Working in behavioral health can be a stressful career. How do you handle stress on the job?
The interviewer asks this question to determine if you are someone who can handle the pressures of the job. Working in behavioral health can be stressful and fast-paced, and the interviewer wants to determine if you will be a good fit for the team if hired. Talk to the interviewer about your ability to handle pressure in the workplace and techniques you use to minimize job stressors.
Focus on letting the interviewer know you understand how to decompress away from work so you are ready to mentally handle the pressures of your job. When healthcare professionals understand the stress factor of their job and have healthy ways to relieve stress, they are less apt to burn out or become sick or injured from stress. Describe how you take care of yourself mentally and physically on and off the job, showing you will be a level-headed employee if hired.
"I have worked in behavioral health for fifteen years and understand this job is stressful. To combat the stressors of my job, I eat a healthy, balanced diet, exercise, and spend time with my friends and family on my days off. If I feel particularly stressed at work, I will take a few minutes to get some fresh air or discuss how I feel with a coworker or supervisor. Taking care of myself mentally and physically at work and home prepares me to handle stressful situations."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I manage stress by focusing on my family, friendships, and travel! When there are many pressures to deliver on a short deadline, or big company changes such as layoffs or executive discretions in the news, I support my team members to focus and do their best despite the circumstance, call some work friends to commiserate, and then just close the laptop for the day and focus on my own life!
Jaymie's Feedback
Excellent! Good job sharing a mix of techniques to manage stress.
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