So, you’ve been selected for an interview at your school or program of choice. What do you do now? How can you ensure that you nail this thing and make them want you in their program?

Well, here is your answer:

A successful interview begins with preparation. To borrow a quote from G.I. Joe: (A true American Hero) “Knowing is half the battle.” Here are some suggestions for preparation:

1. Study information about the school where you will be interviewing. Be familiar with mission statements, program goals, and faculty and their respective research. Don’t memorize responses, but at least know something about where you will be attending.




2. Know what is going on in the rehab world, especially the hot-button issues! (healthcare reform, Medicare cuts, direct access, etc.) It is almost certain you will be asked about these or related topics. KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIELD! (What type of work you will be doing, different settings, differences in credentials, etc.) A little studying goes a long, long way.




3. Make a list of questions that you would like answered about the school and program. For example, you might inquire about service learning opportunities provided by the program or about the clinical experiences you will have while attending.

Alright, you’ve done some preparation, you feel like a smarty pants, and the day has come for your interview. If knowing is truly half the battle, actually “battling” (interviewing, in our case) is the other half. Here are some tips for the big day:

1. Dress professionally, and look the part. A nice suit or shirt and tie for the guys, and a nice pant-suit or modest blouse and skirt for the ladies. Also, its probably a good idea to have your hair looking neat and clean. Brush your teeth so you don’t accidentally kill your interviewer with your wicked halitosis. (Even if you are doing a phone interview, it won’t hurt to do these things. They will help get you in the proper frame of mind)




2. It is better to be early than late to your interview. 15 minutes or so ought to do, so make sure you account for bad traffic, inclement weather, or lack of available parking spaces when you leave to go to your interview. Hopefully, you stayed at a Holiday Inn Express (seen the commercials?).




3. Be confident. Remember, you earned this interview; you have every right to be there. Give a firm handshake, articulate your speech, and make eye contact with your interviewer(s). Market yourself and make them want you in their program.




4. Be ready to be flexible. Some interviewers may enjoy playing a mental version of the game “Twister” with you to see if you can think out of the box, problem solve, and provide non-robotic answers. DON’T BE AFRAID TO SAY “I DON’T KNOW.” It may sound bad initially, but it is better than dancing around and making up a bunch of bovine scatology that makes no sense at all.




5. Last, but not least: Be Yourself!!! Your interviewer(s) want to know who you are. Have a little fun while you are there and enjoy the experience for what it is worth.

Now that your interview is done, it is time for part three. (Maybe G.I. Joe should have said “Knowing is a third of the battle”…)

• A sincere thank you should be issued. This can be in the form of a phone call, e-mail, or even an old-school thank you card would be nice. This type of thing does not go unnoticed and may put you in greater favor in your interviewers’ mind. We’re not suggesting you brown-nose, but a friendly reminder that you were there and that you appreciated their time couldn’t hurt.

Okay? Now what?

Now you wait to hear the great news that you have been accepted into the program!

When you do get in, don’t forget about us here at Rehabstudents.com. Share with your friends the great, nay, exceptional advice you found here!

Good luck and Happy Interviewing!