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Vocational specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Robert Cantu,

Dr. Robert Cantu

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical vocational specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for vocational specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.3% of vocational specialist resumes contained rehabilitation as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a vocational specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 vocational specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Rehabilitation

Here's how vocational specialists use rehabilitation:

Networked with other service providers and workforce development programs such as Vocational Rehabilitation through the state of Arizona.
Coordinated referrals between myself and The Orange County Regional Center and Department of Rehabilitation for program acceptance.

3. Crisis Intervention

Here's how vocational specialists use crisis intervention:

Assisted in crisis intervention while rehabilitating client to become a productive member of mainstream society through offered comprehensive support and training.
Provided case management, on call crisis intervention, developed and implemented person centered planning goals/objectives.

4. Substance Abuse

Here's how vocational specialists use substance abuse:

Assist individuals with psychiatric and substance abuse diagnosis in developing independent living skills.
Provided community support, advocacy, and career guidance to persons with mental and physical illnesses and substance abuse issues.

5. Competitive Employment

Competitive employment is a job that is performed on a full/ part-time basis in which entities are paid for their work, according to the job. However, the compensation must be at par or above the standard of the minimum wage. The cost of compensated benefits by the employer should be at the same level for similar work performed by abled people.

Here's how vocational specialists use competitive employment:

Identify clients' strengths, limitations, and need for accommodations in order to successfully attain and maintain competitive employment.
Assisted clients with mental illnesses to find and maintain competitive employment within their communities.

6. Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational rehabilitation stands for a set of services that aim to restore individuals with disabilities to their optimal mental, physical, vocational, economic, and social ability. Some of the programs include refresher courses, vocational assessment and evaluation, career counseling, on-the-job training, etc.

Here's how vocational specialists use vocational rehabilitation:

Provided seminars to Vocational Rehabilitation/Community Outreach Organizations.
Assisted in the management of the complex reporting, budgeting and fund management requirements of a vocational rehabilitation program.

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7. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how vocational specialists use cpr:

Maintained current First Aid, CPR, and MANDT Certification.
Coordinated habilitation plans for all DDD individuals, staff training in medication, First Aid and CPR.

8. Community Resources

Community resources are a set of resources that are used in the day to day life of people which improves their lifestyle in some way. People, sites or houses, and population assistance can come under the services offered by community resources.

Here's how vocational specialists use community resources:

Established and maintained cooperative relationships with representatives of community resources.
Assisted consumers in accessing community resources and support services.

9. Vocational Assessments

Here's how vocational specialists use vocational assessments:

Completed vocational assessments and engaged consumers in job exploration based on interest and strengths.
Conducted educational vocational assessments on youth in foster care and analyzed the results.

10. Autism

Here's how vocational specialists use autism:

Developed preliminary programming for students with autism and severe/profound disabilities, age 18-21.
Provide and implement behavioral plans for adults with autism.

11. Community Treatment

Here's how vocational specialists use community treatment:

Qualified Mental Health Professional, Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT)
Maintain fidelity to the Assertive Community Treatment model.

12. Support Services

Support services are services that support the organization internally and are usually non-revenue generating. Examples include, IT, admin, HR, etc.

Here's how vocational specialists use support services:

Scheduled and implemented social activities to promote community day support services.
Work with adults with disabilities who are in need of support services.

13. Persistent Mental Illness

Here's how vocational specialists use persistent mental illness:

Work collaboratively with psychiatric professionals and external organizations to provide health services to clients with severe and persistent mental illness.
Provided community-based personal assistance to two clients diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illnesses (Down syndrome/Autism).

14. Employment Services

Here's how vocational specialists use employment services:

Provide individual and group counseling and employment services for adults with chemical dependency and other medical conditions.
Clarified vocational/career goals and determined employment services to be provided.

15. Developmental Disabilities

Here's how vocational specialists use developmental disabilities:

Developed vocational plans and provided oversight of same for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Coordinate and facilitate vocational care programs for people living with developmental disabilities.

