Tips for creating and enhancing your resumé to secure higher-level physical therapist positions.

When one hears that physical therapy is one of the fastest-growing careers, it may seem that PTs have full demand of what jobs they want. Though the field is rapidly and consistently growing, there is still fierce competition for PT positions, as employers try to find the best fit for both the individuals and the practice.

No matter what level you are at as a practicing PT, it is important to constantly assess your skill level and keep an updated resumé. In today’s ever-changing job market and the burgeoning physical therapy field, you never know when an opportunity to switch to a better career opportunity will arise.

Resumé Roundup
Most people do not think about updating their resumé until the moment they are ready to look for a new job. While this sounds logical, many people tend to forget the details of their daily experiences if they do not keep track of them on an ongoing basis. It is important to take some time every month, or every quarter, and evaluate your job duties during that time. Perhaps there was a patient whose complications required creative use of physical-therapy techniques, or there might have been a situation in which you exemplified actions of a positive team player. If you do not take the time to make note of these incidents as they happen, you may forget the details when it comes down to updating your resumé months later. Keeping track of these incidents will also help you create answers for interview questions.

Hard Skills
When you sit down to create your resumé, think about all of the therapy skills you have learned to use. Every treatment that you are qualified to perform, whether manual or modality-based, is something that can be added to your list of skills. Employers may be looking for PTs who already know how to perform certain tests and do not need training. While you are thinking about the various therapy methods you are able to perform, it is important for you to keep in mind that employers will often look for hard facts of how many patients you treated with these skills. Knowing specific details about how often you used certain treatments, or quantifying how much a process in your facility was improved with your new idea, will set you apart from the rest of the candidates.

Soft Skills
In addition to having practical knowledge about the latest physical-therapy techniques, it is important to have "soft skills" to succeed in a team environment. Soft skills are the people skills needed to do well among colleagues and patients. You may be a talented and skilled PT, but if you do not communicate with your patients the proper way, or if you do not work well with others, this will deter your success in the field. Communication and interpersonal skills can be highlighted on your resumé by pointing out the aspects of your personality that patients are comforted by. Are you the PT that patients always say they felt comfortable about their recovery process? Are you professional, yet nurturing? Are you approachable and always willing to help patients with exercises and any additional questions they may have? Also, keep track of the times you may have pitched in and helped your staff even if it was not your responsibility.

Continuing Education
It is important for employers to know that you are up to date on all of your skills and knowledge. Consistent attendance for continuing-education credits shows employers that you are constantly progressing in your field. Most states require PTs to attend a certain number of continuing-education courses per year in order to keep their licenses. If you have performed an in-service to your fellow staff PTs after attending such a course, be sure to list this on your resumé, as it shows your ability to comprehend and communicate clinical information.

Community Involvement
If you are working in a private practice, you may be part of the team that helps acquire referrals, and this may be in the form of holding events for your local community members. If your practice has not done any community activities, it’s a great time to start them yourself. Talk to your supervisor (if you are a staff PT) and figure out an easy and effective seminar or free Q & A session you can provide at a local high school or fitness facility. Be sure to note all the details of the program so that you can use it for information during your interview. Showing that you are actively keeping your skills up to date shows enthusiasm for your career.

Memberships in professional organizations should also be highlighted on the resumé. If you are a member of the American Physical Therapy Association or a state physical therapy organization, be sure to list this on your resumé.

Personal Review Process
Just like your facility’s annual review process, you should take it upon yourself to conduct one on yourself before the official one. Take some time to sit down and review how you would like to grow and improve your skills in the next year. Just as you would do with your supervisor, list all of the projects that you could be in charge of in your facility. If you need to improve on a certain treatment, create a game plan of how you will go about learning the skills for that treatment. If you want to improve on your communication skills with physicians, then come up with a plan of action each time you visit a physician’s office.

Keeping an updated resumé and constantly working on creating new professional skills will ensure your confidence in the job market.

Sara Thompson is a contributing writer for Physical Therapy Products.

REFERENCE
1. Right Management ConsultantsSM Inc. Career Transition Manual. 1997.