
How to Write a Resume According to Science in 2023
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
Your physical therapist resume must highlight your qualifications. If it doesn't, it's time to change it! Check our physical therapy resume example and follow the expert tips.
“Oh, you’re a physical therapist? Can you give me a massage?”
Eye roll. You’re a doctor, not a spa employee. Plus, you were smart enough to pick a field that’s growing 22% every 10 years.
But to get high-salary PT jobs, you need a high-level physical therapist resume.
You’ll get there fast with our professional help.
In this guide:
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Leslie Leighton
Physical Therapist
Personal Info
Phone: 408-421-9621
E-mail: lesliezleighton@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/lesliezleighton
instagram.com/lesliezleighton
Summary
Effective, licensed physical therapist with 6+ years of experience. Seeking to improve quality of life at Walker Recovery. At Parker Lane Pediatrics, maintained 50 regular clients with 95% positive scores and 53 5-star reviews on HealthGrades. Used patient education and dry needling to attain 35%+ mobility increase for 90%+ of patients.
License
Licensed Physical Therapist: California State License #PT00000
Experience
Physical Therapist
Parker Lane Pediatrics
2014–2019
Physical Therapy Experience
Various
2013–2014
Education
DPT, Chapman University
2010–2013
BS Health Science, UC Riverside
2006–2010
Certifications
Additional Activities
Hard Skills: Patient assessment, therapy interventions, creating plan of care, dry needling, patient education
Soft Skills: Interpersonal skills, active listening, communication
Here’s how to write your version of that resume example for a physical therapist:
They won’t hire a sloppy-looking physical therapist.
Or read sloppy physical therapy resumes.
Get the format of your resume in line, and warm up with the reverse-chronological format.
Expert Hint: Physical therapy jobs will grow 22% in the next 10 years. But we both know there are lots of bad PT jobs. That’s why your physical therapist resume has to shine.
Dozens of physical therapist resumes stand between you and your dream job. To clear that hurdle, get noticed fast.
Write an agile career summary or career objective. That’s a fast rundown of why you matter to them.
Add:
Write it last to make it easy on yourself.
These physical therapy resume examples show how:
Look at that.
Both of those reference dry needling and pediatrics. But one adds “50 clients, 95% positive scores,” and other energizing factors.
Even an entry-level physical therapist resume needs proof. Let’s say all you’ve done is volunteer and work as a personal trainer.
Check out how this physical therapist assistant resume sample does it:
See that?
The second of those entry-level physical therapy assistant resume examples lists compassion and assessment. But the first one proves them.
Expert Hint: Most physical therapists work in private clinics. To get hired, your PT or PTA resume must show your contribution to the clinic and its patients.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
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A physical therapist resume can’t be generic.
Target your resume. You need to fit the job like a wraparound brace.
To write a physical therapy job description for resumes:
Write yours like the first of these physical therapy resume samples. Pretend the job ad wants a pediatric DPT with these physical therapy skills: developing plan of care, patient education, dry needling.
Experience
Physical Therapist
Parker Lane Pediatrics
2014–2019
Ouch, that hurts.
The second of those physical therapist resume examples is like a shoulder impingement. It doesn’t target the job. Plus—how did that applicant help? There are no numbers.
Now, for an entry-level resume:
Say the job ad wants these physical therapy skills: compassion, assessment, stroke rehab.
Physical Therapy Experience
Various
2013–2014
Waitress
New River Burrito Bar
2014–2015
Freeze.
The second sample isn’t awful—if they want skills in customer service, listening, and efficiency. They don’t. (See the job skills in yellow above.)
What physical therapist skills work best? Here’s a list:
Hard Skills:
Soft Skills:
Expert Hint: In a physical therapy resume for new grads, focus on soft skills. Then, give evidence of the hard skills you learned while earning your doctorate.
Your doctorate is no joke. But your education section can’t be like all the rest. If it is—You’ll get rejected like them, too.
So put a few key details in your schooling to catch the eye.
This physical therapist resume sample shows the routine:
Education
DPT, Chapman University
2010–2013
BS Health Science, UC Riverside
2006–2010
If they listed movement science, dry needling, and pediatrics in their ad, you’re in.
In a new grad physical therapy resume, your education can fill most of the page.
Quick quiz: What if the other physical therapist resumes show similar experience and education?
Whatever makes you different in a good way can get you hired.
So add a couple “other” sections like:
These physical therapy resume examples work it out:
License
Licensed Physical Therapist: California State License #PT00000
Certifications
Additional Activities
Additional Activities
Oh, and—
Put your license in its own section, near the top. You don’t want the hiring manager to miss it!
Expert Hint: Write a cover letter. Your resume for physical therapy jobs will get more special care. Why? Most managers read those letters. Some insist on them. Here's how to write a cover letter for a job that does the trick.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s how to write a physical therapy resume:
Got questions on how to write great resumes for physical therapy jobs? Not sure how to show physical therapy on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!
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How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
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