Table of Contents
Social work focuses heavily on interactions within the communities you work, and employers want to see that you’re passionate about community involvement, helping others, providing support to families and individuals and using your passion to stay motivated and achieve success.
It gives you the opportunity to talk about yourself, your interests and your background. The key to answering this question is to structure your response in a clear and concise manner. Start with your GCSEs or early qualifications, then include any key work experience. Finally, discuss your most recent accomplishments.
How do you introduce yourself in social work?
Introduce yourself using your first and last name, and agency representation. You may need to repeat your first name a few times to allow the client to identify you not only as an agency representative, but also a person. When possible, smile.
What makes a good social worker is their ability to understand and share the feelings of others — also known as empathy. Social workers who have a strong ability to empathize will be able to form strong connections because their clients feel they understand them and can relate to the things that are difficult for them.
Sample Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why are you interested in this agency?
- How does the work in this organization fit your professional mission or experience?
- Why do you want this job?
- What are your experiences with the target population?
- Why do you want to work with this target population?
What are my strengths as a social worker?
What are your biggest strengths in the role of a social worker? A good social worker’s top qualities are being non-judgemental, well organized, proactive and an excellent communicator.
What Qualities Make a Good Social Worker?
- Balance. Setting and maintaining boundaries to keep work and personal life in separate and healthy proportions is essential for success and longevity in social work careers.
- Communication.
- Empathy.
- Ethical Standards.
- Problem-Solving.
- Sense of Humor.
- Time Management.
Essential Skills and Traits for Social Workers
- Empathy. Empathy is the ability to identify with and understand another person’s experience and point of view.
- Communication.
- Organization.
- Critical thinking.
- Active listening.
- Self-care.
- Cultural competence.
- Patience.