7-Day Interview Prep Plan for Physios entering the 2025 job market
If you’re a physiotherapist heading into an interview in 2025, you’re stepping into one of the most dynamic and competitive job markets the profession has seen in years. The NHS is in the middle of implementing its Long Term Workforce Plan, aiming to grow the allied health professional (AHP) workforce by thousands, and there’s steady demand in the private sector for physiotherapists who can work flexibly across MSK, neuro, respiratory, and community rehab.
But increased opportunity also means increased competition. Employers (whether NHS trusts, private clinics, or international recruiters) are looking for candidates who not only have the clinical skills but also understand the evolving healthcare landscape, from digital health to prevention-focused community services.
That’s why a structured approach to interview preparation can make all the difference. Here’s our 7-day plan, created specifically for the physiotherapists we support as they enter the job market, combining practical preparation steps with the broader insight you’ll need to stand out.
Day 1: Understand the role and employer
Start by diving deep into the job description and person specification. Highlight each essential and desirable criterion, then jot down examples from your training, placements, or work that meet them.
Next, research the employer:
- NHS roles: Read the trust’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) report, strategic plans, and values. Look into their community demographics: are they serving a high proportion of older adults? Are they running any innovative rehab programmes?
- Private clinics: Check their online reviews, social media and any niche services (sports medicine, women’s health, neurological rehab).
The 2025 market rewards physiotherapists who can show they’ve done their homework, particularly in understanding how the service fits into current trends like virtual appointments, integrated care and post-COVID rehab models.
Day 2: Prepare your personal examples
You’ll almost certainly be asked to give examples of when you demonstrated particular skills. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to prepare 6–8 solid examples that cover:
- Communication and teamwork
- Problem-solving or clinical reasoning
- Managing workload under pressure
- Learning from mistakes or adapting your approach
Don’t forget transferable skills: maybe you managed a team in a sports club, coordinated volunteers for a charity, or worked in customer service. These experiences can be gold when it comes to demonstrating patient-centred communication or organisational skills.
Day 3: Refresh your professional knowledge
Even for a Band 5 NHS role, panels often expect you to talk confidently about current clinical practice. Spend today revising key topics relevant to the job, for example:
- Red flag screening and when to escalate
- Safeguarding and consent
- Evidence-based approaches to common conditions in your chosen specialty
Stay up to date with policy too. For NHS interviews, be aware of the Long Term Workforce Plan, the AHP Strategy for England, and the NHS Confederation’s priorities for community care. For private sector interviews, understand how patient expectations are shifting towards convenience, faster access and digital options.
Day 4: Practise answering questions
Confidence comes from practice. Get a friend, mentor, or fellow physio to run through mock interview questions. Mix values-based, competency-based, and clinical scenario questions. Record yourself so you can check pacing, clarity and body language.
Remember, interviewers in 2025 are often looking beyond “safe” answers; they want to see critical thinking and awareness of the bigger picture. So if you’re asked how you’d approach a complex patient, you might also reference how you’d work within an integrated care team, use telehealth appropriately, or link to wider health promotion goals.
Day 5: Prepare questions for the panel
The questions you ask at the end of an interview can leave a lasting impression. Avoid asking about salary or annual leave (unless raised by them) and focus instead on service priorities, development opportunities, or how the role supports wider organisational goals.
Example questions for 2025:
- “How is your team adapting to the NHS push for more community-based rehab?”
- “What support will I receive in my first year to develop both clinical and digital skills?”
Day 6: Check logistics and presentation
Whether online or in person, the details matter.
- Online: Test your tech - camera, microphone, lighting, internet speed and have a backup device ready. Choose a quiet, uncluttered background.
- In person: Plan your route, check for travel disruptions and arrive with time to spare.
Dress smartly and comfortably. For practical interview components, think about clothing that allows movement but still looks professional.
Bring your CPD portfolio, organised and ready to flick through. For virtual interviews, prepare a short PDF or screen share version with key examples.
Day 7: Final review and mindset
Today isn’t about cramming! It’s about confidence. Review your notes briefly, then focus on preparing mentally. Use breathing or grounding techniques to manage nerves. Get a good night’s sleep.
Remember: by shortlisting you, the employer already believes you could do the job. Your task in the interview is to confirm that belief with examples, professionalism and a clear sense of how you fit into their team’s future.
Our key takeaways for 2025
The physio job market this year is about adaptability and awareness. Employers want to know you can handle the clinical work and contribute to the profession’s shift towards integrated, patient-centred and digitally enabled care.
This 7-day plan isn’t just about ticking off prep tasks, but it’s about positioning yourself as the candidate who sees the bigger picture, is ready to learn and can bring real value to a changing healthcare landscape.