| So you've got an interview scheduled for a Physical | | | | goals that are in line with your PT career and that |
| Therapy job, or you're still searching but you're coming | | | | show you are a good candidate for long-term |
| close? Congratulations! The chances are you won't be | | | | employment. Something like "I'd like to be your Senior |
| the only candidate, so you need something to set you | | | | Therapist," is a good response. |
| apart. Just follow these 10 Tips For Nailing A Physical | | | | 7. Have specific examples of work successes ready. |
| Therapy Job Interview and you'll have a great | | | | You can expect to be asked questions about your |
| advantage over your competitors who won't be as | | | | current position. Interviewers love to find out how you |
| prepared as you are. | | | | faced a particular challenge and to get insight into your |
| 1. Get your sales pitch ready. | | | | day-to-day work experiences. Be ready with some |
| Do you think you're not a "salesperson?" You are | | | | specific examples of your more challenging cases. |
| when you're on a job interview. Your job is to sell the | | | | Also, provide some examples of how you were able |
| interviewer into thinking that you are the best Physical | | | | to get a particular task accomplished under unusual |
| Therapist that he or she could ever hire. So, in order to | | | | pressure, or a short deadline, if you have those types |
| do that, plan on being able to talk for about 5 minutes | | | | of examples. Don't make anything up though. It's also a |
| about your background, education, experience and | | | | good idea to provide examples of your teamwork |
| why you're the best candidate for the job. A five | | | | skills and how well you communicate ideas with |
| minute monologue is around 50 sentences. Prepare | | | | co-workers and supervisors. |
| those 50 sentences in advance and practice, practice, | | | | 8. Show Enthusiasm, Friendliness and PMA. |
| practice. | | | | PMA means Positive Mental Attitude, and you want to |
| 2. Arrive 15 minutes early for the interview. | | | | bring plenty of it to the interview. You send subliminal |
| That way you'll have time to compose yourself, | | | | signals to the interviewer with your body language, |
| review your notes, and fill out any paperwork that may | | | | tone of voice and attitude. Make sure that all of those |
| be required before your interview. Take advantage of | | | | signals are positive by acting bright, energetic and |
| the extra time to go to the restroom and check your | | | | cheerful. Pay attention to your body language. Sit up |
| appearance in the mirror. Don't forget to check your | | | | straight, don't tap your feet or drum your fingers. Make |
| teeth for bits of leftover lunch. Pack a toothbrush and | | | | sincere eye contact with the interviewer. If it comes |
| toothpaste and give your teeth a quick brushing to | | | | down to a tie between you and another candidate |
| freshen your breath. | | | | with equal experience and skills, your enthusiasm could |
| 3. Listen carefully to each question that you are asked | | | | swing the job your way. |
| and then answer those questions thoroughly. | | | | 9. Don't be shocked by a confrontational interview. |
| Watch out for stumbling words like "um's" and "ah's" | | | | Some interviews use a measured confrontational |
| and conversational slang that doesn't belong in a | | | | approach to weed out candidates who do not react |
| business conversation when you give your answers. | | | | well to pressure or confrontation. Don't be drawn in. |
| Be sure that you sound confident when you reply. PT | | | | Maintain your professional demeanor and act as if |
| Managers look for people who know what they are | | | | your interviewer is doing nothing unusual. Remember, |
| talking about and have the confidence to answer | | | | you're not always going to be treating clients who are |
| questions thoroughly. Don't ramble and don't wander | | | | happy to see you, and some that are in intense pain |
| off track. Answer the question and then wait for the | | | | may not be the friendliest people you'll ever encounter. |
| interviewer's response. | | | | Your interviewer knows this, and he or she is just |
| 4. What the question "tell me a little bit about you?" | | | | trying to find out how you will be treating the clients |
| really means. | | | | when those situations arise. |
| The answer doesn't start with "I like long walks on the | | | | 10. Make sure that you ask for the job twice. |
| beach and quiet evenings at home." The interviewer is | | | | Don't assume that the interviewer knows that you |
| looking for personality traits and background | | | | want the PT job just because you showed up for the |
| information that establishes your qualifications for the | | | | interview. Ask for it at the end of the interview by |
| position. Tell him or her about your work ethic, your | | | | saying something like "I enjoyed meeting with you |
| love for the PT profession and your desire for ongoing | | | | today, and I would enjoy working here very much. Can |
| education to stay current in the field. | | | | we take this to the next step? It might sound a bit |
| 5. What the question "tell me about your strengths and | | | | assertive, but at least you're letting the interviewer |
| weaknesses?" really means. | | | | know that he or she has a hot prospect on their |
| This isn't the time to do a character assassination on | | | | hands. If you don't get a PT job offer on the spot, |
| yourself by telling the interviewer how hard it is for you | | | | follow up with a short Thank-You note and ask for the |
| to get up in the morning and that you and Chocolate | | | | job again. Don't use e-mail. Handwrite a note on a |
| Martinis are well acquainted. You probably will have no | | | | generic Thank-You card and drop it into the mail. Trust |
| problem responding with 3-4 positive things about | | | | me, hardly anyone does that anymore. You will stand |
| yourself, but how do you answer the weakness | | | | out from the crowd. |
| question? Mention a quality or two that is really a | | | | Summary |
| quasi-strength in disguise. For example, "I tend to spend | | | | There's a lot of competition in the Physical Therapy |
| more hours at work than most of my co-workers | | | | job market today. It's important that you handle |
| because I don't feel comfortable going home until I | | | | yourself professionally and that you give the |
| have wrapped up all my paperwork for the day." | | | | interviewer the ability to judge how you are going to |
| 6. What the question "what do you see yourself doing | | | | perform once the clinic extends you a job offer. |
| in 5 years?" really means. | | | | It's expensive and disruptive to have a lot of staff |
| This is a probing question designed to determine how | | | | turnover, so your interviewer is going to make sure |
| long you might stick around. While honesty is usually | | | | that the right person is hired the first time. You're that |
| the best policy, there's no law that says you have to | | | | person and it's up to you to let the interviewer know it. |
| work in the same place forever. If your goal is to | | | | Follow these 10 tips and you'll look like the shining star |
| attend college at night so you can switch careers and | | | | that you really are! |
| become a lawyer in 5 years, don't bring it up. State | | | | |