Securing your first physical therapy job right after you’ve graduated and passed your PT boards can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. Whether you’re getting ready to pass your boards and planning for what’s next or you’re on the job hunt looking for your next Physical Therapy opportunity, we’ve identified several helpful tips, tricks, and strategies you can use to effectively kickstart your physical therapy career after graduation.
You don’t want to wait until the last minute to begin applying to Physical Therapy jobs. Job searches can last a while, which is why it’s important to get started as soon as you can. If you don’t have a Physical Therapy job offer on the table from one of your clinical rotations, then it’s important to start doing the groundwork it’ll take to pursue and evaluate opportunities immediately.
The first thing to do when you’re getting started is to evaluate what kind of Physical Therapy jobs you’d like to pursue. There are plenty of different locations, settings, and demographics you can choose from throughout your PT career.
There are so many exciting specialties and career options available for Physical Therapists, so it’ll take some time to figure out what you’re looking for. It’s important to narrow down your selections, as it’ll help you tailor your job search to opportunities, employers, and locations that fit what you’re looking for. During this time, you’ll want to begin researching companies that you’re interested in, including Results Physiotherapy! Research can also help you identify what kinds of additional compensation and benefits packages you’re interested in, as some employers will have more to offer than others.
Don’t wait until the last minute to get started in your PT job hunt. The earlier you get started, the faster you’ll be able to make a difference in the lives of future patients.
Another exciting thing you can do as you’re getting ready to kickstart your PT career is to determine where exactly you want to work. One of the great things about working as a Physical Therapist is that you’re entering the world of a growing profession.
As the baby boomer generation begins to fade out of the workforce and need care, Physical Therapists will be in high demand to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Over the next ten years, Physical Therapist career opportunities are expected to grow by roughly 18%. One of the great things about this massive growth is that there are going to be plenty of Physical Therapy job opportunities nationwide. As a recent Physical Therapy graduate, you’ll be able to find PT job opportunities in rural and high-growth areas, especially with fast-growing companies like Results Physiotherapy!
As you begin to evaluate different cities and states to begin your career, there are a few things to consider which could shape your decision including the cost of living, job market, population density, weather, attractions, and more!
One of the best ways to evaluate the many different locations is by creating a checklist to help you determine what’s most important to you and what you’re looking for. As you’re building your list, don’t forget to highlight important things you’re looking for in both your professional and personal life.
Check out the many locations Results Physiotherapy is actively hiring for!
Networking plays a pivotal role in identifying and solidifying those potential PT job opportunities. More than ever, companies are relying on solid referrals for positions that are available. As you begin to dip your foot in the water to evaluate potential job opportunities, you should also take the time to reach out to your fellow peers and professional connections.
Take the time to let your professional network know that you’re looking for future Physical Therapy job opportunities and you’d appreciate it if they would pass along any information they come across for companies that are hiring or that might be of interest to you.
Some great networking connections you should reach out to include some of the people you met during your student clinical rotations, the staff you’ve worked with in the past, and your peers who were with you during your PT studies. If you don’t have any references lined up for those future interviews and follow-up requests, this would also be a great time for you to reach out and see if you have people who would be willing to speak on your behalf with future employers. It’s a good idea to get several references lined up, as most employers will ask you for two to three!
In addition to reaching out to your existing professional network, consider attending some Physical Therapy conferences, events, and seminars to meet others. These conferences and networking events are great for learning about new advancements in the industry and identifying potential employers that are of interest to you and are actively hiring.
Social media can help and hurt you during your job search. Nearly every company will do a simple Google search on your name as part of the background check. The last thing you want future employers or co-workers to see is some unprofessional posts or photos. Take the time to clean and spruce up your social media profiles to make sure that you’re putting your best foot forward and you don’t have anything on there that would make an employer question whether or not to move forward with you during the interview process.
Some important social media profiles that you should work to clean up include Facebook, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Nearly all social media platforms now have a job search or job feed component, but LinkedIn still reigns as the top platform for building out a professional profile to network and present to other professionals.
Spruce up your social media profiles so you can entice potential employers who are actively looking to fill open Physical Therapy positions.
Filling out job applications means that you’ll be submitting both your cover letter and resume to potential employers. Take the time to update your resume and cover letter to make sure that they’re updated with all of the proper credentials, licenses, education, and experience to present to future employers. As a Physical Therapy graduate, you’ll be able to add a few new important items to your resume, so make sure you take the time to include them before beginning to send out your resume.
Interviews give you a unique opportunity to showcase to future employers why they should consider you over other candidates. Whether you’re interviewing in person or attending a virtual job fair, you need to set aside some time to prep for future interviews.
One of the best things you can do to prepare for future interviews and set yourself up for success is to make sure you’ve got all the bases covered. Make sure you’ve got your elevator pitch ready, an interesting story that highlights your passion for Physical Therapy, and you’ve got unique questions to ask the interviewer.
Before you start interviewing, you’ll want to run through some mock interviews with friends and family. Interview butterflies can creep up on everybody, so it’s a good idea to take some time to practice so you can feel a little bit more prepared for some of those hard-hitting interview questions.
Asking your friends and family to run through some mock interview questions will also give you a chance to get some critical feedback so you can see which areas you can improve upon.
Results Physiotherapy is expanding and we’re always on the lookout for qualified Physical Therapists who are eager to make a difference in our patient’s lives. We’ve got positions available for both clinical and non-clinical roles in hundreds of clinics across the country. As you’re looking to kickstart your Physical Therapy career, consider Results Physiotherapy and apply to our open job postings, we’d love to connect with you!
