MockQuestions

Social Work Mock Interview

30 Questions Created By

To help you prepare for your Social Work interview, here are 30 interview questions and answer examples.

First Question

30 Social Work Interview Questions

15 Interview Questions With Sample Answers

1.   What is your ideal schedule?

How to Answer

This question could be a way for you to flip the tables and find out what schedules they work and what they wanted the new hire to work in. Be sure to voice at this time if day shift is the only shift you can work because of other obligations.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"I'm available to work any shift you need me on. What shifts do you all have here? Was there one that you needed me to fill? "

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"My ideal schedule would be day shift but I'm able to work any shift with a few days notice."

Written by Heather Douglass

2.   Are you able to work overtime, evenings or weekends as needed?

How to Answer

The work of a Social Worker is never ending. You may find yourself working overtime, weekends or even evenings. If you are flexible with your schedule let the interviewer know. If you are strictly a 9-5 you'll have to have good justification. The important thing to relay to the interviewer is that you have good time management skills. Do you work evenings simply because that is the only time your clients can meet? Have you found yourself working weekends due to emergencies? There is always a special occasion to work outside of your normal hours. Make sure you let the interviewer know that you are able to leave work at work and pick it up the next day.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"I'm very flexible with my schedule. I've found that evenings and weekends are sometimes better with my clients. If flexibility is needed in this job we can work together to create a schedule that works best for the clients and the office."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"I do have flexibility in my schedule. If it is possible to give me a few days notice it would work best with my schedule at home."

Written by Heather Douglass

3.   What do you hope to accomplish in your career as a social worker?

How to Answer

One year from now, 5 years from now or even 10 years from now, where do you see your career at? The interviewer wants to know what motivates you and to what level you want to push yourself to. Let the interviewer know if you'd like to go back to school, work with a different population or even have your own practice. A feather in your hat would be to accomplish your goals at the agency you are applying to. This will tell the interviewer that you want to grow with them and you'll be around awhile.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"I've been working with developmentally disabled adults for 5 years and enjoy it. I'd like the chance to work more with children and possibly in a school setting."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"A hope to bring peace to patients that are suffering. If I'm able to help one client then it is worth it."

Written by Heather Douglass

4.   Social work is stressful and difficult at times. How do you handle the pressure?

How to Answer

Everyone experiences stress but how you deal with it is another thing. Be sure not to get spun up and go off on a tangent about a stressful situation but answer calmly with a few techniques you use to de-stress. Do you go to the gym? Go on walks? Spend time with your family? Go to church? Whatever the release, own it as it is YOUR way of managing work stress. Steer clear of any mention that you meet with a medical professional or manage daily with medication.

Written by Heather Douglass

Answer Example

"I'm able to leave my work at work. My hobby is baking and is a stress reliever. Bringing cupcakes in the next day to work seems to lighten the mood at work as well."

Written by Heather Douglass

5.   What would your most recent supervisor say about you?

How to Answer

Now is your time to brag a little, assuming you made a good impression at your last job. Keep that letter of recommendation in your back pocket so the interviewer can follow up and learn more about your role and accomplishments in your last position.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"My last supervisor would say that I was dependable, hard working and organized."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"My current supervisor wrote an amazing reference letter for me. She would say that I'm empathetic and knowledgeable."

Written by Heather Douglass

6.   What is your greatest strength? How does it help you with your career in social work?

How to Answer

As a Social Worker you know this question will be asked! Don't choose an answer that you think the interviewer wants to hear. Choose a characteristic that you possess so you can show how it relates to your career. Have you become more empathetic and it allows you to relate with your clients more? Do you pride yourself in creating boundaries with your clients as to not get too emotionally involved? Have you improved your active listening skills over the years?

Written by Heather Douglass

Answer Example

"My greatest strength as a social worker is my active listening skills. Utilizing my active listening no only shows the patient that I'm focused on them but it allows me to get the information that I need in order to appropriately diagnose and help the patient."

Written by Heather Douglass

7.   After reviewing our job description, what do you feel makes you most qualified for this position with us?

How to Answer

This question is similar to the famous 'Tell us about yourself' question. Were you drawn to this agencies description because you felt it was written just for you? Is the description something out of your comfort zone and you're ready for the challenge? Be confident with your answer. Don't talk yourself out of the job by stating you don't have the experience. Secure the job by showing your enthusiasm, confirming your capabilities through your education and skills and let the interviewer know that you are a new set of eyes ready for the challenge.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"When I read your job announcement I knew I had to apply, I felt like it was written just for me! I've had the opportunity through my experience to match up to all of your qualifications and then some! I'm excited for the opportunity to share my experience with co-workers and pick up where I left off with new clients."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"I've been following your company for years just waiting for a position to open up. I have all of the qualifications on paper and more. I'd like the opportunity to bring a new approach to your company and provide excellent care to your patients."

