If hired, how do you intend to make a difference with the at-risk youth in your trust and care?
The interviewer wants to hear about your approach and plan of action when it comes to making a connection with the youth who will be in your care. This question allows you to talk about the best qualities and skills that you have and how these traits and approaches will positively impact the youth. Your ability to engage in age-appropriate activities, be a reliable listener, and act as a positive example are all ways that you can make a difference!
"I'd build relationships by meeting them at their level, showing interest in what is important to them, and participate in their activities. This approach allows me to become someone who they respect, and feel on an equal level with. Once I earn their respect, I can get close enough that they'll let me in, open up to me, and allow me to set a good example for them."
"I will use a combination of my education, volunteer work, and personal and professional experience to create an environment of safety, trust, and care. I don't force myself on anyone as some all-knowing person with all the right answers. When working with at-risk youth, one of the things I have learned is to let the youth come to me. I develop rapport, I use humor, and slowly build trust, and I find common. Once I earn that trust and respect, I ask open-ended questions, opening up the lines of communication."
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 will remain as a role model. And make research the background of each individual and help them to improve upon.
Rachelle's Feedback
This is a good start! It would be important for you to complete your answer by discussing what you would help each individual to improve upon. I have provided an example below.
"I will make a difference with the youth by remaining as a role model. I will research the background of each youth that I work with and discover ways to help them to grow, build better relationships, improve their grades, and become well-rounded individuals."
Anonymous Answer
If hired, I intend to make a difference by building up positive professional relationships so that the young people feel supported. I also intend to encourage a passion and enthusiasm for the outdoors, which I feel will help the young person feel more connected to themselves, nature and those around them. I also hope to encourage curiosity amongst young people to help them find their passion in life and to instill them with the hope that a brighter future is possible.
Rachelle's Feedback
Excellent answer! Your passion for helping youth and sharing your love of the outdoors really shines through in this response. Very thoughtful - well done.
Anonymous Answer
I will do the best job that I possibly can, and work as hard as I can to understand the young people, build rapport and trust, and help each individual reach their different goals and needs.
Stephanie's Feedback
Great response. You sound very committed to the work!
Anonymous Answer
I intend to build relationships with the youth where they can trust me and know that I am someone who is there for them. They all are in care for a reason and most of those reasons are not great or fun. So I like to make sure the youth know that they can come to me or count on me to care for them with no judgment.
Stephanie's Feedback
This is a great start, but how exactly do you go about building relationships and gaining trust? (Example: active listening, asking open-ended questions, learning what kind of music the youth like, learning interests, etc.) If you can be a bit more specific about exactly how you'll go about forging these connections, that will take your response from good to great!
Anonymous Answer
I will use all my knowledge and expertise that I have learned from previous job roles and experiences to build a report with the young people in my care, making myself accessible and understanding to help get their trust. I will also use previous training to help create and maintain a safe environment where young people feel they can openly talk about their concerns without the fear of being judged. If I had any safeguarding concerns I would record information word for word, not asking any leading questions and information to the young person I would have to pass this information on to an appropriate adult to help protect them.
Marcie's Feedback
Great! So it sounds like you'll use your experience and knowledge to gain trust, be understanding, create a safe environment, and discern more serious situations that need to be escalated. These are all wonderful ways to make a difference in an at-risk youth's life. Can you talk a bit more about how you learned to do all of these things? Nice job!
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