Interviewing is one of the things most grad school programs don’t really prepare you for out in the field. You can be the most knowledgeable and engaging physical therapist, but if you don’t know how to respond to certain types of interview questions, you may be passed up for another candidate. Your interview skills will help you find a professional home that sets you up for a successful physical therapy career.

This article outlines five types of questions you should prepare to answer during a physical therapy job interview. Each one is broken down into a few specific examples.

What questions should I prepare for in a physical therapy interview?

When you’re hunting for physical therapy jobs, interviewers will typically ask questions about you, your approach to the job and why you’ll be a great asset to their team. Be prepared to talk about your life and hobbies outside of work as well as your physical therapy background and experience. They’ll likely ask you to tell a few stories, with prompts that begin with, “Tell me about a time when …” Think of several different situations that show off your skills and your approach to challenges at work.

5 types of questions you should prepare to answer during a physical therapy job interview

Hiring managers will want to know that you’re a friendly, approachable person their patients and their team want to work with. They’ll want to know how you deal with stress and get a glimpse of your approach to problem-solving. One of the most important questions they’ll ask is how you’ll benefit their company once you’re hired. This should show them why you’re the obvious choice over others in the applicant pool.

Think of your answers to the following questions ahead of time so you’ll be ready for a great physical therapy job interview:

• “Tell me about yourself”

Your answers to these introductory questions should tell your interviewers a bit about why you chose to become a physical therapist. They’re also an important point in the job application process for relationship building. You can talk about some of your special skills and interests here, but a great employer will want to get to know you as a person. Share a few details about your family, your pets and your hobbies, but don’t spend too much time explaining yourself. They’ll ask about the important points, so save your best highlights for later in the interview.

Here are a few examples:

• Why did you choose physical therapy as a career path?
• What are some of your long-term career goals?
• What areas of physical therapy are you interested in? Are there specific patient groups you like working with?
• What are some things you like to do for fun?
  
• “Tell me about your approach to physical therapy”

This is where you can start to demonstrate your skills and experience. Give them a preview of how you’ll handle different situations. If you’ve done your research by looking at their online presence, you can tailor your answers to show why you’ll fit in with their company culture. Take a look at the About page on their website and their social media.

They may ask you the following:

• What’s your approach to creating treatment plans?
• How do you encourage patients to “do their homework”?
• How do you assess your patients’ progress?
• How do you stay aware of new physical therapy technology and treatments?
• “Tell me about a time when …”

You’ll have to think back to some situations where you’ve done your best work. Be ready to talk about challenges in a way that shows you’ve learned from past mistakes. Use the STAR method to prepare your answers: This stands for situation, task, action and result. Set up the situation and talk about the task presented to you. Explain your thought process and the action you chose to take, and then finish with the end result. Anywhere you can add metrics and numbers to quantify your answers, try to do so.Here are a few variations to prepare for:

• Tell me about one of your best patient success stories.
• Tell me about a challenge you faced in your last position and how you overcame it.
• Tell me about a conflict you’ve had with a co-worker and how you found a solution.
• “What were some sources of stress in your past positions and how did you deal with them?”

Careers in health care come with a good amount of stress. Employers will want you to be frank and honest about how you’ve dealt with stress in past positions. Show that you can go above and beyond while minding your limits and caring for your own well-being.

• “Why would you make a good addition to our team?”

This is something interviewers in every field want to know. Talk about why you think you’ll thrive in their environment and what you can deliver for the company. This is another place where numbers and metrics are helpful.

Here are some specific questions they could ask:

• Why are you the best choice for our next hire?
• How do you contribute as a team player?

Take the next step in your physical therapy career at Lattimore PT

Almost everyone gets the jitters before a physical therapy job interview. It means you’re human, and it’s a good sign that you care about the opportunity. In addition to preparing yourself for potential interview questions, you can also try other strategies ahead of time to ease your nerves just before you walk in. Whether it’s some deep breathing or movement to loosen up any tension, experiment to find out what works for you.

Do you love taking a hands-on approach to finding effective treatments for every patient? Are you looking for a professional environment that’s empowering and positive? Explore career opportunities at Lattimore PT. We’re always on the lookout for new team members.

Best of luck with your job search!