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What skills help Vocational Specialists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on vocational specialist resumes?

Dr. Robert Cantu

Associate Professor, Brenau University

These are not necessarily skills per se, but as a hiring manager, this is what I would look at in a resume for a new grad:

Clear objective statement in the resume that matches the needs of the clinic. This shows a focus on job seeking and career path.

Clinical education experiences that match the needs of the clinic.

Skills gained in their clinical training that matches the clinic's needs: Examples: Strong manual therapy training in a clinic that emphasizes one-on-one care of patients. Strong exercise training in sports medicine clinics.

For those with some career experience:

Job stability--i.e., how long is the candidate at one place of employment. At least 18-24 months in a job or longer is good. This means they were perceptive and chose wisely. Six jobs in the first 5 years will raise red flags.

Current and frequent continuing education attendance in the area in which the clinic specializes. This shows a focus on growing and staying current in clinical skills.

What soft skills should all vocational specialists possess?

Dr. Robert Cantu

Associate Professor, Brenau University

People skills: For the workgroup: ability and willingness to work in groups and manage conflict. Flexibility: Willingness to occasionally work late or come in early to accommodate the patient load. Team player attitude. Willingness to play their assigned part on the team. Strong commitment and discipline for timely completion of tasks such as daily paperwork. This shows "discipline in the drudgery," which is critical for the smooth operation of the clinic and results in better customer service.

People skills: For patient management: Empathy, the warmth of personality, a caring demeanor, and express kindness. And absolutely, a willingness to always put the patient first. Good eye contact, firm but kind, reassuring handshake (or a kind elbow bump). The understanding is that even though they work for a company, ultimately, the clinician works for the patient.

What vocational specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Elsa Drevyn PT, DPT

Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education and Vice Chair for Clinical Education

This would totally depend on the setting. Generally speaking, in an acute setting, the PT would be working on early mobilization of the patient to prevent complications from prolonged positioning. If the patient is stable, the PT would most likely be working on bed mobility, transfers, gait training, exercises, while at the same time monitoring the pt’s reaction to the intervention. In an inpatient rehabilitation setting, the PT would be working with the patient for close to an hour or so, two times per day to help them achieve the highest level of function possible. In an OP setting, the PT would be working on the specific issue/impairment, to help the patient attain ROM, strength, function, decrease pain, etc.

What type of skills will young vocational specialists need?

Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Sociology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Indeed, the way we work is changing. The skills that young graduates will need are diverse. Transferable skills and soft skills will certainly be marketable. These include traditional crafts such as communication, but I also think the world expects more empathy from its employees. Young graduates with an understanding of racism, sexism, and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important.

What hard/technical skills are most important for vocational specialists?

Dr. Ruth Henry

Professor and Chair, Lipscomb University

It goes without saying that experience and skill in manual therapy are the cornerstones of the therapist's skill set. Experience in or exposure to a variety of treatment modalities, including heat & cold therapy, ultrasound, TENS, K-tape, electrical stimulation, cupping, and others, is also useful. Willingness to try new modalities when the patient's needs indicate a different approach.

Do you want to know more?

List of vocational specialist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a vocational specialist resume and required skills for a vocational specialist to have include:

Rehabilitation
Social Work
Crisis Intervention
Substance Abuse
Competitive Employment
Vocational Rehabilitation
CPR
Community Resources
Vocational Assessments
Autism
Community Treatment
Support Services
Persistent Mental Illness
Employment Services
Developmental Disabilities
Vocational Training

Mental Health
Severe Mental Illness
Criminal Justice
Vocational Services
Direct Care
SPMI
Community Agencies
Independent Living
Career Exploration
Community Employment
Social Security
Intellectual Disabilities
IEP
Vocational Program
Local Employers
Medication Management

Outreach Services
Early Intervention
Mental Disabilities
Comprehensive Services
Educational Programs
Program Monitoring
Transferable
Vocational Evaluations
Motivational
Psychosis
GED
Behavioral Problems
Resume Building
Local Businesses
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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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