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CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING NEW PHYSICAL AND
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY GRADUATES
An Independent Research Project
Presented to
The Faculty of the College of Health Professions and Social Work
Florida Gulf Coast University
In partial fulfillment
of the requirement for the degree of
Doctorate of Physical Therapy
By
Brittany A. Zellars
Cory B. Pickens
2016
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING
APPROVAL SHEET
This independent research is submitted in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of
Doctor of Physical Therapy
____________________________
Brittany Zellars
____________________________
Cory Pickens
Approved: April 2016
Eric Shamus, PhD, DPT Committee Chair
Jacqueline van Duijn, DPT, OCS Committee Member
Rose Pignataro, PhD, DPT, CWS Committee Member
The final copy of this independent research has been examined by the signatories, and we
find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of
scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline.
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank our families and friends for their love and support throughout the
many trials and tribulations that graduate school has presented. This project would not
have been possible without them consistently cheering us on and pushing us to always do
our best.
We would like to thank our committee chair, Eric Shamus, PhD, DPT, and
committee members Jacqueline van Duijn, DPT, OCS, and Rose Pignataro, PhD, DPT,
CWS. This research would have never come to fruition without your guidance, expertise,
and patience throughout the process from start to finish. We would also like to thank all
the staff at The Department of e-Learning and Academic Web Support for assisting us
with our survey set-up, design features, and data collection processes; it would have been
a plain disaster without your speedy replies to frantic emails and beyond helpful hints for
running Checkbox.
Last but surely not least, we would like to thank the individuals in our Physical
Therapy and Occupational Therapy clinic affiliations for participating in our research
project. Without each and every one of you taking the time out of your busy day to
complete our survey, we would not have any research to present. We hope that in the near
future this research will be expanded and students and employers alike will benefit from
knowing what is most sought after as a newcomer in each respective field.
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………....…3
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..4
Purpose………………….…………………………………………………………5
Research Question and Hypotheses ………………………………………………5
Review of the Literature …………………………………………………...…..…………6
Method………………………………………………………………………………..…...7
Study Design……………………………………………………………..………..7
Survey Instrument………………………………………………………..………. 8
Data Collection………………………………………………………..…………..9
Data Analysis……………………………………………………………………...9
Results……………………………………………………………………………………10
Discussion ...……………………………………………………………………...…….. 15
Summary of Findings…………………………………………………………….15
Time Management……………………………………………………………….15
Professional Skills………………………………………………………………..16
Similar Clinical Experience……………………………………...………………18
Limitations……………………………………………………………………….18
Future Research………………………………………………………………….19
Conclusions………………………………………………………………………………19
References…………………………………………………………………………….….21
Appendix A: Consent Form………………………………………………...……………22
Appendix B: Survey Instrument………….…………………...…………………………24
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 2
Appendix C: Recruitment Email CCCE/DOR/Therapist………………………………..29
Appendix D: Recruitment Email Hiring Official………………………………………..30
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 3
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The aim of this study was to collect data regarding the characteristics
these employers seek when they are hiring new physical or occupational therapy
graduates. This information will serve to educate future students and their respective
programs on employer preferences related to the hiring process. Methods: Participants
(N=24) included those responsible for hiring physical and occupational therapists at their
clinic. The majority of participants (n=20) were responsible for hiring in Florida.
Participants were recruited using the contact information from clinical affiliation sites
provided by the Director of Clinical Education of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Program and Fieldwork Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy (OT) Program. The
survey contained 19 items related to hiring characteristics preferences, clinical setting,
patient population, and demographics. Participants were given 12 characteristics and
were asked to rank and order which characteristics they felt were most important when
seeking to hire a new PT or OT graduate. Results: The most important characteristics
reported, in order, were: (1) time management skills, (2) strong professional skills, (3)
clinical affiliation experience in a specific setting, and (4) completion of relevant
continuing education courses. Conclusions: This study provides useful information about
what the most important characteristics are that employers seek when hiring new PT and
OT graduates; however, it does have some limitations related to sample size, low
response rate, and majority of clinical affiliations being located in the Southwest Florida
area.
