List Of Important Interview Questions On Occupational Therapist

Q – 1 Do you know what is meant by Adaptive Occupation?

Ans- Adaptive Occupation is a use of technical aids and technology, in combination with consultation and education to teach client’s different ways for performing their task.

Q – 2 Explain what are Auxiliary aids?

Ans- Auxiliary aids are devices used for the client who has communicating disabilities, and aids used are assistive listening devices, taped texts, closed caption decoders on televisions and qualified interpreters.

Q – 3 Do you know what is sensory defensiveness?

Ans- Sensory defensiveness is used to define child’s behavior in response to sensory input, reflecting severe over-reaction to a particular sensory input.

Q – 4 What is the term Accessibility audit?

Ans- Accessibility audit is a review of the access and inclusion practices of the place of public accommodation from a physical and policy perspective.

Q – 5 Tell us how would your colleagues describe you?

Ans- This one can be difficult as you have to think how you come across to others but is much the same as selecting your strengths and weaknesses but in the scenario of team-working.

Q – 6 Why should we hire you as Occupational Therapist?

Ans- This question is almost always asked in any interview regardless of the field. This question actually is the best one for answering because it grants you the opportunity to sell yourself as long as you are able to tell them you are easily adaptable to the team/culture and that you not only can perform the job, but will do it with spectacular results.

Q – 7 Tell me when nursing home requires an occupational therapist?

Ans- When nursing home are dealing with people suffering from strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure then they need OT. They will meet patient three to six times per week after an injury, assessing his needs, prescribing appropriate equipment’s and training them how to use it.

Q – 8 Explain what are the challenges does an occupational therapist has to face?

Ans- ☛ Dealing with unsatisfied patient
☛ Difficulty in communicating with mentally challenged patient
☛ Daily maintaining living facilities for patient
☛ Developing living and work skills
☛ Adapting to a new environment and people if travelling abroad
☛ Language barrier with locals and patient

Q – 9 Tell me when dynamic splint can be used?

Ans- Dynamic splint is made of plastic material to support and immobilize bone or to support stretched muscles.

It can be used in various ways like

☛ To correct or prevent deformity with tightening joints or muscles
☛ Stop weakened muscles from over strengthening
☛ Strengthening weak muscles
☛ To gain better range of motion before surgery
☛ Provide an even muscle balance when there is an imbalance

Q – 10 Do you know what is Augmentative or Alternative communications?

Ans- The systems that supplement or replace communication by gesture or voice among people is referred as augmentative or alternative communications.

Q – 11 Do you know what is the role of the occupational therapist in injury management?

Ans- The role of the occupational therapist in injury management is

☛ Using specialized assessments to determine the functional requirements of various task, and clients capacity to return to work
☛ Giving knowledge to clients for safe work practices
☛ Modifying the work environment keeping employees health and safety in concern, and thus minimizing the injuries
☛ Coordinating and designing graded return to work programs

Q – 12 Tell me how would your friends describe you? How would your enemies describe you?

Ans- This is a question that might as well be asking, “What are your good and bad qualities?” Obviously, your friends would say all your positive attributes. That ones a no-brainer! But, exposing your weaknesses and being able to spin it is an art. Maybe your enemy would say you were obsessive compulsive when in fact, you just truly have a divine eye for detail.

Q – 13 Explain what are the devices occupational therapist might require for helping people?

Ans- It may require

☛ Assistive device for ambulation like walker
☛ Dressing aids
☛ Bathroom equipment’s
☛ Mobility and transfer device
☛ Electrical stimulation system
☛ AFO
☛ Wheelchairs
☛ Cane and Crutches

Q – 14 Tell me what made you choose OT? What is your motivation in applying for this post?

Ans- These questions are examining your motivation for the post, and have the potential to highlight your strengths as well as your hopes from working within the post.

Q – 15 List out some common types of documentation done by occupational therapist?

Ans- Documentation done by occupational therapist includes

☛ Screening: It includes details like client information, referral information, medical history, etc.

☛ Evaluation: It includes evaluation and re-evaluation report

☛ Intervention: It includes intervention plan, contact report note, transition plan and progress report

☛ Outcomes: It includes discharge or discontinuation report

Q – 16 Explain what are the features that occupational therapist observes before treating Autism patient?

