Questions for Physical Therapist Job Interviews (With Sample Answers)
Physical therapist job interviews frequently need answers to a wide range of questions. Because of the nature of the work, some questions identify particularly specific instances and necessitate detailed responses. Interviewers want to know that you can manage common circumstances in the physical therapy industry. This article contains a collection of over 30 frequent interview questions for physical therapists, as well as sample replies.
General physical therapist interview questions
The person interviewing you will just want to get a feel of who you are and what inspires you, just like any other position in any other area. Some of the most general questions asked during a physical therapist interview are listed below:
- What inspired you to pursue a career in physical therapy?
- What do you enjoy most about your job as a physical therapist?
- Why do you believe you could be useful to our therapeutic team?
- Are you in good physical shape?
- Do you have any experience working with young people?
- Do you have any prior experience working with geriatric patients?
- Do you have any experience working with dementia patients?
- Do you consider yourself to be self-sufficient?
- Are you at ease entering other people’s homes?
- What is your strongest suit as a physical therapist?
Questions about experience and background from a physical therapist
Your previous performance, approach toward patient care, and what you accomplish could all be deciding considerations. As a result, you will most likely be asked to elaborate on your previous experience. The questions that follow are mainly focused on your previous experience as a physical therapist:
- Can you tell me about a difficult case you had in the past? What treatments did you employ?
- How do you usually keep track of a patient’s progress?
- How have you previously dealt with uncooperative patients?
- How have you dealt with disagreements with doctors or medical assistants?
- Could you explain a typical day at your previous job?
- Could you tell me about your experience with a geriatric patient?
- Have you encountered any cultural differences?
- How long have you been a physical therapist for?
- How do you keep patients motivated?
- How do you keep relatives and doctors up to speed on your progress?
Physical therapist job interview questions in depth
Being a physical therapist necessitates not just training but also the capacity to adapt to the requirements of patients and unexpected events. You should anticipate to be questioned extensively about your abilities to treat people. The following is a list of detailed questions concerning working as a physical therapist:
- What should you keep in mind when working with geriatric patients?
- How would you approach a patient with an unknown diagnosis?
- Can you describe your most difficult case?
- What would you do if a patient refused to collaborate?
- Describe a difficulty you encountered while treating someone in their home. How did you deal with it?
- Who would you see first if two patients arrived at the same time?
- Do you intend to obtain other certifications?
- What credentials do you have?
- What measures would you take in the case of a post-operative patient?
- What types of standardized tests are you familiar with?
Physical therapist interview questions and examples of responses
It is a good idea to compare some typical questions with viable solutions to provide context and inspiration for your next interview. Here are some sample responses to some often asked questions:
What types of diagnosis have you worked with before?
This question is asked by interviewers to gain a better understanding of your previous experience. Consider unusual or challenging patients who need particular treatment, as well as some of your more common situations, and offer specifics as appropriate. Discuss the therapeutic options you provided as well.
Example: “One of my most intriguing cases included a woman suffering from Parkinson’s illness. Because her tremors were most noticeable in her legs, I elected to utilize cueing exercises. She had mastered her balance concerns rather well after a few weeks. Carpal tunnel syndrome was something I saw a lot. There were a number of office workers who had this problem with their wrists. In most cases, they wore splints while resting. I employed stretching exercises for their wrists, fingers, and arms throughout therapy. I also suggested that they undertake these exercises during their lunch periods at work.”
Are you able to catch patients if they fall?
Many physical therapy patients struggle with balance. Those who are unable to catch themselves require the assistance of a therapist to avoid damage. Interviewers want to know if you’re physically capable of handling situations like this. If possible, describe an instance in which this occurred briefly.
Example: “I strive to maintain a regular fitness regimen, spending two hours a day after work at the gym. This keeps me fit enough to deal with most circumstances like this. In instance, I once worked with an elderly person who couldn’t stand on his own. During one of our drills, he tripped. Of course, I keep a tight eye on my patients during our sessions, so he fell forward into my arms rather than the floor. I was able to restrain him long enough to get him to a neighboring chair.”
Have you ever had to cope with cultural differences at work?
Many cultures address circumstances like therapy in unique ways. It is critical to respect each patient’s desires and provide concessions where needed. Consider your previous experience and recall a moment when you dealt with a similar situation.
Example: “A few years ago I had a patient who overheard a staff member talking about her religious regalia. I created a new set of cultural sensitivity norms and pitched it to management to guarantee that all patients feel comfortable and welcome. They liked the idea, and with my assistance, we had the guidelines legally incorporated and printed in the handbook within a few weeks.”
Are you at ease working alone in a patient’s private home?
Some treatment providers provide in-home services for clients who prefer to stay at home or are immobilized. Interviewers ask questions like this to ensure that candidates are comfortable in such a circumstance without rapid assistance from a senior therapist. If you have no prior experience with in-home therapy, explain how a similar situation prepared you for the role.
Example: “I’ve never worked in a private setting, but I did once treat a patient alone. It was later in the day, and her regular therapist was unavailable. Her therapist, on the other hand, informed me on some of the patient’s basic information before she departed. The patient was first nervous, as predicted. She was self-conscious about her injury, but she formed a deep bond with the other therapist. I spoke softly, smiled, and offered general encouragement. She took a deep breath and continued her routine after a few minutes.”