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 4
INTRODUCTION
Physical and occupational therapists are skilled healthcare professionals who
work with individuals to improve function and movement in prevention and
rehabilitation. The recent job market growth for physical therapists has risen 36%, and
for occupational therapists, has risen 29%; these increases are most closely attributed to
the active “baby boomer” generation.1,2 There is now an increased need for skilled
healthcare providers to keep these individuals independent and maintain their quality of
life throughout their aging process. At this time, the Commission on Accreditation in
Physical Therapy Education reports that there are 233 accredited doctorate programs with
25,971 students enrolled during the 2015-2016 academic year. The American
Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. reports that there are 76 accredited doctorate
level programs and 163 accredited master’s level programs, as well as 20 developing
doctorate level programs and 18 developing master’s level programs in the US.4
The growing number of programs and resultant increase in students graduating
with a doctorate in physical therapy (DPT), doctorate in occupational therapy (DOT), or
masters in occupational therapy (MOT) may present a challenge amongst recent
graduates to stand out and have their first choice when applying for entry-level positions.
A MedLine and PubMed search using key phrases such as “characteristics of recent
physical (occupational) therapy graduates” and “hiring physical (occupational)
therapists” yielded minimal research and none that explored the effects that professional
membership, additional certifications, undergraduate degree selection, published
research, and other modifiable factors with regard to the hiring process for new
graduates. This research provides information to current physical and occupational
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 5
therapy students regarding the characteristics that employers value when hiring new
employees.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to survey PT and OT employers and collect data
regarding the characteristics these employers seek when hiring new physical and
occupational therapy graduates. This information will serve to educate future students
and their respective programs on employer preferences related to the hiring process. With
this information available, students will have a better idea of how to increase their
marketability. Data from this study will also provide information to university programs
to ensure that their curricula accurately meet the needs of employers of physical and
occupational therapists, potentially giving their graduates an advantage when compared
to graduates of other programs.
Research Question and Hypothesis
The research question is: “What qualities or skills do physical therapy and
occupational therapy employers seek when hiring recent physical therapy or occupational
therapy graduates?”
This cross-sectional, non-experimental study examined characteristics valued by
physical and occupational therapists’ employers when hiring recent physical or
occupational therapy graduates; more specifically, characteristics that can be controlled
or established prior to graduation and licensure. These specific characteristics were
addressed using survey methodology; and included, but were not limited to: certifications
or specializations, professional memberships, specific undergraduate degrees/previous
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 6
training, clinical experiences, letters of recommendation/personal references, and
published research.
LITERATURE REVIEW
A study in 2001 by Matwig et al. in New York examined the characteristics
sought by employers of entry level physical therapists in an effort to determine the ability
to enhance marketability of new graduates.5 Surveys were sent to 320 employers, and 128
surveys were completed and sent back, making the response rate 40%. The survey used a
Likert scale asking respondents to rate 12 possible employee characteristics. Data were
analyzed to determine ranking among these characteristics in order to identify which of
the 12 categories were most favored by potential employers. The 12 characteristics
studied were: an applicant’s GPA, clinical affiliation experience in a specific setting, a
master’s degree in physical therapy, a DPT, certification in a specialty area, membership
in APTA/AOTA, strong professional and time-management skills, good written/verbal
communication skills, work experience in the PT field, reputation of the applicant’s
physical therapy education program, completion of relevant continuing education
courses, and letters of recommendation. Chi-squared data analysis was also completed to
determine if different responses could be linked to particular settings or a specific type of
respondent. Results of the study provided the top three characteristics preferred by
employers in New York. The chi-square analysis suggested private practitioners valued
applicants’ professional membership with APTA combined with their PT education
program more than the other settings included in the survey. Other findings from the chi-
square analysis showed that individuals in ambulatory settings valued a master’s degree,
and female respondents rated recommendation letters as having higher merit in the
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 7
selection process than male respondents.5 Since this study was completed 14 years ago,
the master’s program was the sought after degree for physical therapists; the doctor of
physical therapy program is now the entry level designated degree for new physical
therapy graduates.
