You have a social work degree and you're ready for that first job...

...Oh wait! Have you ever had that stomach-drop feeling before a job interview — even for the first HR call? Trust me, I've been there. One thing that always helped me feel grounded was truly understanding what I brought to the table.

A man with sweat dripping all over his face. He looks scared and is wiping his eyes.

Ready to ace your social worker job interview? Preparation is key! 🧠

1. Know Your Stuff

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Review Social Work Concepts

  • Strengths-based, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive practices....recall a specific instance where you applied these concepts effectively.

  • Prepare a real-life example, such as: for an agency serving trauma survivors, you can highlight your experience using trauma-informed care to ensure client safety and empowerment.

Your school lecture notes can help!

A person writing on a piece of paper. Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash

2. Do a Deep Dive into the Employer's Background

  • Mission/Values: How do your professional values resonate with theirs?

  • Population served: How has your experience equipped you to meet their unique needs?

  • Team/services: How do your skills complement the work?

  • Recent initiatives: Do you have relevant experience or insights that align?

Hands typing on a laptop keyboard.

Quiz

Flaticon Icon Toni, a recent social work grad, is interviewing at an agency supporting clients with disabilities. The agency's website states that they emphasize empowerment.

What will help Tony prepare for their interview?

A. Reviewing strengths-based practices

B. Researching the agency's new initiatives

C. Preparing questions about the agency

D. Focusing only on her personal experience with disability

Quiz

How can Toni best prepare? Select all that apply:

3. Practice Your Pitch

Your Interview Story Checklist

  1. Identify 2-3 key social work concepts you are good at (crisis intervention, advocacy, strengths-based approach, etc.).

  2. For each concept, draft a short story showing how you applied it and the positive outcome for a client. Focus on your actions and the results.

  3. Briefly note why this story and the social work concept are relevant to the specific employer.

  4. Rehearse delivering each pitch out loud.

A woman holding a tablet. She is at a conference table and looks confident. Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Example Pitch for a Strengths-Based Approach 💪🏼

During my child welfare internship, a family faced housing insecurity. I identified the mother's strong advocacy skills. I supported her in leveraging these skills to connect with housing programs, resulting in securing stable housing within a month.

This demonstrates my ability to empower clients and build on their existing capacities, aligning with an agency values.

Take Action

Prepare with purpose. Success will follow!

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