Ans- ☛ Attention span and stamina
☛ Adapting towards new activities
☛ Play skills
☛ Need for personal space
☛ Reactions to touch or other types of stimuli
☛ Basic motor skill like balance, posture and manipulation of small objects
☛ Aggression and other types of behaviors
☛ Interaction between child and carers

Q – 17 Think of one client and tell me what did you do and how did OT have a valuable contribution?

Ans- This can be tricky, but the real question is how you see OT as having a positive impact and is this positive for the hospital or client or both.

Q – 18 What is the term dyspraxia and what are their types?

Ans- “Dyspraxia” is a disorder, where a person’s motor skill (locomotive movements) gets hampered. It can affect daily activities of a person like holding pencils to brushing teeth. Dyspraxia is classified into four categories.

☛ Ideomotor Dyspraxia
☛ Ideational Dyspraxia
☛ Oromotor Dyspraxia
☛ Constructional Dyspraxia

Q – 19 Do you know what are the benefits of occupational therapy to the patient having Autism?

Ans- ☛ Learn how to self-regulate
☛ Learn how to delay gratification
☛ Express feeling in more appropriate ways
☛ Engage play with peers
☛ Learn how to concentrate on work
☛ Learn to develop social interaction with adult and peer
☛ Learn body awareness

Q – 20 Explain in what all ways occupational therapist can be helpful to people?

Ans- Occupational therapist can be helpful in numerous ways

☛ Help them to study new ways of doing things following illness or injury
☛ Make them adapt appliances that can help them to perform their daily task easily like wheelchairs or toilet seats or provide special bath
☛ Make changes in their living environment to undertake their usual occupation
☛ Try to minimize the pain or discomfort due to illness or physical inability
☛ Boost their confidence level in social situations

Q – 21 What skills have you got to bring to this post as Occupational Therapist? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Why should we appoint you as opposed to other candidates we are interviewing?

Ans- These three questions are targeted at identifying whether you meet the needs of the department in terms of the skills you can bring and offer – it is important to recognise what these are but not to forget that you will also have weaknesses. Identify your weaknesses but turn it into a positive – say you need to work on this skill or that actually whilst it is a weakness it can also be a strength because….

Q – 22 Tell me the preventive occupational therapy intervention with stroke survivors?

Ans- The preventive occupational therapy intervention with stroke survivors are

☛ Abnormal changes in postural alignment
☛ Pain related with immobility or abnormal joint alignment
☛ Injury due to falls
☛ Depression following stroke
☛ Aspiration during eating, feeding and swallowing

Q – 23 Do you know with whom an occupational therapist can work with?

Ans- Occupational therapist can work with

☛ Mental health services
☛ Physical rehabilitation
☛ Learning disability
☛ Primary care
☛ Research posts
☛ Environmental adaptation
☛ Care Management

Q – 24 What would you do if some patient’s relative was complaining and making a scene? What is the most challenging thing you’ve ever had to do?

Dealing with rapidly changing situations on the ward is essential to this post. Can you give an example of a time when you’ve had to do this?

Ans- These examine how you deal with situations, both expected and unexpected. How do you act under pressure – it’s okay if your previous experiences proved to be the ‘wrong way’ but identify that you need to change this.

Q – 25 Behavioral Occupational Therapist Interview Questions:

Ans- ☛ Tell me about your most successful occupational therapy. How did you manage to help you client?
☛ Recall a time you created excellent rapport with a client’s family. How did you do it?
☛ What previous work have you done as an occupational therapist?
☛ What other relevant experience do you have?
☛ Of your placements which did you enjoy the most and least? Why?
☛ If you do group work, what is the largest number of clients you have worked with?
☛ What supervisory structures are you accustomed to?
☛ How organised are you when it comes to paperwork?
☛ Have you ever had to deal with a distressed or hostile client?
☛ Have you ever had to deal with a complaint from a client?
☛ How do you approach client confidentiality?
☛ What do you like best about being an occupational therapist?
☛ What is the role of an occupational therapist play in a multidisciplinary team?

