- Are you a good team player? …
- What are your techniques to handle stress in work settings?
- What would you say are your most notable strengths and weaknesses as a worker?
- What are your immediate professional goals?
- Why would you like to work for our company?
Your PSW interview success depends on what happens before the interview. If you have prepared well in advance, the chances of you messing up an interview are minimum to none.
If not, you may reconsider your approach. The interview process is the same for everyone – some people ace it because they have the confidence of knowledge. Others perform poorly because they don’t. Be the former – be prepared.
SUPPORT WORKER Interview Questions & Answers!
Example: “I find that making people feel at ease is all about building trust. I try to make sure they know I’m there to support them and answer any questions they have. If they’re nervous or uncomfortable, I’ll ask if there’s anything I can do to make them more comfortable. For example, when I was working in an assisted living facility, one of my clients had trouble sleeping because she was worried about her family members. I asked her what we could do to help her sleep better, and she told me that hearing her grandchildren’s voices would calm her down. So, I recorded some videos of them playing together and played them on a loop while she slept.”
Example: “When I worked as a personal support worker, I had a client who was blind. He would often ask me questions about what he could hear outside his window. One day, I noticed he didn’t have any books on tape in braille. So, I contacted a local library and asked if they had any audio books in braille. They said they didn’t, but they were willing to record some books for him. I volunteered to read them so they could use my voice.”
This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your dedication to helping others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you went above and beyond for a client or family member. This can include an example of when you helped someone with something that wasn’t necessarily part of your job description.
At my last job, there was a patient who had dementia. He would often become upset because he didn’t know where he was. One day, he became very upset and started throwing things around his room. I took a few deep breaths and calmed myself down before approaching him. I spoke calmly to him and helped him understand what we needed from him.”
Example: “I do have experience working with clients who have physical disabilities. I worked at a daycare center where we had several children with physical disabilities. One child I helped was a little boy named Timmy. He had cerebral palsy, which made it hard for him to walk. I learned how to support his body while he walked so he could build up his strength. It was rewarding to be able to help him learn new things.”
Tell me about your ability to work under pressure?
Answer tips:
Here’s where the ability to perform under fire comes into play. And, if possible, give an example that is relatable to the type of position that you are applying for.
The ideal way to respond to this question is to provide examples and situations of how you have handled stress in your previous jobs. In this way, the interviewer can establish a clear picture of how well you are likely to react when the going gets tough.
Pro tip: make sure you are not referencing a time when your lack of organization or communication put you in a “self induced” stressful scenario. This is to say, don’t share a story about how your procrastiation created a situation where you had to finish a project quickly.
Answer samples
Question: Why do you want to become a personal support worker?
Chances are you chose this professional because you like to help people and view this career as a way of making a difference. However, you can impress an interviewer if you include in your answer:
– I find it personally rewarding to help people overcome health challenges and continue to live with dignity and independence – It is a career in which I can take great pride – I view this role as an excellent way to learn about the health care system and how to work with clients one-to-one – Based on my training (and volunteering, if you have done this) thus far, I feel that is a profession I would truly love – As seniors will always need assistance, there is excellent career stability – There are a number of populations I can work with in different locations (e.g., hospitals, private care homes, seniors still living at home, retirement living) – The flexibility in scheduling that is frequently available is appealing to me and suits my own lifestyle – My training for this role means that I am not restricted to working in just one part of Canada
Yes. I believe that staying emotionally detached from patients is important. This is because if one gets too emotionally attached, the fear of letting go, whether it is because you have been assigned another patient or the patient has taken a turn for the worst, keeps you from giving the work your best shot.
I believe that the best environment to work as a personal support worker is at a patient’s home, as it is all about how comfortable the patient is, rather than the person providing the support. Depending on the specific requirements of a patient, working in a home environment suits me just fine.
I agree that family members can become quite difficult to handle at times. My training has taught me to be always respectful so I do a lot of listening, which helps me understand why they are behaving as they do. I am always polite but I do try to get my point across, and all are aimed at the betterment of the patient in question.
Unfortunately, my first commission as a PSW made me feel deeply for an eleven-year-old child who was at the end of his life, due to a heart problem. I became too attached to him and when he passed, I thought I was dying too. But I picked myself up and reminded myself that I was here to serve and there were other people who were looking up to me for support.
I am extremely compassionate and patient. These two are the prime virtues that anyone needs to work as a PSW. Furthermore, I possess an exceptional ability to effectively and safely provide personal care and support to the elderly, disabled, and special needs children. My communication skills are exemplary and I can effectively resolve problems before they become crises.
FAQ
How do you introduce yourself in PSW interview?
- What Are Your Weaknesses? …
- Why Should We Hire You? …
- Why Do You Want to Work Here? …
- What Are Your Goals? …
- Why Did You Leave (or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job? …
- When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job? …
- What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can’t?
Why should we hire you as a PSW?
What are your strengths as PSW?
