1. APPLYING FOR YOUR FIRST QUALIFIED PHYSIOTHERAPIST POST
Victoria Leckie
Clinical Team Leader
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
How to successfully complete an application and secure an interview
Person specification
Application form CV
Informal visit
How to prepare for the interview
Preparation
The interview
Questions

3. Person Specification Divided into Essential criteria
Desirable/ additional/ useful criteria
How will be assessed i.e. application form/ interview or presentation
It sets out the
Qualifications and experience required
Personal attributes/ abilities and skills needed for the post
You need to ideally meet all the criteria to be considered in the current job market.

4. Application Form Allocate enough time to complete
Read it before starting to write
Usually available online so practice writing out in rough in sections
Use black ink
Make it legible
Complete all sections
Photocopy when complete (use for interview preparation)
Return it well before the closing date!

5. Additional information/ Personal statement
Can use continuation sheets if needed (max 2 A4 sheets)
Logical order and structure
Use job description to structure information
State why you are applying for the post
Tailor your application to the NHS Trust you are applying to.
Need to show a balance of why you want the job but also what you can offer the department/ Trust.
Give examples of your clinical experience
Check spelling and grammar
Get someone to else to read it before sending.

6. CV
Can include but not always used for short listing. (Find out requirements of specific Trust)
Keep to no more than 2 A4 sides
Typed in clear logical order on good quality unlined paper.
Include personal information, education and training, clinical education, work experience/ previous employment, interests and achievements and current references.
Some trusts request you blank out personal details to ensure short listing is fair.

7. References Personal/ Academic Tutor
Recent Clinical Placement Supervisor
Make sure you have always asked them before nominating them.
Try to ensure referees are available at short notice.

8. Informal Visits
Benefits to candidates and interviewer – shows enthusiasm , you will be remembered
Aids interview preparation – current issues/ operational information
Meet current junior physiotherapists
Orientates you to interview venue
Can assist you in question generation
Confirms whether you want to work there!

9. Interview Preparation
Use recent interviewees
Use any previous interview experience/feedback
Use the job description and person specification
Use informal visits/ chats
Read up about current NHS issues in frontline, journals, websites
Keep up to date with current Physiotherapy research, EBP
Check out the Trusts website
Re read your application form

10. Self presentation Punctual Smart/ clean appropriate clothing
Smile/ handshake/ eye contact/ positive body language/ don’t fidget
Bring your portfolio/ CPD file and any other info requested e.g. for CRB check
You will be nervous!
The interview panel are humans!

11. Types of Interview Each Trust adopts a different approach
One to one interviews (rare)
Panel interviews (most common)
Group interviews

12. Types of Questions (1) General Why do you want to work here?
What are your strengths/ weaknesses?
Clinical
Describe the key clinical features that you would expect a patient with Parkinson's disease to present with?
What would be your key components of your initial assessment of a patients who was 1st day post THR?
Non Clinical
What do you understand by the term Clinical Governance?

13. Types of Questions (2) Scenario based
You are referred a patient who is first day post op with the following results. (list) What do they tell you about your patient?
You come into work and your senior I is off sick and you have the following things to do. (list) How would you manage your day?
Practical
Using the equipment provided demonstrate how you would teach one of the panel members exercises to strengthen their lower limb.
Teach one of the panel members how to use a particular adjunct.

14. Answers Think before you speak Be concise, structured and honest
Give examples from your clinical experience/ placements to make your answer different.
Stay positive
Sell yourself, make yourself stand out from the other candidates

15. If you get Stuck Pause Think for a moment
Ask for clarification or for the question to be repeated
Ask to come back to a question later in interview
If you don’t know – be truthful
Don’t waffle

16. Asking Questions
Good practice to prepare a couple of questions to ask the panel at end of the interview
Don’t interrogate the panel
Don’t ask questions already answered in recruitment literature
Ensure questions are relevant to post and to the organisation.
Don’t ask about salary first

17. Post Interview Breathe out and relax Analyse what you did well
Makes notes ASAP
Ask for feedback what ever happens
Discuss next steps what ever happens
Treat as practice if not successful, everyone improves with practice
Stay Positive

18. GOOD LUCK
Any Questions?