Interview Preparation | Physiooptions

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe Abe Lincoln

We've all heard people say time and time again how important preparation is - but have we ever really listened to that advice?

Preparation is the single most important factor to consider before you even think about trying to convince an individual or an institution to make an investment in you. Make use of your critical evaluation and reasoning skills, and above all else, use the knowledge that you have gained over the course of your life to make a good and lasting impression.

Interview

There's no doubt that any of you who have been interviewed will agree with the description that it is an 'experience'..

Experiences come in all shapes and sizes so instead of packing this page so full that your eyes start to hurt, we've decided to focus on a few key points.

Remember that very often this will be a completely new experience, and can only get better with time, reflection and a bit of luck!

Hints and Tips

• Be prepared

• It is ok to be nervous

• Demonstrate your communication skills

• Listen to the questions fully

• Think about your answers

• Answer all parts of the question

As the old séan-fhocal goes:

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat

What to wear

First impressions are essential; therefore it’s important to have the correct attire. Here are a few tips on how to dress appropriately for an interview.

For the ladies

Dark well fitted suit- skirt knee length or trousers
Blouse or shirt- not too low cut or tight
Low heels- cleanly polished
Nails- manicured or plain nail colour
Natural make up
Minimal jewellery or perfume

For the men

Dark coloured plain or pinstripe suit
Light coloured shirt with long sleeve
Bold colour tie with discrete pattern
Cleanly polished black shoes
Cleanly shaven or neatly trimmed facial hair
Nails clean
Minimal aftershave

Above are some of the basics. Follow the links below to get further information on how to prepare yourself prior to an interview.

http://www.career.vt.edu/interviewing/interviewappearance.html

http://www.physio-pedia.com/Interview_Preparation

Sample Questions

Preparation is essential. There is nothing better than practicing and preparing your responses to the common questions. Listed below are the 5 most commonly asked questions in an interview:

5 most common questions

Tell me about yourself - short and sweet, 4-5 interesting points
Why should we give you this job? Have this already prepared.
What differentiates you from other people?
Tell me your strengths and weaknesses.
Where do you see yourself in 3/5 years’ time? Relate this to the job you are applying for. E.g. I see myself as assistant manager of this company

http://www.utsa.edu/HR/docs/InterviewQuestions.pdf

When attending a job interview it is important to know about the job you are applying for and information about the hospital the job is in. It is also useful to have revised basic physiotherapy principles of good practice and clinical skills.

Sample physiotherapy based questions

What do you understand by team work?
What makes a good communicator?
How would you prioritize treatment in a busy ward?
What priority would you give to paper work in an extremely busy period?
Can you give an example of when you assumed leadership within the team?
Please give an example of an incident when you disagreed with the diagnosis or management of a peer and how you handled it?
What would you do if a patient refused one treatment and advised you to use another?
How would you deal with a difficult patient?
What would you do if you disagreed with a consultant’s decision about treatment?
Provide examples of your role within the multidisciplinary teams.
What do you think are the attributes of a good physiotherapist?
How would you ensure patient confidentiality in your practice?
What outcome measures do you use regularly in practice and why those are important?

Clinical questions

If you did not have time to assess a low back pain patient with parasthesia down their leg what would you do? (prioritising assessment techniques)
What are the red flags for low back pain?
What would you do when a relative reports that a patient has fallen (on the ward)?
What would you assess for a patient recently admitted with falls?
A patient you have been treating for 5 weeks with OA knee. What symptoms would he be experiencing? What would be your treatment plan?
What is the definition of a stroke?
Why would you get a CVA patient out of bed early? What would you assess whilst they're sitting in the chair?

More info on competency based questions at www.physio-pedia.com