Finding Your First Job as a Physical Therapist

(Video1) Step 1: Where Should You Apply? 

  • WHERE ARE YOU GOING? Some of you might want to go back home to be closer to family. Some of you might be moving to the city your significant other lives in. Some of you might have loved an internship so much that you want to work there. Some of you might be going to a new and crazy place. That’s all fine. 
    • But obviously you have to figure that part out first. Some people might feel like they should go where the ideal PT job is…but to be honest there are PT jobs ALL OVER THE PLACE. 
    • It’s a little overwhelming to just start looking for available PT jobs for any state, any city. Make it easier on yourself…FIGURE OUT the WHERE.
  • Once you know the region, city, etc…start looking up available PT jobs. Look up “physical therapy jobs in ____” on google. Indeed.com and glassdoor.com often have a lot of positions available.
  • And if it’s an option for you, don’t pick your housing situation until you know where you are going to work. 
    • Choose to live a little closer to where you decide to work, rather than work close to where you live. If you do the latter, you might say no to the better option simply because you have to travel further…and that’s not a great way to make decisions.
  • FOLLOW YOUR PASSION
    • Pick a setting based on your passions: Go for what you’re most passionate about. Ortho? Neuro? Outpatient? In-patient? What struck your interest most during your internships? You may have a ton of interests, and that’s okay. But reflect on what stood out to you the most during your time as a student and let that guide you.
    • This might change during your first year as a practicing PT…that’s okay!. It’s natural for you to be figuring out what you are passionate about in that first year or 2.
  • INVESTIGATE
    • Use your resources in the area: If you know PTs in the area you are moving to who may have advice about good PT companies…LISTEN to them.
    •  I had an advantage because I did an internship in Baltimore as a student, so when I returned to work here for my first year I naturally checked out the same company (which has several clinics in the area). I found a couple openings and I asked my past CI about his opinion on these companies which lead me to apply to where I work today. You see, even though he worked at another location, PTs  in this clinic cover at other clinics all the time so he had valuable information regarding what kind of a clinic it was, who the supervisor and regional director were, and if they were good. 

(Video 2) Step 2: The Interview

  • INTERVIEW TIPS: 
  • Tip 1: KNOW THEM, BEFORE THEY KNOW YOU. Look at their website, what is their mission statement? What do they specialize in? How many PTs work there? How old is this clinic or hospital?
    • This will help you come up with more specific questions about the position
    • **Not only are they interviewing you, but you are interviewing THEM. Show them that you did your research.
  • Tip 2: YOUR QUESTIONS. 
    • Important questions to ask:
      • How many patients would I typically see in a day? I made my limit at 12. And in my opinion, if any clinic has you regularly seeing much more than that, you are setting yourself up for BURNOUT. BE CAREFUL. 
      • Is there mentorship? What does it look like?
      • Ask them how available they are for questions and advice on a patient’s POC.
      • Ask what their goals are for the companies growth. 
  • Tip 3: THEIR QUESTIONS 
    • This will vary from place to place, but here is a starting point.
    • Your toughest experience with a patient and how you handled it.
      • Take time beforehand to really think about those tough patients you had as a student…think of a mean one, an anxious one, a fearful one. Have several examples in your head and write them down on a notepad if you need a memory jogger during the interview. 
    • Your toughest experience with a co-worker and how you handled it.
      • Maybe you didn’t have a bad interaction during an internship, but take time to think about if you did. If you did not, think about jobs outside of PT (after all, this is your first job as a PT so you may need to tap into prior experiences before interning). Again, write several examples down. Who was mean, demeaning, uncooperative, a bad team player…and how did you handle it? If you feel like you didn’t handle it well, say how you could have handled it better and how. 
    • Weaknesses…be honest. Don’t pretend you are perfect. What were common obstacles you faced in the clinic as as student? Documentation is a common thing to say, maybe it’s developing more confidence in performing an evaluation. But maybe try to say something that stands out a little more such as “I want to learn how to get a patient to trust me and the profession on day 1”, or “When a patient hates exercising, I know I have more to learn on how to get that patient to buy in”, or “I noticed CIs often had really unique ways of explaining a diagnosis to patients and I want to learn how to do the same thing.” Maybe add in “I’m hoping you can help me grow in those areas.”
    • Strengths…be confident in your strengths! What did CI’s compliment you on during internships? Those are strengths. Give yourself credit. Don’t hold back. Even if that strength was more neuro based and your applying for an ortho position, bring up any strengths. 
  • Tip 4: SHOW THEM YOU ARE AN ASSET. 
    • Add what you could offer to help the company grow…maybe it’s an ortho clinic and you have experience with the neuro population…ask them if they are open to you helping to bring in these new populations to the clinic. Employers get excited to see someone who wants to help the company GROW.
  • Tip 5: Be polite, kind, and CONFIDENT. Yeah, you’re a newby. Everyone knows it. But that doesn’t mean you have to act like your clueless. Be clear in the way you talk, make eye contact, and be prepared. 