Survey research conducted in 2004 by Muholland and Derdall, generally
indicated that employers of occupational therapists are most interested in experience,
team or abilities skills, and interpersonal skills.6 As part of this study, a secondary
research question was proposed in order to determine if employers have a different set of
expectations when hiring recent graduates. Findings indicated that most employers
recognized the limited ability of recent graduates to demonstrate experience within the
field; however, most other characteristics were considered equally important whether
hiring a recent graduate or seasoned practitioner.6
METHODS
Study Design
This study employed a cross-sectional survey, designed to determine the
characteristics employers seek when hiring physical and occupational therapy graduates.
Respondents (n = 24) were obtained using a convenience sample consisting of
individuals responsible for hiring physical and/ or occupational therapy graduates. After
IRB Approval was obtained, contact was initiated using a directory of clinical affiliation
sites provided by the Director of Clinical Education of the Doctor of Physical Therapy
Program (DPT) and Fieldwork Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy (OT) Program
at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Both the PT and OT program at FGCU have an
established database containing names and email addresses of clinical coordinators at
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 8
student affiliation sites. These clinical sites were contacted by email, providing an
introduction to the researchers, a concise synopsis of the study, a request for contact
information for the hiring official at each of the sites, and a PDF attachment of the
informed consent form. Once the contact information of the hiring official was received,
an email was sent to them introducing the researchers and the study, along with a PDF
attachment of the informed consent form, and a link to complete the survey. This link
allowed participants to complete the survey using Checkbox®, an online survey platform
hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University, E-Learning Services. Participants were advised
that, by completing the survey, they were providing informed consent to participate. The
inclusion criteria for the study were that the individuals participating were responsible for
hiring physical and/ or occupational therapists. This was to ensure that the data obtained
were coming from a primary source of potential future employers.
There were no other means of solicitation used to gain participants for the study.
No follow-up contact was made following the initial email solicitation. The survey was
made available on September 9, 2015, and was made “inactive” on November 11, 2015.
The data collected by Checkbox ® did not contain any personal identifiers of the
participants. In addition, the data stored in the Checkbox ® program were only accessible
to the researchers and research committee at FGCU using personal passwords and log-in
information.
Survey Instrument
The survey instrument (see Appendix B) was designed to evaluate which
characteristics employers seek when hiring recent physical and occupational therapy
graduates as well as gather demographic data for hiring officials in each field. The survey
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 9
contained 19 items; it was developed after conducting a literature review and with the
guidance of the committee chair and committee members. Three FGCU DPT faculty
members and four student physical therapists then reviewed the survey. Their feedback
was used to improve the survey and ensure questions could be interpreted appropriately
to yield viable data. Question 1 (Q1) required the participant to rank twelve
characteristics as not important, moderately important, very important, or not applicable
on a scale from 1-5. Question 2 (Q2) provided means for the participant to rank the top
four factors they consider when hiring physical and occupational therapy graduates. The
remaining questions collected participant demographics including age, gender,
profession, state of practice, race/ethnicity, setting, practice area, professional
memberships, level of education, published research, and additional certifications or
specializations.
Data Collection
Nominal and ordinal data were collected through the Checkbox® Survey program
and stored on an encrypted external storage device, then transferred to an Excel
spreadsheet for further analysis.
Data Analysis
Due to the limited number of responses, data analysis consisted only of frequency
counts and descriptive statistics. The limited number of responses would not be sufficient
to draw any significant conclusions or correlations.
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 10
RESULTS
Characteristics of Respondents
Of the total number of completed responses (n=24), 67% (n=16) were female and
33% (n=8) were male. The most common age range for participants was 41 to 50 (n=11),
with 29% being 50 or older and 25% reporting ages 31 to 40. Seventy-nine percent
(n=19) of participants reported that they are responsible for hiring both physical and
occupational therapy positions. The majority of participants (n=20) were responsible for
hiring in Florida, but 4 other participants reported they were responsible for hiring in
California (n=1), New York (n=1), and Virginia (n=2). Eighty-seven percent of
participants reported their ethnicity as White/Caucasian. As for the type of setting, 33%
of participants reported “other” as their clinical setting, 25% reported therapist-owned
outpatient, and both skilled nursing and acute care represented 12.5% of the participant
responses. Geriatrics (n=8) and pediatrics (n=8) both accounted for 33% of patient
population, with sports (n=5) the third most reported population.
