Landed an interview for your dream job in social care? Congratulations! Now it’s time to prepare so you can outshine the competition and reach the finish line. Our knowledgeable consultants have put together some of their top tips to help candidates ace their next social care interview.
Familiarise yourself on the key legislations
Revisit your studies/notes on current legislation and policy as this is a topic almost certain to crop up during the interview as social work is primarily knowledge-driven. “What pieces of legislation would you say are relevant to the role?,” is a good example of the type of questions to anticipate. Try practising with a friend so you know how you’ll structure your answers in advance.
Research the organisation
Read the job description, pull out keywords; study the website, find out more about the company’s core values and familiarise yourself with their social media/any relevant press releases. Doing your research ahead of the interview always pays off and ensures you have a clear understanding of what you’re signing up for!
Showcase relevant experience
Prospective employers will likely be interested in your clinical or casework experience, as well as your soft skills and approach to social care. “Tell me about a time when you encountered a difficult situation at work?”, is a very common question in the world of social care which we recommend preparing an answer for. These kind of anecdotal questions are best answered using the STAR method:
Situation - set the scene.
Task - what was needed from you to resolve the issue?
Action - how did you respond?
Result - what was the outcome of your involvement?
The interviewer may also be interested in what kind of service users you have worked with so make sure to be specific and go into detail about how you provided for their unique requirements. This is particularly important if the job description states that experience working with X type of client is advantageous and will help you stand out amongst the competition.
Ask your own questions!
Remember, you’re allowed to ask questions too. In fact, this is crucial to finding out whether the role in question is a good fit for you. Have these questions ready in the back of your head so you can ask them at the end of the interview. It also shows the interviewer that you’ve done your research and that you have a genuine interest in the position.
Here’s some ideas:
What do you enjoy most about this job?
How would a typical day in my role look?
What is a standard caseload for this position?
Consider it a bad sign if the employer is unable to provide answers to your questions and/or doesn’t give you the opportunity to ask them in the first place.
Looking for your next role in social care? Imperium Solutions works with a plethora of local councils up and down the country and offer work opportunities suited to your specific requirements.
Fill out our opportunities form today for roles in our adult division and our children’s division.
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