Searching for a physical therapy job? There are thousands of PT jobs available and finding the right one can feel a bit overwhelming. However, putting a little effort into your search can get your foot in the door before everyone else. Here are 7 tips for landing your dream job in physical therapy.

Know what you really want

Have you taken the time to think about what you really want in a PT job? Or what you don’t want? Avoid the temptation to take the first job that comes along—unless it checks all your boxes. It’s important to find a job that fits your personality, values, and desires. If you’re looking for a particular location, pay rate, or type of patient, your job needs to have those things. You can discover the right fit through networking, researching the organization, and interviewing.

Have you made a list of must-haves? If the pay makes you nervous about being able to pay your bills, but everything else about the job is perfect, that’s still a red flag. If your dream job is 45 minutes away and you hate commuting, that’s not really your dream job, is it? Don’t compromise on your must-haves or you’ll likely regret it sooner than later.

If you’re still unsure about what you want, visit the US Bureau of Labor Statistics website to see where physical therapy jobs are concentrated geographically, check out industry trends, and discover your earning potential. If you feel stuck, consider a temp job. It may eliminate a few of your options and clarify your direction.

Network

Networking is perhaps the most important part of the job-hunting process. Why? Put yourself in your potential employer’s shoes. Would you rather hire a candidate based on their resume or based on the recommendation of a trusted friend or colleague?

Tell everyone you know exactly what kind of job you’re looking for and give them your contact information so they know how to reach you. You never know when a random connection will be the one that gets you an interview. Every connection you make could be a potential job down the road.

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Join job seeker and physical therapy-related groups on LinkedIn and Facebook (while you’re there, check your social media accounts for any previous photos/posts that could be red flags to your future employer!)
• Reach out to former professors and clinical instructors
• Attend hiring events (and bring your resume!)
• Contact former colleagues and classmates

Look in the right places

While networking is the best way to land your dream PT job, there are lots of other places you can look:

Glassdoor

Glassdoor is a job search engine that gives you a window into an organization’s culture, wages, benefits, and interview practices. Employees can also anonymously review employers, which will give you insight you may not find elsewhere.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that can connect you with hiring managers and employees of organizations you may be interested in—and they’ll flag any mutual connections you may have, which may be just the connection you need. Follow companies you’re interested in and read their blogs and posts to get a feel for their culture and philosophy. LinkedIn also has a great job-searching platform where you can search for specific jobs.

Indeed

When you’re ready to start interviewing, upload your resume to sites like Indeed. You can customize your searches to find relevant jobs based on criteria you specify such as distance from your current location or estimated desired salary.