How to Write a Resume for a Physical Therapist Job

A physical therapist is in charge of helping patients regain control of their abilities after an accident, surgery or major life-changing event. A physical therapist may also work with people who have suffered sport injuries or need to treat chronic pain that is interfering with their daily activities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Create a Great Resume

1. Let the employer know if you have a CPR or first aid certification. While this is usually not a requirement for a regular physical therapist job, it can become an asset when working at clinics that deal with older patients or at-risk populations. Even if your certification expired, it's still a good indication of additional knowledge.
2. Mention what methods, besides traditional therapy, you know and have used with patients. This can include the use of light or something like acupressure and acupuncture. If you are not a licensed practitioner of those techniques, you can still mention that you have used them as an add-on and highlight the importance of keeping up to date with new techniques and practices.
3. Find a way to include patient success stories in your resume. This can be done when you write the resume itself or mentioned as a simple reference and then explained by annexing recommendation letters or expanding on the information on your query letter.
4. Include a list of the type of equipment you are familiar with, making sure you write down both diagnostic and treatment machines. This can be particularly helpful if you can work with new, innovative equipment that most physical therapists would need additional on-the-job training to handle properly.
5. Showcase any experience or credentials that have to do with sports. Many physical therapists have worked as personal trainers, for example, which becomes key to understanding the cause of injuries and the level of post-recovery work a patient can do.

Tips & Warnings

• Because of the large range of issues treated, it's important that a professional can handle a series of treatment options and be able to adjust them as necessary to get the most out of the treatment. If you have the chance, consider studying alternative treatment options, even if only generally, so you can make the most of every available option.
• Write a job resume that highlights what you can bring to the job that others therapists can't. Whether you are good with people, can speak more than one language or are ready to work night shifts or take over the emergency room, remember to highlight what you can offer rather than focusing only on your achievements and qualifications.

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