People applying for courses in social work will be required to display a number of personal qualities, not least of all an amiable nature and a desire to help. Interviews for such courses will serve the purpose of ensuring those who go on to study under their guidance possess the right attributes which will see them develop with enthusiasm as the course progresses.
An attribute which immediately applies to social work is strong interpersonal skills. As such, your interview should serve as an opportunity to display an ease in communication, a warm demeanour, and the ability to listen to what is asked of you, and respond accordingly. Interviews are often conducted by an academic staff member, as well as a practicing social worker. They will want to see evidence of someone who can communicate clearly. In addition to questions regarding your personality, education and interests, you will be asked about your understanding of what social work entails, and why it is a career you wish to pursue. As part of your preparation, you should therefore ensure that you are comfortable talking about what a social worker’s duties include, what traits support this, and what challenges a social worker is likely to face. They may also ask for you to differentiate between social work, support work, and social care.
What the interview entails
As well as an understanding of what social work involves, interviewers will want you to provide evidence that you are equipped to effectively partake in such work. You should therefore think of relevant work experience you have undertaken, or scenarios you have been in where you have had to deal with a difficult situation. By thinking about this in advance, you can draw upon specific incidents which guided your understanding of how a social worker should conduct themselves and deal with certain situations, relating them to how this has given you a greater understanding of what is expected of you in the world of social work
Knowledge of the context of social work is important, and you may be asked to give your thoughts on a recent relevant issue which was prominent in the press. Ensuring you are well-read on such issues, regularly checking the news for stories, allows you to develop opinions on them, whilst seeing both sides of the argument. As well as current issues, you may be required to define important terms relevant to social work such as advocacy, the cycle of disadvantage, and empowerment. Familiarising yourself with key terms will display an enthusiasm and knowledge of the topic at hand.
Some courses may require for you to take part in a group interview or assessment in addition to, or instead of, an individual interview. In this situation, you will likely be given a scenario related to social work which you then discuss with the other members of your group. Interviewers will look for an ability to contribute and communicate your ideas, whilst remaining sensitive to those of others, conducting yourself with patience, enthusiasm and tolerance.
By researching into hot topics and commonly-asked questions, you are allowing yourself an opportunity to prepare responses which you can then clearly communicate, as you would be required to on the course, and as a social worker.