Q – 26 Treatments And Evaluations Based Occupational Therapist Interview Questions:

Ans- ☛ Is therapy performed at bedside or in a gym?
☛ What are your productivity goals?
☛ How many units a day do you expect your therapists to bill?
☛ What constitutes one unit? (For example, are units calculated in 15 minute increments?
☛ How many evaluations do your therapists perform each day?
☛ How much time do you expect an evaluation to take?
☛ How does an evaluation count towards productivity?
☛ What responsibilities will I have that do not contribute to my productivity? For example, team meetings, patient transport, or documentation.
☛ What percentage of your staff members are meeting your productivity expectations?

Q – 27 Work Shift Based Occupational Therapist Interview Questions:

Ans- ☛ Will I be expected to work overtime?
☛ Will I have any evening hours?
☛ Will I be a part of a weekend rotation?
☛ Will weekends be paid at time and half, or compensated with time off during the week?
☛ Will I receive overtime pay for working holidays?
☛ Are there any days during my placement that will be considered holidays?
☛ How long will it take to travel between the facilities that I’m expected to cover?
☛ How will time and mileage for travel between sites be reimbursed?

Q – 28 Environmental Occupational Therapist Interview Questions:

Ans- ☛ How many therapists do you have on staff?
☛ What’s the ratio of PT/OT/ and SLP therapists?
☛ Who will be my supervisor?
☛ What is your policy concerning continuing education?
☛ When will I be orientated for this position?
☛ What does your orientation involve?
☛ How many hours are allotted for orientation?
☛ How do you record documentation? Do you have a computer system, or a paper system?
☛ How long does it take the average therapist to become proficient with this system?
☛ What is your therapist salary range?

Q – 29 Role Specific Occupational Therapist Interview Questions:

Ans- ☛ What are critical skills of an occupational therapist?
☛ How do you make a difference in people’s lives?
☛ What ADL evaluation tools are you familiar with?
☛ How do you keep abreast of new techniques? Is there any recent development you find interesting?
☛ Have you ever worked with groups? Tell me about your experience
☛ What do you need to consider to develop a treatment plan?

Q – 30 Operational and Situational Occupational Therapist Interview Questions:

Ans- ☛ How would you handle a client who didn’t want to cooperate during a therapy session?
☛ Imagine you have to work with a patient who can’t communicate properly with you due to physical condition. How do you overcome this?
☛ If a patient has difficulty moving around the house, what equipment would you consider prescribing? What criteria would you use to make a choice?
☛ Imagine you have to interview a patient to gather necessary health information. Where would you start? How would you proceed?

Q – 31 Basic Occupational Therapist Interview Questions:

Ans- ☛ What are the skills necessary to become an occupational therapist?
☛ What work experience do you have that is relevant to occupational therapy?
☛ What is your opinion on how an occupational therapy team should function?
☛ What do you think are the three most important skills necessary for success in occupational therapy?
☛ What contribution could you make to our team that other applicants cannot?
☛ What do you think the therapist’s role would be like in this setting?
☛ What are the factors of effective occupational therapy?
☛ What are the benefits and the challenges for each of these factors?
☛ Describe a time when you delivered a positive experience for the patient.
☛ Tell me a situation where you managed risk effectively, explaining the situation, the opportunity you had to manage successfully, the action you took and the results.

Q – 32 Explain and give an example of when you had to deal with a confidentiality issue?

Ans- This one is seemingly tricky, but you can turn it around as confidentiality is something which must be dealt with daily so think how this has impacted upon your working.

Q – 33 Do you have any questions for us regarding our tasks?

Ans- Sometimes the person conducting the interview is less prepared (or even more nervous) than the candidate. They might forget to give you the information you require to know whether you would be a good fit. You want to be sure you are well aware of a typical workday and ask them what kind of person would make their ideal candidate. Asking them about what they’re looking for is a great way to assure them that you have those attributes and skills so they are left with a positive lasting impression.

Q – 34 Explain what do you see as the main challenges of this post?

Ans- This one is seeing if you have actually read the job description but can also be an opportunity to bring up how your weaknesses may impact upon your work – if you do discuss this, make sure you can identify methods to overcome these potential challenges.

Q – 35 Explain how do you deal with a difficult patient?

Ans- This question is probably the most common and important things that will pop up in most any healthcare-related interview. Be sure to let them know that you’re capable of patiently allowing the distressed client to express their feelings as you calmly provide feedback. A relaxed patient is a happy patient.

Q – 36 What was the last professional-related/research article you read and what did you gain from it all?