Table 1. Reported age of participants
Table 2. Reported gender of participants
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 11
Table 3. Reported hiring discipline of participants
Table 4. Reported ethnicity of participants
Table 5. Clinical setting of particpants
Table 6. Predominant patient population at clinical site
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 12
Table 7. Number of years responsible for hiring
Preferred Characteristics of Employers
Participants were asked to rank 12 different characteristics on a scale of 1-5 (5
being most important) based on their importance related to the hiring process. Table 1
shows these characteristics and the frequency count for each characteristic. The average
rating for each response was calculated and the highest importance was as follows:
(1) Time management skills and strong professional skills
(2) Clinical affiliation experience in a specific setting
(3) Completion of relevant continuing education courses
(4) Master’s degree in PT/OT
(5) Letters of recommendation
(6) Reputation of the applicant’s PT/OT program.
Participants were then asked to rank their top 4 characteristics using a “drag and
drop” from the same list of characteristics and can be found in Table 2. The top
characteristics participants reported were as follows: (1) clinical affiliation experience in
their specific setting, (2) strong professional and time management skills, (3) certification
in a specialty area, (4) letters of recommendation. Clinical affiliation experience in their
specific setting and strong professional and time management skills were significantly
more important with total scores of 73 each, with the next most important characteristic
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 13
having a total score of only 28. The total score was determined by the sum of the ranked
items with top positioned options having the higher rank.
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 14
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 15
Table 9. Participant ranking of top 4 preferred characteristics
DISCUSSION
Summary of Findings
Although the sample size was small, there were several characteristics that were
clearly of more importance than others. Strong time management skills, strong
professional skills, and clinical affiliation in the employer’s specific setting were among
the most important skills that employers were seeking when hiring new physical and/or
occupational therapists.
Time Management
Strong time management skills were likely one of the top preferred characteristics
due to the high value put on productivity for physical and occupational therapy. The
number of billable units defines a therapist’s productivity in a day, and more billable
units results in more revenue for the clinic. Therefore, a therapist with good time
management skills is more profitable for a clinic. Students can improve their time
management skills during their clinical experiences by planning interventions in advance
in order to maximize efficiency, familiarizing themselves with location of equipment
throughout the clinic, and being mindful of the established patient schedule. Students can
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 16
also discuss ways of being more efficient in time management by consulting with their
clinical instructor.
Professional Skills
Strong professional skills were likely found to be an important characteristic
because these create a positive experience for patients, which is an important aspect of
rehabilitation. The APTA defines professionalism as “demonstrating core values by
aspiring to and wisely applying principles of altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect,
communication and accountability.”7 According to the APTA Vision 2020,
professionalism was a key aspect of the House of Delegates strategic plan in moving
towards a doctoral profession. Many professional values are more innate qualities rather
than learned skills. However, students may be able to improve upon certain aspects of
professionalism, such as appearance, ability to communicate with patients, punctuality,
and willingness to learn. PT and OT programs are also taking measures to improve the
professional skills of their students. As part of their accreditation process, PT and OT
program accreditation boards (CAPTE and ACOTE) respectively, evaluate programs
based on their professional curriculum. PT programs commonly use the clinical
performance instrument (CPI) as a standardized means of evaluating a student’s
performance during clinical experiences, and professional behavior is one of the
important evaluation criteria. Another interesting finding regarding professionalism is
that participants rated APTA membership as one of the least important characteristics, yet
rated professional skills as one of the highest. According to the APTA’s Professionalism
Core Values, maintaining membership in the APTA is one of the sample indicators. A
reason for this discrepancy is likely a result of the fact that many physical therapists are
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 17
not members of the APTA. In fact, only approximately 30% of physical therapists hold
membership in the APTA.8 In addition, if such a small percentage of physical therapists
hold membership, many of them are likely not aware that the APTA regards membership
in its organization as an indicator of professionalism.
