Launching Your PT Career: PT Job Interview Tips
This is the first blog post in Rizing Tide’s new series about launching your PT career and landing the right PT role for you. Stay tuned for upcoming posts on evaluating job benefits, choosing the right specialty, advancing your career and more.
You’ve just accomplished something spectacular. As a fresh DPT graduate, you’ve conquered the gauntlet that is PT school, passed the NPTE, and now you’re ready to take the first major step of your career—finding your first PT job. But with so many potential employers to choose from, the overwhelm sets in. How will you find the right fit—and if you do, how can you ensure you get the job?
The answer to both of those questions lies in the interview stage. During the interview stage, you can flaunt your stuff while also digging into the details of a job opportunity, helping you find a practice that supports your growth and aligns with your values.
In this blog post, we’ll focus on key interviewing tips for new PT grads, including what to do, what to avoid, and what questions to ask in an interview, so you can confidently assess your options. These tips come right from the source; we sat down with experts Kenji Carp, PT, OCS, ATC, founder, owner, and clinical director at Cooperative Performance and Rehabilitation, and Craig Harbert, talent acquisition partner at MedStar Health. Both Kenji and Craig not only have extensive experience in physical therapy but also regularly conduct interviews. They know exactly what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to setting new grads up for success.
How to Prepare for an Interview
Any home cook worth their salt knows that marinating a steak before throwing it on the grill will elevate the whole meal. Think of your interview skills like a steak. Give them a little prep before they hit the fire, and the end result will blow peoples’ minds.
Know Your Résumé—and Don’t Fudge the Details
Your résumé is important. It’s your first impression—and if it doesn’t match what employers see when you finally meet face-to-face, they’ll take note.
“Avoid inconsistency between your resume and what you’re talking about in the interview,” Carp says. “For example, if somebody had listed their first work experience with seven bullet points about skills and everything they did, but they couldn’t really tell me about a specific case, that would be bad.”
But don’t take that as a sign to avoid putting details on your résumé. Hiring managers do appreciate knowing more about your previous experience.
Harbert suggests this: “On your résumé, as you list your clinical rotations, go into depth about how many patients you saw, your EMR system, etcetera. Your résumé is telling a story. It gives you an opportunity to show that progression and that growth before you actually get into the field.”
Research the Practice and Know What They’re About
Before your interview, research the practice’s mission, patient care philosophy, and any special programs they offer. This will help you decide if an org’s values align with your own.
“There are going to be a lot of opportunities for you as a physical therapist as it’s a great profession,” Harbert says. “But it’s more about finding that position that really aligns with your goals and what you’re looking to accomplish.”
Prepare Thoughtful Questions
There’s usually one given at the end of every interview—the cold-sweat-inducing moment when the interviewer asks “do you have any questions for me?” The tip here is to figure out what you need as a new grad and ask if the clinic provides it. But Carp suggests going a step beyond the basics.
“Everyone is going to say they have comprehensive healthcare,” Carp says. “A great question people should ask is: ‘well what does that mean?’ Because if your deductible is actually $7,000, that’s not really what we’d call a comprehensive health plan at my practice. We find a lot of people have no idea the difference between a really large deductible and a really reasonable one like ours. It’s good to come in with those detailed questions. It’ll let you really compare offers.”
Mentorship
This advice rings especially true when it comes to mentorship programs. Harbert and Carp agree that while many clinics say they offer mentorship, what that looks like on the day-to-day is wildly different.
“In our organization, with having a larger network, we have resources to pull people out to assist new grads, mentor, and actually give support.” Harbert says. “Sometimes at smaller practices or clinics, there’s only so much time in the day and only so much bandwidth.”
Carp’s clinic also offers mentorship: “We just hired a new PTA and every week they have four different scheduled mentoring blocks. You need to clarify what mentoring really means to that clinic because, especially for new grads, I feel like mentoring is a really big piece of starting out in your career.”
Harbert also suggests diving even deeper down the research rabbit hole: “As you go through the interview process, dig deeper. One tip would be to reach out on LinkedIn to a graduate who is working for the company you’re considering, and ask about the mentorship they received. Use your program and those networking connections from the PT community to get a feel for what they experienced.”
Interview Do’s: How to Ace an Interview
Do Customize Your Answers
Researching a clinic or organization before your interview is important to determining fit—but it will also help you tailor your answers to the job opportunity. You can really stand out by highlighting aspects of your résumé and treatment style that align with the employer’s values and needs.
“Read what they’re putting out to the public about what they do and who they are, but don’t just parrot it back,” Carp says. “Yeah, we know you can read the website. Think about how that relates to you.”
Harbert also suggests hitting on value alignment: “We’re looking for individuals who have that same mentality—that we’re in healthcare and we’re here to make a difference in people’s lives, as well as an openness and willingness to really come in and learn more. There’s always room to learn. Whether you have one year or a hundred years of experience, I think that separates you from other individuals who might be considered for a position.”
Do Follow Up and Stay in Touch
Sometimes all it takes to secure a position is to stay top-of-mind with the hiring manager. “If you are interested in the position and the interview went really well, send a thank you to the director you talked to in the interview process,” Harbert says. “See if you can come back and shadow. Let them know you are interested in the position, because that followup shows that you’re going to follow up with your patients. It reiterates your interest. A lot of these directors, they’re not just interviewing candidates—they’re treating, they’re managing facilities and departments, and so just a simple thank you note for their time and their consideration can go a long way in making sure that you’re selected over somebody else.”
Interview Don’t’s: How to Fumble an Interview
Don’t Interview for Jobs You Have No Interest In
As a new grad, you probably don’t have your whole career path plotted out—and that’s okay! Employers know that you’re in a stage of exploration, learning, and growth. That said, just because you’re open to many different types of roles, you should still have some interest in the roles you are applying for.
“It’s not a bad thing to interview for multiple positions or in different settings,” says Harbert. “You might’ve enjoyed every clinical rotation you had and are still trying to figure out what’s right for you—and that’s perfectly fine. But when you’re in the interview process, make sure you’re speaking specifically about the setting you’re applying for and showing genuine interest in that role.”
Don’t Bring an Attitude
Nothing can make or break an interview quite like your mood. During an interview, employers aren’t just evaluating your skills—they’re also paying close attention to how you carry yourself, respond to challenges, and reflect on your experiences. A positive, growth-oriented attitude communicates resilience, adaptability, and professionalism. These qualities can set you apart in a competitive job market.
Kenji says this: “As an interviewer, one quality I’m really on the lookout for is a negative outlook. Take grit, for example, we all face challenges, even scholarship winners and high achievers. Many of them are likely among the top one-to-three students in their PT class—but they’ve still experienced real setbacks. The difference is in how they tell their story. It’s important to acknowledge challenges, but focusing too much on the negatives can come across poorly in an interview. You want to show resilience, not pessimism.”
Your PT interview is the perfect time to flaunt your skills—but it’s also the best time to assess if a practice is the right fit for you. By following these interview tips and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll be better prepared to make an informed decision that supports your career growth and professional happiness.
At Rizing Tide, we’re here to guide you in making thoughtful, informed decisions as you embark on this exciting career journey. In our upcoming posts, we’ll dive deeper into evaluating job benefits, choosing the right specialty, and advancing your career as a PT. Stay tuned, and continue taking the necessary steps to build the fulfilling, rewarding career you deserve! Happy job hunting!
