6 Tips to succeed at physiotherapy job interview.

After going through the struggle of job searching and application process, it is exciting to be called for a physiotherapy job interview. At the same time, it can be stressful if you don’t know what to do next. In this article today let’s look at some of the tips to crack your physiotherapy job interview like a pro. 

#1 Preparation is the key!

No matter if you are a new graduate or an experienced professional, it is imperative that you prepare thoroughly. This is one of the biggest mistakes many experienced physiotherapists make. It is easy to think that “oh, I have been working as a PT for so many years, I know my work and what it entails.” 

As much as professional knowledge is important, there are other factors you should be taking into consideration. In case of many organizations, even before they ask you questions about your professional skills, there is a behavioral interview round. In other words, HR round. During this round, candidates are usually asked questions such as “Give us an example when you dealt with a difficult patient” “How did you manage conflicts at work?” “What are your strengths/ weaknesses?” “ Why are you interested in working with us?” and many more. 

If asked, you should be able to answer all these questions. Even though you may have handled conflicts efficiently in the past; you need to be able to frame the answers correctly and promptly during the interview. When asked on the spot, given the stress of the interview, you might not be able to think of a situation when you handled the conflicts. 

Apart from that, gather all the required documents. This includes your resume, cover letter and other documents listed by your employer. Also brush up on your professional knowledge and confirm that you know all your basics. 

#2 Research about your employer

During the job interview, the least that employers expect is you to be interested in their organization. So research about them online. Find out what their mission and vision is. What type of patients they see. What do they specialize in? What makes them unique?

You can reach out to the company employees on LinkedIn. Ask them questions about the type of work involved, what they think about the company and company culture. If you make meaningful enough connections, you can also ask for the interview tips. 

If possible, go ahead and research the interviewer. Read  about their career path, their interests. It will be helpful information for you to establish a rapport with the interviewer. Connect with them on LinkedIn and know a little more about their professional journey. 

Researching about the company, its people, company culture gives you a better idea of what your future may look like at the company.  You can determine if company vision aligns well with your vision for the future. This information can come in handy when you are deciding to accept a job offer.  

#3 Don’t rush to answer questions during physiotherapy job interview. 

When you are at the interview, it is important to keep a calm head. Try to get enough sleep the night before. Go over your preparation one last time. Make sure to carry all the required documents. Reach the interview site well in advance. If you are rushing to get to the place or you arrive late; you might not have enough mental focus required to answer interview questions calmly. 

During the interview, do not rush to answer the question. Make sure you understand the question correctly. Even if they ask you the exact question you prepared for; take a pause for a few seconds. Gather your thoughts and then start answering. 

If you need some time to think of an answer use some of the following strategies. 

• Request the interviewer to repeat the question; when they are repeating, think of an answer. 
• Take a sip of water; think while doing that.
• Be straight forward and ask for a moment to gather your thoughts

#4 Keep your personal brag sheet ready.

When preparing for the interview, make a list of all your achievements. Include all your professional achievements; big and small. I like to call it a personal brag sheet. 

During the interview, your interviewer is assessing what you can bring to the table. How can you contribute towards the growth of the company?. It is fundamental to let your interviewer know about your strengths. Highlight your accomplishments.  Make sure to tell them how you contributed to your last company. 

Do not show off and do not make false statements. If you don’t think anything that is mention-able, it is okay. Many times, willingness to learn can be your biggest USP.

#5 Be ready with your questions

Most of the employers will ask if you have any questions for them. Please don’t say “no”. I repeat, never say no! This is a part of the interview to gauge your interest in their company. Also, based on the questions you ask, the interviewer is gathering an idea about your personality. 

When you are preparing for the interview, prepare for some of the questions you would ask. Be ready with more than one question. If they go over one of your questions during the interview, you will have other questions to ask. 

Some of the questions you can ask are “What will be the typical day of work for me” “What is the typical career path for this position?” “What are the department goals for this year?”

There are certain things you should avoid doing when asking. 

• Don’t ask about the salary, benefits during the first round of the interview. 
• Don’t ask personal questions to the interviewer
• Don’t ask too many questions. ( Although, make sure to clear all your doubts before signing the job offer.) 

#6 Follow up effectively after your physiotherapy job interview

First of all, end the interview on a clear note regarding the next steps. Confirm with the interviewer if they will get back to you or should you reach out to them with some additional information. 

Soon after your interview or the next day, send a thank you email to your interviewer. Thank the interviewer for taking the time out to interview you. Make sure to mention the thing that you liked about the company. In one or two sentences mention what you can bring to the table. And tell them that you are looking forward to working with them, if that is the case. 

If you don’t hear back from them, send a follow up email after one week. Sending a follow up email earlier than that may come across as desperate. Also your interviewer needs time to interview all the candidates to make the final decision. 

If you are rejected, you can ask for their feedback regarding your interview. Even though you are not selected, you can make the most out of the time you spent at the interview. You will know mistakes you made. That way you can prepare better for your next interview. Use this experience as a lesson. 

All of these tips are easier said than done. I understand that the process can be overwhelming. Not knowing what to do next can be daunting. 

My goal is to help PT students and professionals navigate through their career! I know making a career decision is intimidating. But, there are so many physiotherapists out there in India, who are doing so well! So can you! I believe in you!

If you need more help with your PT career, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn, Instagram or fill out my contact us form.