Gillian Zambor, MSc MT-BC, Associate Editor
Back when I was in graduate school I remember doubts beginning to creep into my head about the field of music therapy. After a particularly uninspiring career talk towards the end of my degree, I remember asking myself so many questions about what was going to happen once I graduated. What if I couldn’ t find work? What if I knew what population I wanted to work with, but there wasn’ t work available in that area? What if I would never be able to secure my dream job? What if I couldn’ t get a job at all? I remember thinking this sounded like an awfully complex career path and wondered if I had made a big mistake.
I moved to the United States soon after graduating, and completed the music therapy board certification process. Then I began the long and arduous task of applying for every job I could find. I would eagerly check job sites every day, and nothing new would come up. Suddenly I would see the perfect job advertised! Only to find out it was 500 miles away. Finally I started getting interviews, but the jobs would go to previous interns who had already worked in the setting, or candidates known to them previously. The whole process was so disheartening, and my enthusiasm was fading.
At long last I secured work for two different agencies and a hospital as an independent contractor. I had done it! However, despite this, as a contract music therapist driving for hours every day and with my odometer increasing rapidly, I would still sometimes ask myself: why on earth didn’ t I choose a‘ normal’ full time job like everyone else- in one place with benefits and sick days and paid time off? At the same time, however, I witnessed so many amazing and life changing music therapy experiences in my sessions, I just knew I had to stick at it and it would all work out. Fast forward to today, and it has! I have managed to build a great work / life balance with meaningful work which I love. I truly don’ t think there is a better life than that.
For anyone new entering the field: neither I, nor anyone else in this edition of the Music Therapy Clinician, are going to sugarcoat the realities of being a music therapist. It is very tough to live in the uncertainty of whether and when a job opportunity will open up. It is demoralizing to cold call places who you think may benefit from services, only to be rejected. It may take a lot of hard work and dedication to secure your first job. But it is worth it. Hearing that one of your client’ s speech has improved and they can now be understood on the phone after a two year rehabilitation journey; seeing a child able to focus in your session; being told your session is the highlight of your client’ s week... these are the moments that make all the tough times worth it. Today I feel lucky to have worked with many different populations of people in many different settings, and I have loved every opportunity for the challenge and growth each has given me as a music therapist.
Ironically, as I hit the big three-oh this year, I’ ve discovered many similarly aged friends working in the‘ normal’ full time jobs I had previously dreamed about, are unhappy and now want to change career paths. Fed up with the rat race, they now seek rewarding jobs with flexibility for their new young families. Although this is often seen as a luxury in other professions, it’ s a balance many music therapists are able to achieve being an independent contractor or business owner.
The Music Therapy Clinician team are thankful to our authors for their honesty and willingness to approach this topic, sharing their experiences and thought processes. Our aim is to encourage everyone to talk about these sometimes difficult subjects so we can support and encourage one another in the community with whatever decisions we choose. And above all, remember you are not alone!!
Contact Gillian gillianzambor @ gmail. com
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