech-Language Pathology career and feel overwhelmed most days, that’s not normal. Working with too many students or not having enough time with each student or group is detrimental to your own health and your student’s growth.
4. You aren’t being compensated well.
It can be tricky to tell if you’re getting the proper compensation for your role if you don’t know where to look. Objectively, some sites can show you what your compensation should be for your level of education and experience, but some nuances can add value to a role or cause you to incur unexpected costs. Also, be sure to look out for positions that extrapolate an hourly rate while failing to account for the length of the school year – make sure you’re comparing opportunities apples to apples.
Regardless of these objective rates, if you’re not making enough to comfortably afford your housing, food, utilities, and other regular expenses, it’s time to consider changing your Speech-Language Pathology career.
5. You aren’t receiving proper benefits.
Consider whether you’re receiving adequate benefits similar to your compensation. Take a look at your healthcare costs and coverage, as well as your paid time off to evaluate if you’re getting what you need to be healthy and productive. You may not even have these benefits if you’re working in a contract role. In that case, it may be time to look for a Speech-Language Pathology role as a W-2 employee.
6. You don’t see a long-term future where you are
A career in speech-language pathology can be exceptionally rewarding in the long term. You’ll see the students you support flourish with improved articulation, language, fluency and improved access to the educational setting. After long enough, you’ll see them moving up through grade levels, into new schools, and even graduating using the fundamentals that you helped them practice. But you’ve got to take care of yourself first. If you don’t see yourself retiring from your current Speech-Language Pathology role, that’s a big sign that it’s time for a change.
Let Nyman Associates Help You Find Your Next Role
If more than one of these signals resonates with you and you live in the greater Philadelphia, Southern NJ, or Delaware areas, it’s time to talk with the experienced team at Nyman Associates. Our staff includes clinicians with years of experience in the field, so they know first-hand how we’re a support team that stays with you from your first phone call through every day at your new job. Whether you’re a recent graduate looking to start your career or somebody who needs a change, we can help you target opportunities with access to full benefits, potentially higher compensation, and better hours/job flexibility. Send us your resume or call us, and we’ll connect you with an environment where you feel wanted, valued, and supported.
Make the next move in your Speech-Language Pathology career today. Send us your resume or give us a call at 215.653.7220.