The 2015 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics of the AOTA similarly contains
“Principles and Standards of Conduct” that are used for definition and oversight of
professional behavior. These principles include “(1) Beneficence, (2) Nonmaleficence,
(3) Autonomy, (4) Justice, (5) Veracity, and (6) Fidelity.” “Beneficence” encompasses
the OTs professional duty to act in a way that protects others from harm and assists them
in recovering from and managing disability. Standards of conduct that embody this
principle include timely delivery of services (efficient evaluation, assessment, and
intervention), as well as use of best available evidence in rendered patient care. OTs are
also expected to participate in continuing education in order to maintain current
knowledge and skills in these areas. “Nonmaleficence” describes the OTs professional
duty to exercise “due care” in balancing risks and benefits of treatment. Avoiding
conflicts of interest and maintaining appropriate professional relationships are part of the
standards expected under this principle. “Autonomy” refers to the patient’s right to
informed consent and respect for patient privacy under the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act. “Justice” includes appropriate, respectful treatment of patients,
colleagues, and others encountered in the workplace, and adhering to established policies
for legal and ethical practice. “Veracity” advocates truthfulness in communication,
ensuring that messages received are consistent with information delivered. “Fidelity”
encompasses efficient use of financial and material resources within the workplace.9
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 18
Many of these areas show parallels to principles of professionalism espoused by the
APTA. This can explain why many participants ranked professionalism as one of the
most important characteristics in the study, whether hiring new PT or OT graduates.
Similar Clinical Experience
Clinical experience in a similar setting of the hiring official was also reported to
be very important for employers. This is due to the fact that practicing as a therapist can
vary significantly between settings and patient populations. Therefore, clinical experience
in a similar setting may increase the likelihood of a potential employee’s success and
productivity. For this reason, current students should think about what settings or patient
populations they are interested in working in after graduation, and select clinical
placements that are similar to their interests. If a student is unsure of which setting they
would like to work in post-graduation, he or she should experiment with different settings
and patient populations, and select later clinical placements in that setting once they
develop an interest. PT and OT programs can facilitate this process by placing students in
a wide variety of settings and patient populations. This assists students in selecting an
area of interest, but it also makes the student well rounded so that he or she will have
similar clinical experience in any potential job they may seek in the future.
Limitations
The greatest limitations of this study were an initially small convenience sample,
low response rate, majority of clinical affiliations being located in the Southwest Florida
(SWFL) area, and disseminating the survey via electronic communication. Due to these
limitations, the results of this study should not be generalized to larger populations
outside of the SWFL region.
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 19
Future Research
Future research is needed to determine the preferred characteristics of new PT and
OT graduates from the eyes of employers in each field. The survey instrument used in
this study could be modified to include a free-response question in order to obtain
qualitative data from participants on what they value when hiring new physical or
occupational therapy graduates. Improvements could also be made to the survey to
improve the efficiency and data analysis. Future research should attempt to extend its
reach across the nation to obtain a more complete picture of hiring official preferences in
general as opposed to primarily those in SWFL. Sample size could be expanded by
contacting the APTA and AOTA to obtain a larger list of therapists nationwide. These
therapists could still be contacted in the same manner as used in this study. Future
research should also seek to separate the surveys for employers of physical and
occupational therapists. This study was unable to determine if a certain characteristic
preference applied more to physical or occupational therapy employer.
CONCLUSIONS
Several characteristics were found to be of more importance than others such as
time management, professional skills, and clinical experience in a specific setting.
However, these findings cannot be universally applied due to the small and isolated
sample size. Students, as well as PT and OT programs, can benefit from this data to get a
better understanding of what qualities and characteristics employers are seeking, and
apply it towards making a more marketable student. A student can significantly benefit
from this information while currently enrolled in school because it allows him or her to
improve upon the most important skills PT and OT employers seek, and can be facilitated
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 20
by the vast resources available to them while enrolled. PT and OT programs can use this
information to ensure that students are well-versed in the most important characteristics
and can facilitate this in their curriculum. With the limited research in this area, this study
can serve as a feasible way to conduct future research regarding what characteristics
employers seek when hiring a new PT or OT graduate.
