What made you decide to pursue a career in social work?

The interviewer wants to gain insight into your background and the motivating factor in pursuing a social worker career. Give a brief story about why you chose to dedicate yourself to this field. Focus your answer on describing your reason for choosing this career path.

Avoid saying that you are pursuing a career in social work to help others. Interviewers know that people who enter this field want to help others, but they want to hear your reason and commitment to pursuing this career. Many social workers enter the field due to their life experiences. The interviewer wants to understand what challenges you or others close to you have faced that directed you towards this profession.

"I chose to pursue a career in social work after seeing my family torn apart from my father's alcohol and drug abuse. My mother raised my brother and me on the streets and in shelters at times. It was difficult for all of us, but with the help of a Social Worker, we were able to get into permanent housing and attend school full-time. I decided to pursue this career to give back to my community and help families who were struggling like mine."

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.