For many qualified individuals, the hardest part about securing a new job can be the interview. Hence, this edition of PT Reading Corner features Cracking the Code to a Successful Interview by Evan Pellet. This book is a fantastic resource which provides job seekers with an eight-step process in order to be successful during interviews, as well as fifteen insider secrets from a top recruiter.
Whether you’re a new grad or a seasoned physiotherapist, we’ll take a look at some of the key takeaways that you can use for your next interview:
1. Preparation
In order to be successful during interviews, you need to invest time to thoroughly prepare for the interview. One of the simplest ways to do this is to know the names and the backgrounds of the people who are going to be interviewing you. In the physiotherapy profession and specifically in private practice, this tends to be either the clinic director or the owner of the company in smaller clinics. In larger chains, you could be interviewed by an HR representative in addition to the positions previously mentioned. Information regarding the individual can often be found on LinkedIn or the company website, which tends to contain a brief summary of team personnel. Additionally, you should know the company’s mission statement and its values to understand how you will fit into the culture in the workplace. This will also indicate to the person interviewing you that you have done your homework.
You must also prepare to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. Often, employers look for the presence of soft skills like efficient communication, active listening and ability to deal with conflict. These skills come in handy especially for physiotherapists who deal with people and their issues on a daily basis.
2. Results, Energy and Attitude Matter!
Before you walk into the interview, it is important to summarize a brief list of your accomplishments. After all, results are what will differentiate you from the other candidates that will be interviewed. Determine six achievements that you’ve had which you can list in a minute or two. These should be just facts that are presented to the point. As a therapist, you can present some of the metrics you have been tracking in your patient care like patient visit average, PT utilization rate and percentage of cancellations. This demonstrates your awareness of the business operations and presents a summary of your previous work load and retention rates.
Being energetic and enthusiastic are vital from the beginning of the interview. Being charismatic (within reason) and passionate indicates that you care about the opportunity that is being presented to you, and that you are committed to keeping the hiring manager’s attention. The person who is interviewing you is evaluating how pleasant it is to communicate with you. Show them what you are capable of and rock the whole interviewing process!
Finally, it is important to maintain a positive and calm attitude throughout the interview. If you get flustered with tough questions about a specific patient presentation or clinical scenario, it is still crucial to maintain an optimistic outlook. This serves as an important building block in the growth mindset, which is imperative to be successful in an interview.
Overall, this book provides wonderful insight regarding the interview process along with the insider tips. It also serves as a useful tool regarding advice on career change, writing effective résumés and being an excellent employee. We, at PT Business Corner, highly recommend Cracking the Code, a well-structured and comprehensive book for those looking to be successful in locking down the job of their dreams!
