Finding a PT Position Across the Country

[TravisDPT]

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I am attending a DPT program beginning this fall in the Midwest and I plan on moving to Los Angeles as soon as possible after completing grad school (living in LA has always been a dream of mine since I was little). How hard is it to look for, apply to, and get hired for positions all the way across the country? Do employers usually require a trip out to the city to interview before making a decision? Would it be harder since I will be a fresh grad with no prior job experience?

If anyone has any experience in looking for and getting a PT job directly out of grad school far from home and would like to share, that would be awesome! Also if anyone has information about the PT field in LA specifically that's more detailed than what I can find online, that would be awesome as well! Thanks!!

 

[emespt]

Maybe try getting your clinicals over in LA at clinics you would like to work in in the future... if they like you, they would be more likely to take you in as a new grad.

I know for travel PT they usually do phone interviews, so maybe you can request that.

 

[UIUCKines]

A friend of mine who is a recent grad from a good program in Illinois just got a job in Colorado (pretty much what I want to do). Although her school has a great program, she said no one out there really knew about it and she got the job through networking and some professor in her program. She did not have any clinicals out there, and actually her friend who did is having a hard time getting a job there. Basically, a lot of getting a job where you want is all about networking and getting to know people. She highly recommended becoming a part of APTA and being an active member (attending meetings, etc). Hope this helps!

 

[TravisDPT]

thank you guys! This is exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping people could share. I just haven't heard first hand from anyone I know here in Indiana that has gotten PT jobs in other states, so I was kinda flying blind haha. Networking is great advice! I'll make that the first thing I do when I start (hopefully) this fall!