Every job interview is different. You’re applying to a variety of companies with different cultures that have unique expectations. But when you’re looking for a position in one specific field, such as physical therapy, there’s bound to be some commonalities between the interviews. You can use those commonalities in your favor by knowing what to expect when you accept a job interview invite.
When you’re applying for a doctor of physical therapy position, or DPT, it’s important to remember that every company has the same goal: to improve their patients’ overall quality of life that has been impacted by injuries or medical conditions. That means that every question will help the employer determine how your experience and personality will help their patients work toward their short- and long-term physical goals.
We understand that it can be a bit nerve-wracking to prepare for a DPT job interview with a prospective employer. By learning about common DPT interview questions ahead of time, and the best answers to give, you can focus on putting your best foot forward and leaving with a good impression.
What your DPT interviewer is looking for with interview questions
It’s easy to go into an interview with tunnel vision and think that there’s only one right answer to each question. The truth is that every DPT interview question will showcase how you stand out from other candidates. Your interviewer doesn’t want to hear the same cut-and-dry answer from you that they’ve heard from the last interviewees.
If you’re interviewing for a doctor of physical therapy position with a clinic, the interviewer is using their DPT interview questions to determine:
- How your experience skill set can be utilized in their practice.
- If your personality will fit into the company culture.
- If you’re able to form connections with new people, such as new patients.
- Your critical thinking and communication skills.
- How your approach to treatment fits into their standard procedures.
- What new insight you can bring to the practice.
7 DPT interview questions to expect (and the BEST answers to provide)
We’re here to help ease your nerves by providing you with guidance for the most common DPT interview questions. Not only can it be comforting to know what questions to expect from your interviewer, you can also prepare potential answers to boost your confidence. You’ll learn about the reasoning behind each question and an example of a potential answer.
It’s important to note that every doctor of physical therapy is different, and so are the clinics that they’re applying for. Be ready for variations of these DPT interview questions based on each practice as well as adjusting the answers to your particular experience and outlooks.
Here are seven common DPT interview questions, as well as the best answers to give:
- “What led you to choose physical therapy?”
No matter what job you’re applying for, a standard interview question is about your interest in the job. With a career like a DPT, the interview question will help the interviewer get an idea about how passionate you are about the health care field.
Your answer should combine a description of the journey to finding your passion for physical therapy with your desire to help people become the best physical version of themselves. Since this is one of the most common DPT interview questions, this is your chance to show how dedicated you are to your career and your impact on your patients. Avoid basic answers that could come off as insincere, such as “I wanted to help people.”
Example of an effective answer: “I grew up being the caretaker of my friends and family when they got hurt. I saw how difficult it could be to come back from serious injuries and long-term medical issues. I wanted to play a role in their recovery process. When I learned about physical therapy, I realized I could play that role for many people.”
- “What type of patients/conditions are you most experienced in treating?”
While many physical therapy practices treat common injuries and medical conditions, such as a sprained shoulder or arthritis pain, they will often have specializations as well. They may also have target demographics. It’s important that the interviewer learns about the types of patients, conditions and injuries you’re familiar with to make sure that your skills can be properly utilized in their practice.
Mention what types of patients or issues you’re most familiar with, as well as common techniques that you’re experienced in. Research the clinic beforehand to determine if they have a particular specialty that you can discuss in your DPT interview answer.
Example of an effective answer: “While I’ve worked with a wide variety of patients and conditions in the past, I’m especially skilled in treating [patient type/condition]. I know that you specialize in [treatment or demographic], and I have had experience working with that in the past as well.”
- “How would you handle a patient with a diagnosis that you’ve never worked on before?”
They don’t expect you to have worked with every type of diagnosis under the sun, so the employer wants to see how you approach an unfamiliar condition or injury without an ego. The last thing they want from an employee is one who can’t admit when they need help or who would risk hurting their patients by trying to fake their expertise.
When answering this DPT interview question, walk the interviewer through the process of educating yourself about the unfamiliar diagnosis, as well as possible treatments. The answer should include external resources as well as insight from others. This is where you should also mention how open you are to learning about treating patients and conditions that you may not be experienced with.
Example of an effective answer: “If I haven’t treated a patient’s diagnosis in the past, I would ask them if they have tried other treatments and what the outcomes of those were. I would carry out research using trustworthy online resources. I would also consult with other therapists in the practice to gather their insight or suggestions. I’m passionate about continuously learning so that I can always give patients the best treatment.”
- “What is your biggest strength as a DPT?”
While every job has a bit of a learning curve and onboarding process, it’s important that you’re confident in your abilities and knowing what you can bring to the table that may not be present in other candidates. With this DPT interview question, the interviewer wants to know that they can count on you to effectively take care of your patients without needing excessive guidance.
Interviews give you the opportunity to talk about what you pride yourself on as a DPT. This question opens the floor for you to show your confidence in the abilities that you can add to the practice. Talk about what you think makes you an effective physical therapist.
