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The Caring Support Blog

Physiotherapist Job Interview Questions and Answers

January 31, 2023

You've probably been to a few job interviews before. You know the drill: You show up, shake hands with the interviewer, exchange pleasantries, and then answer some questions about yourself. But what if you could take that experience up a notch? What if you could prepare for your next interview like it was an exam? Well, that's what this guide is for!

If you're about to for a Physiotherapist job interview, there are some questions that you should be prepared for. The interviewer will want to know more about you and your experience in order to hire the right person for their organization. Everything You Need To Know About Physiotherapist Jobs In Canada

Here we provide sample answers to some common physiotherapist job interview questions so you can have them ready when they come up in your career search. The following list of questions has been compiled based on the most common ones asked during these interviews:

Interview Questions for Physiotherapists

“Tell us your story…”

For many candidates, this is one of the most intimidating questions they will encounter in an interview because it forces them to be vulnerable and open. However, if you are prepared and confident in your answer, it is actually quite simple. The best way to approach this question is by briefly explaining how you ended up in this profession and what experiences led up to that decision.

Remember: You don't have to tell them everything! Try not to focus on negative aspects or failures but rather highlight positive moments from your past experience that led you here today.

Several interview questions will focus on your personality and professionalism.

  1. Be prepared for questions about your personality.
  2. Be prepared for questions about your professionalism.
  3. Be prepared for questions about your motivation.
  4. Be prepared for questions about your communication skills.
  5. Be prepared for questions about your teamwork skills
  6. Be prepared to answer situational-based questions related to professional life like 'How do you react when a patient comes in late?', 'What would you do if a colleague was consistently late?' or 'How would you deal with an angry client?'

"Why should I hire you?"

You should be able to ace this question because it will give them insights into what they see as their greatest needs and let them know that there is something specific that they would like from your services.

"What is your greatest achievement?"

This is a good question to answer because it allows you to talk about what you're most proud of as a physiotherapist, which can be a great indicator of your work ethic and drive. It also helps you emphasize your edge over other applicants for the position you're applying for.

"Tell us about a time when you had to deal with a difficult patient. What was the situation and how did you handle it?"

A question like this is meant to test not only your ability to handle a situation but also your communication skills. It's important to be able to explain how you handled the situation, what the outcome was, and how you felt in the moment.

"How do you think you will fit in with our team of healthcare professionals?"

One of the most important things to communicate in your interview is that you understand the culture of the organization and that you will fit in. You should explain how you will contribute and what role you can fill. The interviewer might also ask if there are any ways in which they can help prepare for your transition into this new position, so it's wise to be flexible if it makes sense for both parties.

"Can you tell me about your strengths and weaknesses? What are the top three on each list?"

Your strengths and weaknesses are two of the most important things to discuss during a job interview. However, many candidates find it difficult to talk about their weaknesses because they're afraid of getting fired for them. This is not true! Employers want to know if there are any challenges you'll face in the workplace so they can place you in an environment where your challenges won’t affect your performance or cause damage to other employees. It’s important that you don't lie about these weaknesses—it's better to be completely honest than try to hide something that might come up later during your time at the company or even during training or a probationary period.

When talking about strengths and weaknesses, use examples from personal experience whenever possible rather than generic statements like “I work hard” or “I am well organized."

You may be asked about how you managed any challenges that came up during your education or training.

If this happens, it's important to be prepared to talk about what the challenge was and how you overcame it. It would be best if you also mentioned what you learned from that experience as well as how you would handle similar situations in the future.

The interviewer is likely to ask what qualities you think are most important for a physiotherapist to have.

