Physical Therapist CV Example & Writing Guide

CVs for Physical Therapists 

Physical therapists, or PTs, are important healthcare professionals who significantly improve the physical well-being of patients and their overall quality of life. As a physical therapist, you understand the impact you can have on your patients' lives. However, finding employment opportunities is essential to using your skills to help others. This is where we come in! With our help, we can help you streamline your job search and create a compelling CV that highlights your qualifications and expertise, increasing your chances of getting your next job faster.

Personal Statements: Power to the people 

When crafting a compelling CV, one of the first steps is to create a captivating personal statement. Think of it as an introduction to your professional profile. The goal of your personal statement is to attract potential employers by showcasing your career accomplishments and aspirations and leave them wanting to read more! In just a few carefully crafted sentences, you should demonstrate your unique blend of physical therapy skills, experience, and goals. To grab the attention of readers, it's essential to use descriptive language and incorporate relevant keywords from the job description – so be sure to read your job description over a few times! 

For more inspiration on how to draft a winning personal statement and CV, check out our cvapp.nz templates. These templates are designed to provide you with guidance and ideas for structuring an outstanding personal statement! Here’s an example of an excellent personal statement: 

Employment History: Your professional story 

When crafting your work history section, we recommend listing your previous employment experiences in reverse chronological format. This format involves listing your most recent work experiences first. It's important to use precise and actionable language when describing your roles and responsibilities in each position. This way, you effectively communicate the value you brought to your previous roles. Be sure to include your job title, the name of the organisation or company you worked at, how long you worked there, and any key achievements or responsibilities you performed during your time in each position. Additionally, consider using action verbs to start each bullet point in your work history section. Strong, dynamic verbs, such as "implemented," "achieved," or "collaborated," help convey a sense of proactivity and accomplishment. This further emphasises your ability to take initiative and deliver results. By the end of it, your employment history section should look a little like this: 

Education: Your academic achievements 

Physical therapists must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy earned from an accredited institution to practice physical therapy in New Zealand. It’s important to include your degree details in your education section as potential employers will be looking out for these credentials. You might also like to include any other outstanding academic achievements, such as honours, licenses, impressive course results or academic awards. Honours such as being on the Dean's List, earning a spot in the top percentile of your graduating class, or achieving outstanding academic performance in specific subjects can improve your overall professional profile.

Skills: Sharing your superpowers with the world 

When writing a CV, it is essential to include a wide range of impressive skills that employers seek in an ideal candidate. Employers in search of a Physical Therapist are usually interested in individuals who possess both experience and education, as their role involves providing patients with a high level of treatment. To stand out from other applicants, be sure to highlight job-specific skills that showcase your expertise in the field. While interpersonal skills, such as communication skills are important, it's also essential to consider more technical skills such as manual therapy, strength testing and therapeutic exercises. With our A.I skills suggestion tool, we streamline this process and make it easier for you to list key skills to attract and engage potential employers.