Amanda Bostick is a physical therapist at SSI Simpsonville. She believes important qualities for success in physical therapy include strong communication skills, motivation, and being assertive with non-compliant patients. Amanda got her current job through networking and putting herself out there. The typical hiring process involves an initial interview followed by a potential second interview and waiting 1-2 weeks for a decision. Amanda sees 10-12 patients per day for half hour sessions, documenting between patients. The most satisfying part is helping patients graduate from their program while the most challenging is patients she cannot help.

1. Name: Amanda Bostick
Title: Physical Therapist
Employer: SSI Simpsonville
10-28-15
Informational Interview
1. What personal qualitiesor abilitieswould you say are important to beingsuccessful in the
physical therapy field?
 Amanda believesthat being a “people person”, having strong communication skills,
being able to motivate, and being pointed and assertive with non-compliant patients
are all very important in being a successful physical therapist. She recommends to
get as much experience as you can along the way and to always make patients feel
comfortable and confident.
2. How did you get this position? How do people find out about job openings in the physical
therapy field?
 “There is always a high demand for physical therapist. I’ve gotten all my jobs by
putting myself out there and not being afraid to ask.” Amanda stated that job
shadowing, informational interviewing,networking and word of mouth are all other
good ways of findingjob openings.
3. What are typical hiring procedures?
 “After submitting an application or expressing interest, an initial interview is
common, followedby a potential second interview,after which you will often wait a
week or two for a decision.”
4. What do you do on a typical day in this position?
 Amanda is currently an outpatient physical therapist. She typically sees ten to
twelve patients a day, one every half hour with breaks for computerized
documentation during and after.
5. What part of this job do you find the most challenging and/or satisfying?
 The most satisfyingpart of the job for Amanda is knowing that she has helped
someone and getting to see them graduate from their program. The most
challenging part is when there is a patient you can’t figure out or simplycan’t help.
6. What is your weeklywork schedule? Is this common for most physical therapist?
 Amanda works part time,which may or may not be typical of most physical therapist
given the flexibilityof the job. “I work 3 days a week from 8:30 to around 5:00. 80-
90% of that is actual patient care, and the rest is documentation time.”
7. What is a typical starting salary? Average salary? Other benefits?
 “15 years ago I would say it was around $38,00/$40,000, but this greatly depended
on setting. Pediatrics is a lower money maker, while home help pays much higher,
and of course pay always rises with experience.”

2. 8. Please tell me more about your organization and its purposes.
 “SSI is a small privately owned business that was started 13 years ago by 3 physical
therapists. Its mission is to helpincrease the health of the community and to
educate people on how to help themselves.”
9. What is unique about your organization?
 “I believe SSI is unique because we are a small practice owned by physical therapist.
We are independent,not beinglinked to a larger practice or hospital.”
10. Would you rather work for a smaller or a larger company? Why?
 Amanda believesthere are pros and cons to both settings. With that being said, she
has worked for both but chooses to stay with a small company. Hospitals and larger
offices offersschedule flexibility,while smallerplaces need you to work more but
offer an enjoyable family atmosphere.
11. What opportunities for advancement are there in this field?
 Amanda informed me that many places have lead therapists or director positions
that you could potentially move up to, but this depends on the size of the company.
Larger organizations allow for more advancement, while starting your own practice
or buying into one also leads to many opportunities.
 Job changes will depend on health care and where it’s going
12. What, if anything, do you wish you had known before you entered this occupation?
 “I wish I had known more about all the concentrations withinthe field so that I was
more prepared in all settings. Knowing more about physiology and specific exercises
and what you’re strengthening while doing them would have beenvery helpful.”
13. What are the professional journals in this fieldthat I should read?
 Amanda recommends that I keep up with the APTA’s monthly journals and website
in order to stay informed on subspecialties of interest, such as women’s health
issues and vestibular and balance issues.Subspecialty journals along with online
research are also beneficial.
14. What special advice would you give a person entering in this field?
 “You are always going to be learning and that’s okay, there will always be someone
who knows more than you so learn from them. Be open to this and keep up to date
on current findings and techniques. Do and concentrate on what you’re interested
in but don’t be afraid to look into something else.”
15. Can you suggest anyone else whom I could contact for additional information? When I call
him/her may I use your name?
 Amanda has many physical and occupational therapist colleagues that she is more
than willingto refer me to upon request. She recommends that I contact them in
the future to inquire about an available aid position for the summer. She is eager to
help in any way possible and open to me using her name when needed.