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Preparing for a social worker interview can be a daunting experience. This article will hopefully help the process seem a little less daunting. Looking at what preparation can be taken to make an interview as successful as possible.
Firstly, understand the practical skills needed: Good communication skills, patience, able to adapt to new situations etc. The list can continue for a very long time, therefore it is important to work out what you believe to be the most important practical skills to mention. More importantly, what specific examples you can give from your background that demonstrates you hold these necessary skills.
As equally important to this practical side, is the values of social work. This can include and is definitely not limited to treating people with respect and dignity, empathetic of other people’s situation, and equality. Unlike a skill set, showing that you hold a specific set of values can be a little bit more trickier. Past experiences may demonstrate that you do hold onto these values. If this is not the case, then it might be a good idea to make sure you can explain clearly why exactly these types of values are so important to social care. This will show a deeper level of understanding about social work than just solely mentioning a value.
In both of these areas, it is worth trying to remember certain ‘buzzwords.’ This can vary from role to role, but mostly are certain phrases or words that can be found in a job description. If you can link a skill or a value to an experience of your own, and mention a keyword within the job description that’s relevant to that skill/value, you are giving ample amounts of evidence to an interviewer of why you are best suited for the role.
Finally, it is also worthwhile to make sure you are up to date with social work news. Firstly, this shows a level of interest in the sector, one that goes beyond just reading a job description. Secondly, it can keep you aware of changes in legislation and you can demonstrate how this change could alter your job on a day to day basis. This shows a level of adaptability and also shows that you understand the importance of up to date legislation within the field of social work.