What is the role of the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant in the multidisciplinary team?

Ans- I would recommend reading an article – and to help it sink in, write a paragraph stating what it was about and what you learned or just make a few bullet points.

Q – 37 Tell me what are all areas where occupational therapist can work?

Ans- An occupational therapist can work in

► Community centers
► Educational establishments
► GP practices
► Hospitals
► Housing associations
► Clients homes
► Prisons
► Residential and Nursing homes
► Social services and council departments
► Schools

Q – 38 Why Did You Choose This Career Path as Occupational Therapist?

Ans- Occupational therapy assistants have a wide range of personal and professional reasons for entering the field. Many have a desire to help others overcome physical and mental obstacles to well-being and independent living, while others may have had positive experiences with occupational therapists in their private lives.

The answer you provide to this question can give the interviewer insight about your personality, motivation and dedication to the profession. Think carefully about the reasons that you wanted to become an occupational therapy assistant. There’s nothing wrong with sharing some personal information and history, if applicable, but you should also take care that you don’t go overboard.

Q – 39 Explain a situation where you did not agree with management and how did you handle it?

Ans- This question is hard because an ideal candidate would not be someone that could readily become confrontational with management directive. However, they want to know that you are able to stand up for what you know is right, but handle it in a positive way.

One way would be to explain that in a situation where you felt their choice wasn’t in the best interest of the facility or a patient that you hoped their decision would be reconsidered.

Q – 40 Tell me what would you hope to learn from this post?

Ans- What opportunities can you gain – how would you expect to learn i.e. through CPD opportunities, experiential leanring?

Q – 41 Tell me what do you like to do in your free time?

Ans- Isn’t is funny how we would assume that no one would be better than us at knowing ourselves? But, it can get super tricky when put on the spot to share about our free time or interests. It seems so simple that many people neglect preparation on it. Many people feel like they don’t have hobbies when they really do and have trouble remembering it when placed on the spot.

Don’t be too honest if you spend 5 hours on Facebook or Instagram a day, but don’t be a liar and say you volunteer at soup kitchens when really you did that once 5 years ago. This question is to see what you’re like outside of your professional role and to gain some insight about your personality. Maybe you are an avid golfer, spend weekends in the garden, love hunting for antiques, or even joyfully belt out karaoke every Friday night. Think about it ahead of time and you’ll be fine.

Q – 42 Where do you see yourself in five years time as Occupational Therapist?

Ans- Forward planning is always good to do – but they are looking for some commitment, not for you to be using this job as a mere stepping stone.

Q – 43 Tell us what types of patients or people do you have trouble working with?

Ans- What is the one thing people repeatedly commend you for? Think back to past performance reviews. What common themes have been there? Think about things your family has praised you for. What common things do they say you are good at? You will find your answer to this question in these things! Start off by telling the interviewer your strength, and share how other people have told you this is your strength.

You might say, “My strength is organization. My past manager wrote this in my past two performance reviews, and my family always comments about how I am one of the most organized people they know!”

Q – 44 Tell us which placements have you enjoyed most and least?

Ans- This has to be handled with care – you don’t want to offend anyone and regarding placements – you want to show how your positive and negative experiences have informed you choice to apply for this role – for me a rotational post would extend the practice experience I lacked in my placements.

Q – 45 Tell us How Do You Handle Resistant or Difficult Patients?

Ans- Some occupational therapy patients might not be thrilled to be receiving your services, no matter how dedicated or devoted you are to providing the best possible treatment and care. You might be the nicest or friendliest therapy assistant, yet for some reason, certain patients will resist your efforts to help.

Your interviewer might directly ask you how you handle difficult or resistant patients, or he may give you a case example and ask how you would work with a specific type of patient. You should be prepared to explain how you would handle a resistant patient, such as trying to gain insight into why the patient is refusing services or seeking guidance from your supervising OT.

Q – 46 Do you know about our hospital/facility/etc?

Ans- Before any interview, you should do your research. Flattering them will grant you brownie points. For example, tell them you learned about them being named the #1 rehabilitation facility in the region and would be honored to join such a winning team. Or, share a personal story about a friend or family member who got top-notch treatment there if you have one.

They’ll love your connection you feel with them. Just don’t lie and don’t kiss their butt too much or you will come off as insincere. There’s a fine line there.