(Video 3) Step 3: Which Job Do You Take?

  • OBSERVE them before taking the job: See if you can observe/shadow before taking the job! This will give you a chance to ask other PTs what the workplace is like, how the supervisor is, what mentorship looks like, etc. And pay attention to how that PT is acting…do they look happy? Do they seem exhausted? Do they promote their workplace? What did you think of the quality of Tx they were giving their patients? Ask them how many patients they see on average in a typical day (was it the same number the employer gave you?). 
  • REFLECT When you walk out of the clinic, take time to reflect on what the experience was like. Did they make you feel comfortable? Did they ask you good questions? Did they seem interested in YOU being a good fit for the company? Do you feel you are a good fit?
  • GET SEVERAL INTERVIEWS – Never only do one. Even if you are not sure about your interest in a clinic, try to get several interviews. It will be good practice and you will learn something during each interview to help you do better at the next one. Plus you never know how you will feel after leaving an interview. You might think the first one sounded great, but then the 2nd or 3rd interview might be even better.
    • If you feel stuck. Get advice from PTs who you trust who are ahead of you in the profession. It can be helpful to have someone else’s input to help you make a wise decision. 
  • Negotiating
    • Don’t ask about the income right off the bat. That looks bad and you don’t want them to feel that is all you are interested in. BUT, don’t leave an interview without asking about income and benefits. Those are important questions to ask.
    • And don’t be afraid to negotiate benefits or a salary when you are offered a job. Just because you are a new grad, doesn’t mean a company won’t give you a little extra. Especially if they really want you. And even more so if after offering you a job, you let them know you are deciding between them and one or two other positions. Now they know they have competition.
    • Be realistic, but don’t be afraid to ask. At worst, your request will be turned down. Whatever. As long as you were professional and realistic, they won’t think less of you for asking for more. Do some research online and ask other PTs in the company or in the area who you may know what average pay is for new PTs. That way you aren’t way out of line with a salary request.
  • My personal experience
  • Sometimes you can feel like you landed the perfect job…and it’s not. Remember that you are NEVER stuck. No matter what, there is some stress when starting a new job (new documentation system, getting to know the people you work with, over thinking every little thing that you do, etc).
  • If the job you land makes you unhappy, miserable, or makes you feel burnt out…GET OUT. Don’t let a crappy PT job ruin your love for the profession.
  • I’d say give any job 2-3 months. If there are issues, verbalize them to your supervisor immediately. Give them a chance to make things more comfortable or to give you the support you need to flourish. If after reaching out several times…you are still miserable, overworked, or feel like you are lost and without the proper mentorship or guidance…why would you stay there? If your supervisor is annoyed everytime that you ask them a question, they are going to be like that whether you stay 3 months or 12…so why do that to yourself?
  • I’m all about trying to stick it out for a year or 2 with the same company because it looks good and can be really rewarding to get and give all you can over a longer period of time. But do that with a GOOD clinic. Not a terrible one.  Again, it’s not worth losing your love and passion for PT all because you tried to stick it out with a company that never had your best interest in mind. You are worth more than that. There are employers out there that will really help you grow and flourish. Find them. Go there.