Interview Questions for a Social Worker: 9 Questions with Example Answers
Social workers help people solve everyday problems and improve the health and happiness of individuals, families, and communities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of social workers in the U.S. will grow by 12% from 2020 to 2030. If you’re looking for a job in social work, you might be looking for ways to prepare for your upcoming interview, such as what kinds of social worker questions you can expect. Social Worker: 9 Questions
In this article, we’ll list some common questions about social work and show you how to answer them.
Interview questions and answers for a job as a social worker
Here is a list of interview questions and answers that can help you get hired as a social worker:
1. With whom are you willing to work?
Employers want to know why you want to be a social worker and see evidence that you are committed to the job. They also want to know if you are willing and interested in helping certain clients. Tell us why you think you can help this group in some way.
“I want to make the lives of older people better. It’s not always easy for them to find a good balance when they stop working. They are usually by themselves and have problems with money or their health. I want to help make their lives better. I want to help this group by giving them real-world solutions and speaking up for them when I need to.”
2. Would you be willing to visit your clients in their homes?
The person who is interviewing you wants to know if you are ready for this hard situation. Yes, because home visits are a very important part of a social worker’s job. Show your boss that you’re prepared and sure of what you’re saying.
Example: “Yes, I feel ready to go to clients’ homes. I know that these situations can be dangerous or hard on me emotionally, but I’m confident enough in myself to do them anyway. It’s the best way to figure out what’s really going on with a client and give them the help they need. Also, I don’t get easily upset and can keep my cool when things get hard.”
3. What kind of clients have been the hardest for you to work with?
Your future boss will use this question to see how well you can deal with stressful situations and clients who are hard to please. Answer in a positive way and mention the client’s problems to show that you care.
“People who are addicted to drugs can be hard to work with, in my opinion. But it’s also satisfying to help them stop using. I work hard to get my clients excited and to find the best way to solve their problems. People who use drugs have a story, and I know that if I want to help them get better, I need to find out what brought them to their lowest point. This means you have to listen to them, deal with things that make them feel bad, and try different things until you find one that works.”
4. Do you know what clear signs of abuse look like?
The employer wants to see how well you know and understand things by asking you this hypothetical question. As a social worker, you need to be able to tell when someone in a certain group is being abused.
“Emotional abuse can show up as strange changes in behavior, anger, or pulling away from people.” If someone has bruises or black eyes, it’s clear that they were hurt physically. Also, if the person taking care of the vulnerable person won’t let visitors see them alone, that could be a sign that something is wrong. Last but not least, the person’s report of abuse is a clear sign that I should pay attention to.”
5.How would you deal with a rude client?
The interviewer wants to see if you can be patient and deal with disagreements. This is a hard question because you might say something bad if you answer it. Stay positive in your answer by showing empathy and assuring the interviewer that you know how to deal with angry clients.
“I want to show a client who is being rude that I am on their side and not against them. I listen to what they say and ask them to say it again to make sure I understand. I don’t let what they say bother me because I know I shouldn’t. I speak slowly and calmly, and after a few minutes, they usually stop being so loud. You have to stay calm to keep things under control.”
6. How do you make work and other things fit together?
Your interviewer knows that social work can get in the way of your personal life and wants to make sure you can deal with that. Pay attention to how well you can keep things organized and how much you want the job.
Example: “I’m used to balancing my work and personal life, and I’m good at it. I have set up a way to get help at home when I have to work more hours. So, I can work hard at work and have fun at home when I’m not working.”
7. In your job as a social worker, what do you do best?
When a potential employer asks you what your strengths are, they want to know if you have the right skills to be a social worker. The best things about a good social worker are that they are not judgmental, that they are well-organized, that they take action, and that they are good at communicating.
Example: “I know that the best way to build relationships with clients is to care about them and not judge them. I have these qualities. I am an excellent communicator. I can ask my clients the right questions and listen to what they say even when things are hard. This helps me decide what to do in the cases I’m in charge of.”
8. In your job as a social worker, what do you think are your biggest flaws?
When the interviewer asks about your weaknesses, they want to make sure you can recognize your flaws and work on them. Choose a weakness that won’t hurt your job as a social worker, like not being able to control yourself or having trouble making decisions. Also, don’t forget to talk about what you’ve done to get better.
Example: “I want to do a good job so much that sometimes I take on too much. I know this is one of my weaknesses, so when I have a lot to do, I try to talk with my coworkers. Now, I feel much better about asking for help and giving tasks to other people.”
9. What made you want to work in social services?
The person interviewing you wants to know how interested you are in doing social work. Show that you want to make other people’s lives better and that you are kind and interested in the job.
“I’ve always been happy when I could help other people, even when I was a child. I work hard every day to make my neighborhood a better place. I’ve needed help from social workers before, and I’ll never forget what they did for me. They got me to where I am right now. I became a social worker because of this personal experience and the fact that I care about people.