The interviewer will likely ask you what qualities you think are most important for a physiotherapist to have. You should be prepared to answer these questions from your research on the job description. In addition, it's important that you demonstrate these qualities during your interview as well:

  1. Integrity: honesty, trustworthiness and ethical behaviour
  2. Compassion: empathy towards others who are suffering physically or emotionally
  3. Professionalism: conduct that demonstrates discipline and good manners in order to maintain an acceptable standard of behaviour at all times
  4. Communication skills: effective listening skills, speaking clearly and concisely; listening attentively; asking questions when appropriate
  5. Empathy: the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes (e.g., if they stubbed their toe or had surgery) and understand how they feel about the situation
  6. Problem-solving: ability to identify problems/challenges facing patients; develop solutions/recommendations based on patient needs
  7. Collaborative problem-solving: Ability to work in a team environment
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Questions to Ask in Physiotherapist Interview

Applicants often answer this question, "none so far" or "all good" which can affect the way you carry and portray yourself as a potential key player. So what are the potential questions you can ask the interviewer?

  1. Ask about the role. What are your expectations for me?
  2. Ask about the team. Who will be my peers and managers? How many people are on your team? What is their experience level, and how long have they been there? What do they like most about working at [company]?
  3. Ask about the company. What is its mission statement, and how does that relate to what we’ve discussed today? Why did you choose this career path yourself, or why do you want to work here now (if applicable)? How large is the company compared with other organizations in this industry or region?
  4. Ask about benefits and perks. Are there additional opportunities for growth within my first year of employment that might lead to future promotions? Do employees receive health insurance benefits or paid time off from work trips if needed during a crisis situation outside office hours such as an emergency surgery performed by a family member due at home after hours (e.g., childbirth)? In addition, what kind of training programs exist for professional development purposes?

Asking questions at the end of the job interview will give them an impression of how driven and determined you are as an applicant.

Other Ways to Prepare for Physiotherapist Job Interview

Aside from this blog post, there are also several educational videos that are available on Youtube which can help you ace the job interview. Same with this article, these videos will most likely guide you on how to answer different job interview questions if you're applying for a Physiotherapist job.

Here are some of the questions you may also review prior to your job interview:

  1. Tell me about yourself and why you want to become a Physiotherapist.
  2. What skills and qualities do you have that will make you a highly effective Physiotherapist?
  3. How do you go about devising a suitable physiotherapy treatment plan?
  4. How would you reassure a worried patient?
  5. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  6. Why do you want to work for our healthcare organization as a Physiotherapist?
  7. How would you approach a situation where you were unfamiliar with a medical condition?
  8. Tell me a time you went above and beyond for a patient.
  9. How does physiotherapy make healthcare organizations more effective?
  10. What’s your approach to dealing with difficult or confrontational patients?
  11. How would you deal with a situation where a Physiotherapist in your team was not doing their job properly?
  12. Tell me about a time when you provided treatment or care which was focused on one of the essential healthcare values?
  13. What is safeguarding in physiotherapy?
  14. Tell me about a time when you needed to change your style of communication to get your message across?
  15. If you didn’t get on with someone in your physiotherapy team, what would you do? 16. Tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team in a healthcare setting?
  16. How do you handle the stress of being a Physiotherapist and all that comes with the role?
  17. How do you manage your time effectively as a Physiotherapist?
  18. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  19. What do you do to maintain competence as a Physiotherapist?
  20. That’s the end of your Physiotherapist interview, do you have any questions for the panel?
  21. How do you stay informed about new techniques and technology?
  22. How would you devise a treatment plan for a ruptured Achilles tendon?
  23. How would you deal with a non-compliant athlete?
  24. Tell us about some of the relevant courses you have recently completed
  25. What is your opinion on cryotherapy chambers?

By now, you should be ready for your job interview. You should know what kinds of questions are asked and how to answer them. Whether you are applying as a physiotherapist, physiotherapist assistant, or pediatric physiotherapist, this blog post can give you a significant edge in closing the deal. If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact us and we would be glad to help!

Read More:

Why Is Physiotherapy For Paralysis A Good Career?

About The Author
Denson Natividad
Sales & Marketing Assistant

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