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 21
REFERENCES
1. U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical
Therapist. Available at: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-
therapists.htm. Accessed April 15, 2016.
2. U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational
Therapist. Available at: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-
therapists.htm. Accessed April 15, 2016.
3. CAPTE Quick Facts. Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
Education Web site. http://www.capteonline.org/home.aspx. Published 2016.
Accessed March 27, 2016.
4. AOTA: Find a School. The American Occupational Therapy Association Web
site. http://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Find-School.aspx. Published
2016. Accessed March 27, 2016.
5. Matwig K, Clarke F, Owens T, Granet P. Department of Physical Therapy
Science Center Education, State University of New York Health Science Center at
Syracuse, Syracuse, New York, USA. Selection Criteria for Employment of Entry
Level Physical Therapists: A Survey of New York State Employers. J Phys Ther
Educ. 2001;15(1):65-74.
6. Mulholland S, Derdall M. Exploring what employers seek when hiring
occupational therapists. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2004;
71(4):223-9.
7. Professionalism. American Physical Therapy Association. Retrieved from
http://www.apta.org/Professionalism/. November 22, 2015. Accessed March
13, 2016.
8. FAQ About APTA Membership. American Physical Therapy Association.
Retrieved from http://www.apta.org/MembershipMatters/FAQ/. February
10, 2015. Accessed April 10, 2016.
9. Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics. American Occupational Therapy
Association. Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/-
/media/corporate/files/practice/ethics/code-of-ethics.pdf. April 2015.
Accessed April 20, 2016.
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 22
Appendix A: Informed Consent Form
Online Survey Consent Form
Study Title:
Characteristics Employers Seek When Hiring New Physical and Occupational Therapy
Graduates
Principal Researchers:
Brittany Zellars, SPT
Cory Pickens, SPT
Eric Shamus, PhD, DPT, CSCS
Jacqueline van Duijn, DPT, OCS
Rose Pignataro, PhD, DPT, CWS
You are being invited to participate in a research study conducted through Florida
Gulf Coast University. This study is being performed by students of the Doctorate of
Physical Therapy Program and meets the requirements necessary for graduation. In order
for you to participate in this study, the University requires that I (we) obtain your signed
consent. You must be at least 18 years old to take this survey.
Your participation in the study is completely voluntary. If you decide to
participate now you may change your mind and stop at any time, for any reason, without
penalty or loss of any future services you may be eligible to receive from the University.
You can choose to not answer an individual question or you may skip any section of the
survey by clicking “No Response” to move to the next question.
The purpose of the study is to determine what characteristics employers seek when
hiring new physical and occupational therapy graduates. The researchers are investigating
among, among other things, whether or not trends exist in hiring based on the
respondent’s demographic information such as gender, age, etc.
We are asking you to take part in the study because you are responsible for hiring
physical and/or occupational therapists and we are attempting to identify what
characteristics you find valuable in a new physical or occupational therapy graduate.
If you agree to be part of the research study, you will be asked to complete an online
survey about the characteristics you seek when hiring a new physical or occupational
therapy graduate. We expect the survey will take about 15 minutes or less to complete.
The survey can be completed in more than one session.
Your participation will be kept anonymous. However, working with email or the
internet has the risk of compromising privacy, confidentiality, and/or anonymity. Despite
this possibility, the risks to your physical, emotional, social, professional, or financial
well-being are considered to be 'less than minimal’ by completing the survey.
Although your participation in this research may not benefit you personally, it will
help us understand what employers look for in potential new hires which can assist in
curriculum development, students can learn what is necessary to be hired as a new
graduate, and hiring officials have the opportunity to stress what is important to them
when hiring new physical and occupational therapy graduates, resulting in more qualified
candidates.
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 23
Appendix A: Informed Consent Form (Continued)
If you join the study, we will make every effort keep your information confidential
and secure by taking the following steps, all data and study records will be saved on an
external hard-drive and kept in a locked filing cabinet in the private office of the study's
faculty sponsor, Dr. Eric Shamus for a minimum of three years following completion of
the study,. However, despite these safeguards, there is the possibility of hacking or other
security breaches that could compromise the confidentiality of the information you
provide. Thus, it is important to remember that you are free to decline to answer any
question that makes you uncomfortable for any reason.
