Please give an example of how you handle stressful situations.
As a Hospice Social Worker, you must work well under pressure. You will be responsible for meeting with patients and families going through a challenging time in their lives. Unexpected circumstances may add stress to an already stressful situation, and you must be able to manage your stress for a successful outcome. The interviewer wants to hear that you work well under pressure and stay focused on your task.
Focus on an example of a stressful situation related to your role as a Hospice Social Worker. You might have had a patient take a turn for the worse or have a family member disagree with your treatment plan. Using the STAR method is an excellent way to formulate your response to this question. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Briefly describe the situation, explain your role, the measures you took to solve the issues, and the outcome. The interviewer wants to hear that you can effectively work under pressure as a Hospice Social Worker and not let stress interfere with your job.
If you want to be considered for the position, avoid saying you do not work well under pressure. Hospice Social Workers need to be calm and focused on the task at hand when faced with stressful situations.
"I handle stressful situations by focusing on the situation before me, deciding how I want to approach what needs to be done, taking action to accomplish my goal, and observing my results. If I do not achieve the desired results, I approach the situation differently. When I am in stressful situations, this approach keeps me calm and focused."
