TIPS FOR STUDENTS TO CONSIDER IN PREPARATION FOR …



INTERVIEWING TIPS

PREPARE FOR THE FIELD PRACTICUM INTERVIEW BY RESEARCHING THE FOLLOWING KINDS OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE AGENCY:

• Mission statement of the agency.

• History of the agency.

• Specific programs and issues addressed by the agency.

• Client populations served by the specific agency programs.

• Issues affecting the programs of the agency.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LISTING OF SOURCES AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION

REGARDING THE AGENCY:

• Agency website.

• Websites for newspapers and other news sources.

• Faculty field liaison assigned to the agency.

CONSIDER THE AGENCY INTERVIEW AS BEING COMPARABLE TO AN INTERVIEW FOR

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

• Dress professionally.

• Inform yourself about parking options prior to the interview.

• Arrive 5 -10 minutes ahead of the interview appointment time.

BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS TO THE INTERVIEW:

• A note pad and pen.

• A copy of your field application.

• A listing of the questions you want to ask during the interview.

REMEMBER THAT THE INTERVIEW IS A TWO-WAY PROCESS:

• The agency interviewing the student

• The student interviewing the agency

QUESTIONS THE STUDENT MAY BE ASKED DURING THE INTERVIEW:

• Why do you want to be a social worker?

• Why are you interested in a placement with this agency?

• What are your volunteer and work experiences?

• What courses have you taken or are currently enrolled in that will help prepare you for a placement with this agency?

• What client populations have you worked with?

• What client issues have you had the most difficulty with?

• What have your past experiences with supervisors been like?

• What are your strengths as a social work field student?

• What are your weaknesses as a social work field student?

• What do you want to learn from a placement with this agency?

• How do you handle work-related stress?

• Do you anticipate any problems scheduling your time at the agency?

• What do you plan to do following graduation?

QUESTIONS THE STUDENT MAY WANT TO ASK DURING THE INTERVIEW:

• What would I be doing during a typical field day?

• What kinds of learning experiences are available for a field student during a field placement?

• What will happen during my weekly supervision?

• What types of client issues would I be working with?

• What number of clients do field students work with?

• Are you the person who would be my field instructor if I am accepted for a placement?

• Will I be working with other agency staff in addition to my field

instructor?

• Are there additional learning opportunities available to me as a field student? These could include agency in-services, trainings, workshops, grand rounds, brown bag seminars, etc.

• What is the dress code for the agency?

• Does the agency require any pre-placement procedures such as a medical examination, blood tests, references, or an orientation to the agency.

• What outside issues impact on the agency? Examples are the availability of funds from city, county, state and federal sources; issues that occur in working with other human service providers; the on-going need to adjust policies and procedures to meet the

requirements of agency licensing; and the need to provide evidence of service effectiveness to funding sources.

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