Once you’ve completed physical therapy school and successfully passed your PT board examination, the next step is to begin applying to and interviewing for physical therapy job opportunities. Upstream Rehabilitation and our family of brands are always on the lookout for professionals who are passionate about helping our patients get back to doing the things they love most through physical therapy. We’re growing rapidly and are hiring for clinical and non-clinical positions across the country, take a look at our physical therapy job postings.
Getting ready for an upcoming physical therapy job interview can be stressful, but we’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and tricks to help you put your best foot forward and feel confident going into your next interview.
How to Prepare for a Physical Therapy Job Interview
Physical therapy job interviews often have multiple parts, which is why we’ve outlined some of the key tips and tricks you can use for multiple stages during the interview process including phone interviews, in-person interviews, and knowledge/skill assessments.
Set Aside Enough Time Before, During, and After The Phone Interview
One of the best things that can help you get off to a great start in your interview is to make sure that you’ve set aside enough time to conduct the interview. Make sure to set aside fifteen minutes before and after the interview, in addition to an hour for the interview itself. It’s always a good idea to make sure you’ve set aside some time before and after in case the interview starts early or runs long.
In addition, having a few minutes before the interview can give you the opportunity to do some last-minute preparation, calm your nerves, and get in the right mindset for an important job interview. After the completion of the phone interview, it can be a good idea to have a few minutes to yourself where you can take some notes on how the phone conversation went, write down anything you need to follow up on, and highlight questions or concerns that came up after you got off the phone. If you advance to the next stage of the physical therapy interview process, taking the time to write down these notes will help you as you progress through the evaluation process and give you another opportunity to learn more about the organization and the role.
Eliminate Distractions for the Phone Interview
Another key thing you can do to set yourself up for success and to create a good impression is to do your best to eliminate distractions that might pop up during the interview. This includes turning off your computer’s audio to mute those notifications that might come in, closing your door so outside distractions don’t echo, and scheduling your phone interview when you can set aside a block of time to adequately prepare and avoid other types of unnecessary disruptions.
Do Your Research
Researching the company before your interview can be one of the key elements of what separates you apart from other candidates. Many applicants and job seekers will choose to go into the job interview blind, but taking the time to research the company, learn about the organization, and identify the company culture can be instrumental in standing out from the crowd in your next interview.
In addition, you can learn about plenty of exciting things which can include career growth opportunities, industry trends, and new company initiatives. Doing your research before the interview can also help you with any questions or concerns you might have for the company or the position itself.
At Upstream Rehabilitation, we’re the largest pure-play provider of outpatient physical therapy in the United States and we’re growing every single day with over a thousand clinics. We’re passionate about our patients and are committed to investing in our associates.
Are you considering a career in physical therapy? If so, we’re rapidly growing and hiring for clinical and non-clinical positions across our family of brands. Search and apply for jobs at Upstream Rehabilitation!
Dress Appropriately
Whether you’re doing an in-person interview or a remote interview, you always want to dress to impress and look your best. Dressing appropriately for an interview is a simple thing that can have a lasting impact on the impression you create for the interviewers. If you’re concerned about what you should wear, feel free to reach out to the interviewer and ask what they would recommend. The night before the interview, take some time to select and set your clothes aside so you don’t have to worry about scrambling at the last minute as you prepare for the interview.
Update Your Resume and Have It Nearby
Make sure your resume is updated. If you’re interviewing for physical therapy positions, make sure you’ve included your clinical rotations, recent certifications, and updated the dates for your education. Make sure you’ve reviewed and updated the basics which include your contact information and have proofread everything to avoid common errors and mistakes. It can be a good idea to have your resume nearby so you can reference it or quickly browse it while the interviewer is speaking to a certain section.
Prepare To Answer Common Interview Questions
Take the time to prepare for some common interview questions that might come up. Some of the most common questions can include your reasoning for applying to the position, sharing a little bit about yourself, and what interested you in the physical therapy profession.
Ask Friends or Family Members for a Mock Interview
Interviews can be a stressful experience and often take a great deal of practice to become accustomed to them. A good idea for your next physical therapy interview is to ask friends or family members to perform a mock interview with you. These mock interviews can not only help you prepare for the interview, but can also help you calm your nerves, see what your weaknesses might be when answering questions, and get outside feedback.
Have Some Prepared Questions
Be prepared to have some questions before the interview. Some of these questions might be answered for you as you go through the interview process, and others might still be unanswered that you need additional clarification on when the time comes. Your pre-interview research can be a helpful tool in identifying which questions you need to ask and seek further clarification on.
Be Confident!
Be optimistic before and during your interview. Think positive thoughts and you’ll do well during the interview. You’ve worked hard to get to the interview stage and you’re finally there, so don’t be afraid to be proud of what you’ve accomplished up until this point and be confident in your ability to perform well during the interview.
Ask for Next Steps
Once you’ve completed the interview, make sure you ask what the next steps are. Asking for the next steps and what the future candidate evaluation stages might be will help reduce some of the anxiety that can stem from the job search process. In addition, you can learn more about what the timeline looks like and what you can expect over the course of the next several stages.
Follow-Up
Don’t forget to follow up after the interview. Sending a follow-up email can be a great way to thank the interviewer for their time, consideration, and give you another opportunity to ask questions that you had after the interview.
Elevate Your Physical Therapy Career with Upstream Rehabilitation and our Family of Brands
Upstream Rehabilitation and our family of brands are always on the lookout for qualified talent who are passionate about helping our patients. Ready to make a difference in your physical therapy career with an Upstream career? We’re rapidly growing and looking to hire talent in our physical therapy clinics across the country. Take a look at some of the physical therapy job opportunities we have and choose Upstream Rehabilitation as your next PT career destination.
Browse and apply to our open job postings at Upstream Rehabilitation and our family of brands!
