The Social Worker Job Interview: Five Questions to Expect
- What kinds of clients do you find most difficult to work with, and why?
- “What strategies do you use for crisis intervention?”
- “What type of supervision do you prefer?”
- “What are the signs of abuse?”
- “How does one best manage clients’ feelings?”
For anyone preparing for a job interview for a social worker position, getting prepared for some key interview questions is always a great idea. This is an important role, and all candidates can expect some very direct questions in order for the job provider to discern who is truly best prepared for the job. If this sounds like you, follow along. Here are five very common questions seen in many social worker job interviews today.
“What kinds of clients do you find most difficult to work with, and why?”
When the interviewer asks this kind of question, they are essentially trying to get a grasp of what kinds of cases you work well with and which you may not and thus could potentially avoid. One of the best ways to conquer this question is by asserting a passion for all clients and situations and going on to finding the unique solutions to their unique issues. It is never good to disparage any persons or groups of people here and to simply show responsibility and assertive care for all in need of the service.
“What strategies do you use for crisis intervention?”
The ability to provide effective crisis intervention is a critically important skill, and one particularly important to social workers at that. The question as to how the interviewee handles such situations is thus highly likely to come up at interview time. The best approach to this question is to show an organized, calm, and effective knowledge in handling such crises. Telling a story that breaks down your strategy into organized components can really do the job here.
“What type of supervision do you prefer?”
This can be a tricky question that often elicits some interesting results for the interviewer. The purpose of this one is to see how the candidate responds to differing types of oversight. The best approach here is to avoid telling any specific stories of supervisors of the past and explaining the desire for a dynamic and effective working relationship. Display a welcoming attitude of any supervision style with a particular desire for the kind of oversight that fosters your and the organization’s thriving.
“What are the signs of abuse?”
Being able to identify signs of abuse is another key trait of great social workers. Interviewers will often want reassurance of aptitude here and will often seek it via a question like this one. Anyone qualified for this role should easily and quickly be able to cite some of these abuse signs to the interviewer. Such signs often include mysterious bruises and marks as well as damaged clothing or personal possessions among many others.
“How does one best manage clients’ feelings?”
Questions such as this one can really draw out a number of pros and cons in the interview candidate, and giving a solid response is important. Again, this is one that qualified applicants should already be innately ready for. The best approach to answering this one is to explain the importance of staying calm and systematic, identifying and classifying the client’s concerns, then addressing each of those concerns individually and purposefully.
Related Resource: Top 10 Affordable Master of Social Work Online (MSW) Degrees
Social work is a fantastic and rewarding calling. Doing the job effectively, however, requires certain skills and traits that interviewers want to see prior to the hire. In conclusion, The National Association of Social Workers is another highly recommended resource to consult further on matters of common social worker interview questions, industry trends and tips, social work jobs, and more.