We will not release information about you unless you authorize us to do so or unless
we are required to do so by law. If results of this study are published or presented at a
professional meeting, no information will be included that would make it possible to
identify you as a study participant.
You will not be paid to take part in this study.
If you have any questions about this study, you may contact the faculty sponsor, Dr.
Eric Shamus, at 239-590-1418.
If you have any questions about your rights as a subject/participant in this research, or
if you feel you have been placed at risk, you can contact the Chair of the Human
Subjects' Institutional Review Board through Sandra Terranova, Office of Research and
Sponsored Programs, at 239-590-7522.
Statement: I have read the preceding information describing this study. All of my
questions have been answered to my satisfaction. I am 18 years of age or older and freely
consent to participate in the study. My decision to participate or to decline participating
in this study is completely voluntary. I understand that I am free to withdraw from the
study at any time. I am aware of my option to not answer to any questions I choose.
I understand that it is not possible to identify all potential risks I believe that reasonable
steps have been taken to minimize both the known and potential but unknown risks. The
submission of the completed survey is my informed consent to participate in the study.
If you would like a copy of the consent form, print a copy before continuing.
By clicking on the survey link below you are consenting to participate in this research
survey.
http://____________________
If you do not wish to participate, click the “x’ in the top corner of your browser to exit.
Thank you for your time.
Brittany Zellars, SPT
Cory Pickens, SPT
Eric Shamus, PhD, DPT, CSCS
Jacqueline van Duijn, DPT, OCS
Rose Pignataro, PhD, DPT, CWS
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 24
Appendix B: Survey Instrument
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 25
Appendix B: Survey Instrument (Continued)
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 26
Appendix B: Survey Instrument (Continued)
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 27
Appendix B: Survey Instrument (Continued)
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 28
Appendix B: Survey Instrument (Continued)
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 29
Appendix C: Recruitment Email for CCCE/DOR/Therapist
Dear CCCE/DOR/Therapist,
As students of the FGCU Physical Therapy Program, Cory Pickens and Brittany
Zellars are conducting survey research to determine what characteristics employers seek
when hiring new physical and occupational therapy graduates. Dr. Jacqueline van Duijn
and Professor Karen Mock have provided us with your contact information because of
your role as a clinical affiliation with the FGCU PT and OT programs. We are requesting
the contact information, specifically the name and email address, of the individual(s)
responsible for hiring physical and occupational therapists at your respective facility or
facilities.
We thank you for your time and cooperation!
Brittany Zellars, SPT
Cory Pickens, SPT
Eric Shamus, PhD, DPT, CSCS
Jacqueline van Duijn, DPT, OCS
Rose Pignataro, PhD, DPT, CWS
CHARACTERISTICS EMPLOYERS SEEK WHEN HIRING 30
Appendix D: Recruitment Email for Hiring Official
Dear hiring official,
As students of the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Florida Gulf Coast
University, Cory Pickens and Brittany Zellars are conducting survey research under the
guidance of Dr. Eric Shamus, Dr. Jacqueline Van Duijn, and Dr. Pignataro. The purpose
of this research is to determine what skills or attributes employers find most valuable
when hiring a new (seeking first job) physical or occupational therapy graduate
candidates and what those students can do to make them a more marketable employee.
To determine this, we are enlisting your help to identify which of these skills or attributes
you find most valuable when hiring a new physical or occupational therapy graduate.
In order to participate, please read the consent form attached to this email, then click the
following link to take the survey. By clicking on the survey you are consenting to
participate in this research survey:
https://survey.fgcu.edu/Survey.aspx?s=839c3800bae641d59c0048e71fbbe3
0a
This survey will work best if taken using “Google Chrome” web browser.
Brittany Zellars, SPT
Cory Pickens, SPT
Eric Shamus, PhD, DPT, CSCS
Jacqueline van Duijn, DPT, OCS
Rose Pignataro, PhD, DPT, CWS
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