Graduate Physiotherapist CV Template Example
As a career coach with over 25 years of experience helping graduates, professionals, and senior leaders land their dream roles, I know first-hand how powerful a strong CV can be. Today, I want to talk directly to you about creating an interview-winning Graduate Physiotherapist CV template example that not only gets noticed but gets shortlisted. Physiotherapy is a fulfilling and impactful career path, offering opportunities to make a real difference in people’s lives, while also providing strong career progression and job security.
A Graduate Physiotherapist typically works within NHS trusts, private hospitals, sports clinics, or rehabilitation centres. The role involves assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients with a range of physical issues, from sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions to long-term illnesses, post-operative recovery, and neurological disorders. Graduates entering physiotherapy roles often begin at NHS Band 5, with starting salaries ranging from around £28,000 to £34,000 per year. With experience, specialisation, and seniority, this can progress significantly. That’s why making the right impression from the outset with a compelling CV is so important.
Why a strong Graduate Physiotherapist CV matters
The physiotherapy job market is competitive. Employers receive dozens, sometimes hundreds, of applications for each vacancy. A well-written CV is your first opportunity to demonstrate your clinical knowledge, practical skills, and commitment to patient-centred care. More importantly, it shows your ability to communicate with clarity and professionalism — skills that are just as vital in physiotherapy as they are in writing.
A CV that is tailored, evidence-based, and focused on results immediately sets you apart. Instead of being just another graduate, you become a memorable candidate with the skills, drive, and personality that an employer is looking for.
How to structure your Graduate Physiotherapist CV template example
When crafting a CV for a Graduate Physiotherapist role, structure is everything. Recruiters typically spend no more than 7–10 seconds scanning a CV before deciding whether to keep reading. Your document needs to be clean, easy to follow, and aligned with the expectations of healthcare recruiters.
Here’s the structure I recommend:
Contact details: Full name, mobile number, professional email, LinkedIn profile link.
Professional profile / personal statement: A concise 4–6 line introduction summarising your career objectives, clinical skills, and commitment to physiotherapy.
Education: List your degree (BSc in Physiotherapy), institution, graduation year, and highlight key modules or research projects relevant to the role.
Clinical placements and experience: Detail the clinical environments you have worked in during your training. Be specific about patient groups, treatment types, and responsibilities.
Key skills: Bullet point core physiotherapy skills such as musculoskeletal assessment, manual therapy, exercise prescription, rehabilitation planning, patient communication, and documentation.
Employment history (if applicable): Include part-time or voluntary roles, showing transferable skills like teamwork, leadership, and organisation.
Additional training and certifications: For example, first aid, sports massage, or CPD courses.
Professional memberships: HCPC registration, CSP membership.
References: Optional at this stage — “available upon request” is sufficient.
Professional profile example for a Graduate Physiotherapist CV
“Motivated and compassionate Graduate Physiotherapist with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy and HCPC registration. Experienced across diverse clinical placements, including musculoskeletal, neurological, and orthopaedic rehabilitation. Skilled in assessment, treatment planning, and evidence-based therapy techniques. Committed to improving patient outcomes through person-centred care and professional development. Seeking to contribute clinical expertise and enthusiasm to a supportive physiotherapy team.”
Showcasing your clinical placements effectively
As a graduate, your strongest asset is your placement experience. Avoid simply listing where you worked. Instead, demonstrate the skills you developed and the impact you had:
“Completed a 6-week musculoskeletal outpatient placement, supporting over 25 patients with tailored exercise rehabilitation programmes, resulting in improved recovery outcomes.”
“Assisted in stroke rehabilitation unit, providing therapeutic exercises and mobility support to neurological patients, enhancing patient independence and confidence.”
“Collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams, contributing to treatment planning meetings and patient care discussions.”
Each bullet should showcase an action, skill, and outcome. Employers want to see how you applied theory in practice.
Highlighting transferable skills in your CV
Physiotherapy isn’t only about clinical knowledge. It’s also about teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and resilience. If you’ve worked in part-time retail, customer service, or sports coaching roles, don’t underestimate their value. For example:
“Developed strong interpersonal skills by working in customer-facing retail roles, managing demanding situations with professionalism.”
“Demonstrated leadership as a sports team captain, motivating peers and encouraging consistent performance.”
Tailoring your CV for NHS Band 5 roles
If you’re applying for NHS Band 5 Graduate Physiotherapist roles, it’s essential that your CV aligns with the job description and person specification. Focus on demonstrating:
Knowledge of NHS values and commitment to patient-centred care.
Experience working with diverse patient groups.
Evidence of adaptability in fast-paced clinical environments.
Willingness to learn, attend training, and develop professionally.
Using language directly from the job description can also help your CV pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Common mistakes graduates make on their CVs
Over the years, I’ve seen graduates fall into some avoidable traps. Here are the don’ts:
Don’t make your CV longer than 2 pages. Recruiters don’t have time to read lengthy documents.
Don’t use generic personal statements like “I am hardworking and enthusiastic.” Instead, use targeted, evidence-based statements.
Don’t include irrelevant hobbies or personal details. Keep it professional.
Don’t use a busy design with graphics, colours, or photos. Keep it clean and traditional.
Advice for middle management and senior physiotherapists
If you’re at Band 6 or 7 level, your CV needs to show more than clinical competence — it must demonstrate leadership, mentoring, and service development. Include achievements such as:
Leading service improvement initiatives.
Supervising and mentoring junior physiotherapists and students.
Collaborating with senior stakeholders to improve patient care pathways.
Delivering training or CPD sessions to colleagues.
For senior management, such as Band 8 physiotherapy leads, highlight strategy, innovation, and measurable service improvements. For example:
“Implemented a new triage system reducing waiting times by 20% across outpatient clinics.”
“Developed partnerships with external rehabilitation providers, improving continuity of care.”
General CV tips for all physiotherapists
Keep formatting consistent with clear headings and bullet points.
Prioritise your most relevant experience near the top of each section.
Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., “treated an average of 15 patients daily”).
Use strong action verbs: delivered, implemented, improved, supported, collaborated.
Proofread carefully — grammar mistakes reflect poorly on your professionalism.
CV do’s and don’ts summary
Do:
Tailor every CV to the job you’re applying for.
Showcase clinical placements in detail.
Highlight transferable skills and real outcomes.
Keep it to two pages maximum.
Include HCPC registration and professional memberships.
Don’t:
Use vague or overused phrases.
Overload with irrelevant information.
Forget to proofread.
Send the same CV for every role.
Use unprofessional email addresses.
Conclusion and next steps
Crafting an interview-winning Graduate Physiotherapist CV template example takes time, care, and attention to detail. But remember, your CV is more than just a list of qualifications — it’s your personal marketing document. Done well, it opens doors to interviews, placements, and career opportunities you deserve.
If you’d like expert support in creating a powerful CV that reflects your unique skills, achievements, and career aspirations, I’d be delighted to help. With over 25 years’ experience coaching graduates, professionals, and leaders across healthcare and beyond, I know exactly what recruiters are looking for.
Book an appointment today to have your CV and LinkedIn profile transformed into interview-winning tools: https://www.cvlondon.net/book-an-appointment/