Written by Heather Douglass

8.   Do you feel comfortable working with adoptions?

How to Answer

As a Social worker specializing in adoption, you facilitate the adoption process for both the family that is adopting and the child who is legally separated from their biological parents. You may work with government organizations or adoption agencies to place orphaned children in adoptive homes. As a Social Worker, you may have the opportunity to specialize in foreign or domestic adoptions. If adoptions are too emotional for you to be a part of then don't interview for the job. Let the interviewer know your past experience with adoptions, that you don't let your emotions get the best of you and that you treat it as you would any of your cases.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"I am comfortable working with adoptions, I've had the opportunity to spend the last 2 years supporting an adoption agency. I find the position to be very challenging yet rewarding."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"I haven't had the chance to work with adoptions yet. I'm comfortable working with all the types of clients I've had so far so I'm sure adoptions won't be any different."

Written by Heather Douglass

9.   What have been your most desirable clients in your social work career so far?

How to Answer

As a Social Worker, your most desirable clients would be the one's you can tick a box and confirm that they are on the road to recovery. Obviously not every client is that easy. What characteristic do these dream patients have that makes your job so easy and rewarding. Steer clear of mentioning names and too much personal information. Feel free to mention a particular population if you know that it is the only population the agency works with. If you are interviewing for a position within an adoption agency, and your favorite population is drug addicted adults, you might talk yourself out of a job.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"My most desirable type of client has been the one that has helped identify the problem, allows me to help them with the tools provided and makes positive progress every day."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"As a social worker my most enjoyable clients are the one's that have come to the realization that they need help and are ready to change."

Written by Heather Douglass

10.   What have been your most difficult type of client thus far?

How to Answer

Don't get hung up on the word 'difficult' but think of it as a welcomed challenge. If you choose to highlight a particular population, the interviewer may fear that you are not comfortable or knowledgeable working with that particular crowd. Instead, choose a character that is difficult. Don't use names or too many details. The important thing to remember with this question is how you learned and become a better Social Worker because of this type of client.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"The most difficult client would be the one that given the tools to help themselves they choose not to. Over the years I've been able to be creative on how I work with these clients. These clients are always challenging but after time they see that I'm trying to help and it is very rewarding."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"The most difficult type of client is a child involved in a child abuse situation. The situation can be emotional and time consuming."

Written by Heather Douglass

11.   Are you able to work well with a team?

How to Answer

Your resume shows that you possess the skills to do the job, now the interviewer wants to see if you can work well with others. Tell the interviewer about a few of the characteristics you possess that will come in handy while working on a team. Do you follow or lead well? Do you keep the team organized? Are you the one that always seems to make others smile?



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"I do work well within the team. I'm often asked to be the lead of projects because of my time management and organizational skills. I don't have any problems delegating work, keeping a team on schedule and following up with people in order to accomplish a goal."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"Absolutely! My approach with patients is to work within a multidisciplinary team. It's important that we work well together to provide the best care for the patient."

Written by Heather Douglass

12.   What is your communication style?

How to Answer

As a Social Worker, your communication style should be effective. For this answer, you will want to tell the interviewer how you communicate as a therapist as well as an employee. As a Social Worker, you must communicate with clients to gain information, convey critical information and make important decisions. Without effective communication skills, you may not be able to obtain or convey information and cause detrimental effects to your clients. As a team player, your communication style should be direct, honest and collaborative. Share a situation where you had effective communication and what the outcome was.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"My communication style in both my professional life and personal life is to be factual and honest. I've found that this achieves the most effective results."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"As a Social Worker I feel it's important to be direct. Direct communication leave less room for miscommunication."

Written by Heather Douglass

13.   How do you plan out your day to ensure that all priorities are met?

How to Answer

As a Social Worker, you have to juggle many things within your career. Paperwork, home visits, courtroom appearances can consume you if you don't have a good system to keep everything on track. Are you a to-do list person? Maintain a daily planner? How do you prioritize your work? Tell the interviewer how you manage your day through the organization. You never know, the interviewer may be so impressed that they ask you to help organize a program or create a new process to help out the organization.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"I arrive to work each morning about 20 minutes early. This gives me time to grab a cup of coffee, get my daily files together and plan my day. By the time my shift starts I'm ready to grab my bag and head out to homes for visits."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"I arrive to work 15 minutes early each day. This gives me time to get my computer on, grab a cup of coffee greet my coworkers and prioritize my to-do list for the day."

Written by Heather Douglass

14.   How do you define success in your work and personal life?

How to Answer

Don't get too hung up on this question. Remember, this is how YOU define success not how you think the interviewer would. If success to you is simply making a difference in people's lives every day, then own it. Don't feel that this answer is about what monetary award you need to win in order to be successful.



Written by Heather Douglass

1st Answer Example

"The ability to empower people to better themselves and see a positive outcome is my definition of success. The fact that I've been able to not bring potential work stress home with me has been a success on its own."

Written by Heather Douglass

2nd Answer Example

"Success in both my work and personal life is being happy each day."

Written by Heather Douglass

15.   What are your career goals? For the next 5 years? The next 10 years?

How to Answer

Keep this answer within the same wheelhouse as the job you are interviewing for. 5 years isn't very far away so it would be ideal to let the interviewer know that you would like to be at the same company. Now would be the best time to tell the interviewer that you would like to start working on your Masters Degree and have it within the next 5 years. Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur? Owning your own counseling office would be a great goal to achieve in 10 years.

Written by Heather Douglass

Answer Example

"In 5 years I'd like to be one of your lead Social Workers. In 10 years I will have been in the career field over 20 years. I'd like to be in private practice part time."

Written by Heather Douglass

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