How a person navigates the terrain of working with the Department of Social Services can reveal a lot. A reluctance to take the responsibilities of a leader when the job demands can result in indecision and task paralysis. Your ability or reluctance to lead, depending on the role performed, can create a liability for the department, and do a disservice to those in need.

Prior to your interview, put some thought into the qualities great leaders possess. You don't have to have management experience to exhibit leadership skills. Break down what leading a team means to you. Exhibiting the qualities of a leader goes a long way towards affirming your value to their department. A person who prioritizes their own goals above others can undermine their own efforts towards success. Driving positive change towards the big picture of greater success is an investment in one's own development. Your possession and scope of the big picture versus a more narrow short-term view are what the interviewer is truly trying to assess.