During a competitive physical therapy job search, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd to secure that pivotal interview and your next position. Nearly a dozen things can go into the process of narrowing down the candidate field and selecting the best candidates to interview for a position, which is why you need to do all you can to set yourself up for success as you work towards your next physical therapy job interview.

Upstream Rehabilitation and our family of brands are hiring for clinical and non-clinical physical therapy positions. Take a look at some of the key ways to stand out and work towards becoming the leading physical therapy job candidate.

Start With Research

One of the best things you can do to stand out from the crowd of applicants in your physical therapy job search is to start with effective research. Do your best to learn more about the organization. In doing so, you’ll be able to speak to important points and demonstrate your knowledge when compared to other candidates when you get your interview. Many candidates elect to avoid doing any types of research before submitting their application or scheduling the interview, so doing a few minutes worth of research on the employer may make all the difference in showcasing your interest and separating yourself from other applicants.

For instance, are there new developments in the industry, recent press releases, or announcements that you can speak to? A little bit of research can go a long way in helping separate yourself from other candidates.

Upstream Rehabilitation is the largest pure-play provider of outpatient physical therapy in the United States. Our organization is committed to providing world-class care to exceed the expectations of our patients, meet their functional goals, and return them to life stronger than before. Upstream provides excellent career opportunities for entry-level and seasoned professionals. Upstream offers entry-level candidates and career professionals the opportunity to serve in corporate and non-clinical roles. We’re also dedicated to providing continuing education and additional development opportunities to ensure that our associates have the skills needed for long-term success.

Browse and apply to physical therapy positions with Upstream Rehabilitation!

Build a Strong Resume

In the age of one-click apply job boards and job postings, a sea of applicants can submit their resumes at any given moment. One of the best ways to stand out from that crowd is to showcase that you’ve done your research and have tailored your resume to the job posting. Tailored physical therapy resumes help demonstrate your ability to provide value based on what the organization is looking for.

Your resume will play an important role in determining whether or not the evaluator should move you along to the next step or set your resume to the side. Once you begin the interview stage, your interviewers will frequently review your resume, and you want to be able to speak to important points and connect them to items mentioned in the job posting.

Start Prepping for that Physical Therapy Job Interview

The next step to separate yourself and work towards becoming the leading physical therapy job candidate is to prep for the interview early. Whether you’re a new grad looking for one of your first positions or you’re a seasoned professional with years of experience under your belt, everyone gets interview jitters and can use a tune-up to build their confidence before an upcoming interview.

Preparing for an upcoming physical therapy interview starts with getting ready to speak about who you are, what interests you, a quick run-through of your previous experience or expertise, and a brief explanation on why you applied to the position.

The next thing to work on is your ability to answer some common interview questions. Instead of trying to memorize the perfect answer to each interview question, you should work to be comfortable in the question and response portion of an interview. You want to listen closely to the question, think about it to formulate an answer, and then answer effectively. A great way to prepare for an upcoming interview is to run through a mock interview with friends and family members.

Don’t forget the small details which can include dressing professionally, being authentic, and speaking with confidence.

Showcase Your Ability to Overcome Adversity

During the interview, you also want to focus on a few key aspects which will help you stand out from other candidates. One of those key aspects is your ability to overcome adversity. Every job will have its challenges, and being able to highlight previous examples of your ability to be faced with a challenge and overcome it will help you showcase your previous experience and your ability to adapt.

Speak to Your Accomplishments

The next key aspect you can do during the interview to help you stand out is to speak to your accomplishments. It’s important to remember that physical therapy employers are looking for qualified candidates who can add value. Being able to speak to your accomplishments can demonstrate your ability to provide value in the role they’re considering you for. If you’re a new grad or pursuing an entry-level position, you should strive to highlight the academic and clinical accomplishments you’ve had.

Have Prepared Questions

As the interview progresses, don’t hesitate to ask questions as they arise. Interviews present fantastic opportunities to learn more about the role, see what the day-to-day responsibilities might look like, and other important information that might not be in the job posting. Asking questions can not only help you clear up some questions you might have, but they can demonstrate your interest in the role and help you separate yourself from other candidates who appear disinterested by not asking questions.

If the interview progresses well and there aren’t many questions that came to your mind during the interview, you should also have some pre-planned interview questions to ask at the end. Some excellent questions to ask at the end of the interview can include:

  • What is your favorite thing about working for this company?
  • What would make me a successful employee in this role?
  • What are some of the biggest challenges the company is looking to solve?
  • What is the most challenging aspect of this job?

Ask for Next Steps

Once the interview begins wrapping up and you have asked relevant questions, re-affirmed your interest in the role, and have demonstrated your ability to be a good fit by providing value to the organization, make sure to ask about next steps. Asking about the next steps in the candidate evaluation process is essential in helping to understand what the timeline might look like, whether or not they need additional information from you like proof of certifications/credentialing, how many stages might be involved, and more.

In addition, asking about the next steps can help once again showcase your interest and your desire to move forward with them.

Don’t Forget to Follow-up

Once you’ve concluded the interview and you have more clarity on what the next steps might look like, don’t forget to send a follow-up email thanking them for their time and consideration. As you’re constructing the follow-up email, try to highlight something that really stuck out to you during the interview. Did they mention a particular pain point they’d like to solve by filling the role or did they mention something that they’re really looking for that you have expertise in? If so, make sure to include that in the follow-up email and re-iterate your excitement to hear back from them and move forward throughout the process.

A professional and timely follow-up can be a great way to once again touch base with them and separate yourself from other candidates who might not seem overly interested.

Build a Career with Upstream Rehabilitation

Upstream Rehabilitation and our family of brands are on the lookout for qualified professionals who are passionate about making a difference in our patients’ lives and stand out by providing exceptional care. We’re growing and seeking to fill open physical therapy positions in clinical and non-clinical roles. Upstream Rehabilitation has opportunities for new grads and seasoned professionals. We’re committed to helping our associates grow throughout their career.

Browse and apply to open physical therapy positions with Upstream Rehabilitation today!