Wouldn’t it be great if we knew the questions ahead of time? Since that is usually not the case, the best way to prepare for the questions is to know your strongest skills, knowledge areas, transferable skills, and personal characteristics that you would like to tell them about. By preparing your ideal answers, you will feel more in control of the interview.
The best way to begin to identify what you want to tell the interviewer is to think of work responsibilities that you enjoy, and why. How do you feel when you are in your element? Your greatest strengths and skills are most likely those you enjoy using the most. Remember, especially if you are applying for entry-level jobs, skills stay the same regardless of the area of practice or population. For example, if you are proficient at assessment when working with children, chances are you will be very good at assessing adults, as well. To begin this process of identifying your skills, think about the following and, most importantly, write down the answers. You must do this so you will begin to formulate statements you can articulate to employers. The better you articulate, the more confident you will be.
- Write three skills you enjoy using.
- Write three knowledge areas or issues you are familiar with. Remember, these can be theoretical or practical areas of knowledge.
- Write two specialized intervention skills you have learned.
- Write three transferable skills that you have gained from your experience (not necessarily from your social work experience).
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