Overview
Newly qualified physiotherapists come out of university with over 1,000 hours of clinical placement, yet many struggle to translate that into a resume that feels like professional experience. The problem is usually presentation, not substance. If you can assess patients, write exercise programmes, and work in a multidisciplinary team, you already have the skills. You just need to show them clearly.
Megan Booth graduated from Northumbria University and completed placements across MSK outpatients, a respiratory ward, and community settings. Her resume is strong because it reads like a clinician's CV, with patient numbers, outcome measures, and specific clinical skills rather than vague descriptions of "gaining exposure."
What Makes This Resume Work
Patient numbers make the placements real. Megan assessed and treated an average of 8 patients per day in her MSK placement. She delivered personalised exercise programmes to over 60 patients. She ran a weekly group class for 12 post-operative patients. These numbers tell a Band 5 recruiter that she is ready for the caseload demands of an NHS role.
Outcome measures are included. Stating that 85% of her patients showed improvement on outcome measures gives her placement credibility that a generic description would not. Physiotherapy recruiters understand that tracking outcomes is part of the job, so showing it on the resume signals clinical maturity.
The part-time fitness role bridges the gap. Her work at The Gym Group is not unrelated filler. She conducted over 150 gym inductions and ran group classes. This shows confidence with exercise prescription and working with the general public, both of which translate directly to physiotherapy practice.
Key Takeaways
Clinical placements are your professional experience. Describe them with patient numbers, treatment approaches, and outcomes. If you managed your own caseload, say how many patients per day. If you ran group sessions, say how many attended. Include your HCPC registration and any specialist training. Physiotherapy Band 5 applications are competitive, and the graduates who quantify their placement experience consistently stand out from those who just list the setting they were placed in.
