Physical Therapy Interview Advice: Things To Do Before And After Your Interview

You can't really explain that feeling when you get an email saying, "You've been invited to a physical therapy interview day!" You'll start to get butterflies and be really nervous, but that's totally normal. You have worked SO hard to get to this step in your pre-PT journey, and you DESERVE IT! Now, it's your time to shine and show that PT program why you deserve to hold a seat in their class.

PT programs invite applicants to interviews because they really want to know what type of person you are and how you might fit into their program. Each program has their own "style," and they really want to see if it's a good fit for you too. They want to see how you present yourself (especially in a stressful situation), how you dress, and how you communicate with others. It may not seem like it, but PT programs do look at the little things too! Here are a few things that you can do before and after your physical therapy interview to help put you in the best position to get into PT school:

1. Do your research on the PT program

Don't be "that person" that asks questions during a Q&A about things you can easily access on the program's website. Look up their mission statement, the NPTE % pass rate, their program curriculum, how the program gets involved in the community, and how many students are in a class. Look to see if the program participates in any pro bono clinics, if they have tuition waivers/scholarships, or even any research opportunities! Know their website inside and out, and be prepared to ask questions for anything you can't find online!

Completing this first step will show that you are really interested in the program and did your research ahead of time. You may even get a question during your interview about the mission statement of the school/PT program, so it's always good to be prepared!

2. Bring an updated resume

If you're looking for a way to stand out as an applicant at a physical therapy interview, this is the way to do it. Giving your resume (printed on resume paper!) to your interviewer(s) will show your professionalism and it might even be a conversation starter! The interviewer can get to know you on a personal level which will leave a lasting impression in their mind. Don't be afraid to make yourself stand out!

3. Shake your interviewer(s) hand before and after the interview

I'm sure you have heard that a handshake is an important part of any interview. It sets the tone! Start your physical therapy interview strong- look them in the eye, introduce yourself, and give them a firm handshake. Before you leave the interview, make sure that you let your interviewer know that you were thankful for their time and enjoyed your conversation!

4. Send out thank you emails/cards

While you are interviewing with the PT program, I would suggest asking for a business card, or writing down the name of each person you interviewed with. This will help you down the road when you get ready to write your thank you cards/emails to those individuals.Sending a "thank you" to those who interviewed with you is a nice gesture. It shows that you genuinely cared about the time you spent with them and it shows that you're going above and beyond what most applicants do. 

When you send your thank you notes, it can be as simple as saying, "I want to thank you for your time during the physical therapy interview day I attended on ____ . I enjoyed our conversation about _____ and enjoyed _____ about the program the most." This is a general outline, but make your note sweet and to the point. Now, you don't have to do this in order to be accepted into PT school, however, it's really a nice gesture to those who took the time to speak with you.

You are going to CRUSH IT on your physical therapy interview! Don't forget to be yourself and everything else will fall into place! 

Thank You For Your Attention!

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