Oliver Wong – How to develop confidence and build your professional ’character’. New Grad Series Part7

Physio Foundations

This week I spoke to new graduate physiotherapist Oliver Wong about his experiences transitioning from university to working life, how to develop confidence and develop your professional ‘character’ and why he thinks a career brainstorm is better than a career plan.

Thanks Oli for a great conversation. If you found this episode helpful, please follow Physio Foundations in your favourite podcast episode on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram @PerratonPhysio

In this episode

0:00 About this episode, welcome Oli

2:59 About Oli – background, interests and transition to working life

5:00 How are you finding working as a physiotherapist? Is it what you expected?

6:20 Changing perspectives – learning more about the profession, physiotherapy is more than elite sport

9:20 Parts of the job that a first-year physiotherapy student may not know about yet? The complexity and considering ‘what’s next?’ The importance of general knowledge, even when specialising

12:00 The importance of having a thirst for knowledge and creating options for yourself

15:50 Having a career brainstorm rather than a career plan – a useful approach for the new grad years. Adding variation to your career planning

18:25 Making yourself available for opportunities

20:50 Social media isn’t for professional development

22:30 Attending conferences

24:30 The most important foundational knowledge and skills for a physiotherapist

29:40 Tips for developing your patient communication skills while you’re still in university

33:35 Communicating with confidence – communicating with patients and other professionals, developing your professional persona

39:34 Stepping into your authentic professional character. Develop the clinician version of you.

43:06 Advice for students for your careers ahead – the importance of developing good habits

This is a discussion aimed at health professionals and health professional students. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

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Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.