Example of an effective answer: “I take pride in balancing transparency and optimism with my patients. I want them to know what they can expect out of treatment every step of the way while keeping them excited about their potential results.”
- “How do you keep your patients motivated?”
Patients want to feel 100% better after just one session, but that’s just not realistic. For most injuries and medical condition symptoms, it can be a long road to recovery and complete mobility. It’s not uncommon for patients to lose motivation soon after starting their treatment, which can reduce their engagement and have a negative impact on their progress. That’s why motivation is key.
Your answer to this DPT interview question should showcase the inner motivational speaker inside every therapist. You want to let the interviewer know how you deal with pessimistic patients or those who let frustration get the best of them. This could mean everything from setting short-term goals to rewarding milestones.
Example of an effective answer: “When I have a patient who isn’t seeing the progress as fast as they would like, I make sure they know that their feelings are valid. Then I help them visualize the finish line that they’re capable of reaching by having them talk about what they’ll accomplish when they complete the treatment.”
- “Is there a patient who has had a lasting impact on you?”
In every area of health care, you’re face-to-face with people who are struggling to make the most out of every day due to their physical restrictions. These stories can be heartbreaking, inspiring and impactful. This DPT interview question helps your interviewer see the emotional impact that being a DPT has had on you, and why you love going to work every day.
This is the time to pull out the stories that you tell patients who want to give up, or someone who asks you why you love your job. Choose a patient who had to overcome many obstacles to get the treatment that they needed or the severity of their symptoms put the odds against them being able to restore their complete mobility.
Example of an effective answer: “I’ve had many inspiring patients in the past. One who has always stuck with me was an older woman who swore that once she finished her hip surgery rehabilitation, she was going to hike the tallest mountain in the state. She left me a review and talked about how she was finally able to go on the hike due to our physical therapy sessions.”
- “Talk through a challenge you’ve faced as a DPT, and how you overcame it.”
Every type of job can pose a challenge now and then. The goal of this DPT interview question is for the employer to see how you take a challenge in stride and don’t let it negatively affect your patients. It can also help them test your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Your answer should depict a roadblock that you’ve encountered in your career that wasn’t an easy fix. This could mean anything from a particularly demanding patient to procedure changes that were difficult to integrate into your regular processes.
Example of an effective answer: “One challenge that stands out is the time that I had a patient who got seriously hurt during a virtual session by pushing themselves too hard because they didn’t follow my instructions. Then they filed a complaint against me and threatened a lawsuit. I stayed patient and professional during the fallout with my superiors to ensure that they understood that I did everything I could to guide the person.”
Tips for answering DPT interview questions
It’s not always just about the answer that you give, but how you give it. It’s easy to let the nerves go to your head and affect the delivery of your answers to DPT interview questions. We’re here to help you with the finer details of your answers that you may let slip your mind while trying to conjure up a response.
Here are a few tips for answering DPT interview questions:
- Don’t rush it — When you’re asked a DPT interview question, your mind immediately tries to get you to say the first thing that comes to mind. While you may be worried that not providing an immediate answer will come off as uncertainty, it’s important to take a moment to devise a thoughtful response. Taking a beat before each answer will also help you avoid rambling in search of the best answer.
- Make eye contact — Another way that your nerves can become apparent to your interviewer is the inability to meet their eyes. While it may seem intimidating and go against your natural behavior, it’s important to maintain as much eye contact as possible to showcase your confidence in your answers.
- Show personality — It’s important for your potential employer to gain an understanding of how your personality will fit into the company culture. Most practices try to encourage a company culture that helps the staff connect with one another to create a positive work environment. When you answer your DPT interview questions, try to be enthusiastic and upbeat to avoid coming off as detached or apathetic.
- Be honest — It goes without saying that you shouldn’t lie to a potential employer, either on your resume or while answering DPT interview questions. When you tell a lie about your experience, you’re setting yourself up for future situations that you may not be equipped to handle. It’s especially dangerous to lie in a health care interview, as you’re putting patients at risk.
Ready for a new and exciting career opportunity? You’ll find it at Alliance PTP
Alliance Physical Therapy Partners firmly believes that partnership means creating something that is greater than the sum of its parts. Alliance PTP is proud to bring together physical therapy clinics around the nation to help people get the kind of treatment they’re looking for and then exceed their expectations.
But we realize that our partners can’t serve the people in their communities with exceptional PT without amazing PT team members and admin staff. That’s why we’re always on the lookout for hardworking individuals who want:
- A less hectic daily schedule than most PT providers require.
- Exceptional health, retirement and wellness benefits.
- Readily available mentorship and professional development opportunities.
- To be part of a team that’s committed to caring for its patients and the local community.
Want to learn more about the current career opportunities available at Alliance PTP’s partnership in care? Check out our Careers page.