Physiotherapy Interview Tips: How to present yourself in an Interview and Common Interview Questions and Answers

Introduction¹:

Preparing for an interview can be such a daunting process. You are probably looking to further yourself in your career and get that job you have always dreamed of, whether you are looking to join a busy hospital or a private practice. The questions and answers from an interview will help the employer decide if you are the best match for them, which is why you may want to do some research before you head out, ensuring you have all the answers that you feel are important to your role within the industry.

Interview Tips²:

·         Doing your research prior to an interview will reflect your preparedness, professionalism, enthusiasm and knowledge of the position
 

·         Know the location of the interview and how long it will take you to get there
 

·         Wear professional attire
 

·         Bring a copy of your resume and cover letter
 

·         Make sure you’ve done research on the employer/organization
 

·         Interviews often contain scenarios of clinical situations. Practice scenarios before the interview
 

·         Share your personal story which motivated, love or inspired you to become a physio
 

·         At the end of the interview, be sure to ask about income and benefits—if you don’t ask it will seem odd that it isn’t a matter of interest/clarification—this is your first professional job and you aren’t expected to know much about the income portion
 

·         You might want to send a follow-up thank you email or letter to those involved in the interview process

Candidacy – Are you the right fit?²

Consider P A W S when you’re telling your future employer about yourself:

Personal – who are you? Why are you interested in the position?
Academic – what academic interests do you have and how are these relevant?
Work – what relevant work/volunteer skills do you have?
Skills – do you have any transferrable or additional skills that are relevant?

·         Why are you the right person for this position?

·         What are your plans for the future in this profession?

·         What do you require from an organization you work for?

                                     Common Interview Questions

Behavioral – How would you act in a given situation?²

·         Tell me about a time you were faced with a difficult moral/ethical decision?

·         How do you deal with peers who have different approaches?

·         How do you go about planning a treatment program?

Consider S T A R  when you try to describe an experience clearly:

Situation – what happened? Who or what was involved?
Task – what was the task that needed to be accomplished?
Action – what steps did you take to accomplish the task?
Result – what was the outcome of your actions? Was the situation resolved? 

Situational – If you were faced with specific circumstances, how would you deal with them?²

·         What would you do if a patient’s family member wanted to do something that wasn’t good for the patient?

·         What would you say to a member of another professional (i.e. Doctor, OT, insurer, other profession) to give reason for physiotherapy treatment importance?

·         How would you measure your effectiveness as a physio, or as a department/clinic?

Professional Responsibility – What is your ethic on supporting & advancing your new profession?²

·         What have you done to further the profession of physiotherapy?

·         What association resources will you bring into workplace practice (webinars, journal club…)?

                Physiotherapy Interview Questions and Answers  :

Why did you become a Physiotherapist and why do you believe you are good at it?¹

This is one of the favourite questions that you can expect in any interview. The worst thing you can do is say that you have always wanted to be a physiotherapist; this doesn’t give the interviewer much information. Instead tell them how you have a passion for the job, how you enjoy relieving patients pain and working with a variety of people on a daily basis. Inform them on your assessment and communication skills.

How do you handle stress in the work place? ¹

Another favourite question which you can expect to have to answer and probably one of the most difficult questions you will get. Don’t make the mistake of claiming you never get stressed at work, everyone gets stressed at some point. Instead tell them things that have stressed you out and why, and then talk about how you resolved it. Examples can include how disorganisation stresses you out and finish on how you fixed the problem and what you did to organise the situation moving forward. You may want to mention how you struggled not being able to access patients on the ward and how you worked with the nursing staff to handle the problem.

How do you determine a treatment plan?¹

Creating a treatment plan is a very important element to your job, so expect this when answering a Physiotherapy interview question. Think carefully about this one and what is important in creating a treatment plan for each patient, mention how you ask the patient questions and assess the patient, including their overall health and mental health. Mention how you track their progress and make necessary adjustments to suit their progress. You may also mention how you see each patient as unique and each case as different, creating a plan to meet that individual’s requirements.

How do you manage obese patients?¹

Physiotherapy has become an important element when it comes to obese patients. You will want to discuss how you have an understanding for your patients and that you empathise with their situation. How you motivate them by prescribing aerobic activity based on their ability. Also discuss how you monitor their progress, starting with gradual exercise tailored to their overall health. Also factors you take into consideration when prescribing exercise, such as whether they are smokers, if they drink alcohol and their blood pressure levels.

Do you understand KSF and what is it?¹

You can mention how KSF stands for Knowledge and Skills Framework and how it’s made up of six important elements; communication, people and personal development, service improvement, health and safety, security and quality and equality and diversity. It’s a good idea to mention how this affects you and how you have taken this information to help you progress in your career.

What are your biggest challenges?¹

There are a number of challenges influencing the Physiotherapy industry. You may want to discuss the long working hours and how you deal with that or how you find that working with ward nurses is challenging and how you work with them to meet your rota.

Why do you feel note taking is important?¹

This is an opportunity for you to offer your own personal account of the importance of taking notes on your patients from their symptoms to treatments and outcomes. You can mention how your notes are important to doctors and nurses in the future, helping them identify past problems and treatments, along with any medications the patient may be taking. It also helps the team assist the patient by having all the previous information at their fingertips

Interviewee Questions:²

Asking questions during your interview shows that you know about the workplace and have given considerate thought to working there:

·         What is the culture of work place – fun, serious, religious, casual, formal, etc.?

·         What opportunities are there for mentorship?

·         What is your favourite thing about working here?

·         What is the biggest challenge working here?

                      All the best for your Interview process and Career Progression.

Best Regards,
Einstein Jerome
Physiotherapist and Research Scholar
ESIC Model Hospital & Research Institute (Ministry of Labour, Govt of India)
Executive Committee Member-Bangalore Physiotherapists Network (BPN)
Administrator- Physiotherapy Jobs Portal

Contact Details:

E-Mail: einsympt@gmail.com, info@physiotherapyjobs.co.in 
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References:

1. http://www.hclhealthcare.com/blog/physiotherapist-interview-how-to-nail-it-42901712525

2. http://www.physiotherapy.ca/Students/I-m-graduating!-Now-what/What-next-(2)\

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