social work supervisor interview questions and answers

Social Work Supervisor interview questions

8 Social Worker Interview Questions and Answers

Why did you go into social work?

People go into social work for different reasons, and asking about their motivations lets candidates talk about themselves and reveal background information that they might not be able to otherwise. Look for:

Going beyond a generic “desire to help others”
Specifics versus generalities
A commitment to social work

What is the most important aspect about managing clients’ feelings?

A big duty of social workers is to keep situations as conflict-free as possible so that there can be resolution. Thus, they must often manage clients’ feelings, and that can be no easy task. Look for:

Empathy
Mention of firm boundaries
Ability to remain calm

What strategies do you use for crisis intervention?

Conflict is inevitable in any field of social work, and this question allows you to check that candidates’ conflict-resolution skills fit what your organization is looking for. You can also use it to check if the candidate is prioritizing skills listed in your job ad (for example, listening with empathy). Look for:

Strategies that align with what your organization wants
Context they were practiced in
Lack of blaming others

What type of supervision do you prefer?

Questions such as this one get to cultural fit. For example, if your agency needs social workers who take instruction well, then someone who prefers to work alone independently and to be given a lot of leeway might not be the best fit. Look for:

Candidate compatibility
Ability to acknowledge weaknesses
Reasoning behind preference

Tell me about a time when a client disagreed with your approach or treatment plan.

This discussion point lets you measure how well candidates collaborate, communicate and think creatively. It is also another opportunity to ensure that candidates fit your organization’s missions and values. Look for:

Flexibility instead of rigidity
Orientation toward teamwork
Ability to recognize flaws in self

What kinds of clients do you find most difficult to work with and why?

Being a social worker is stressful, and many social workers burn out quickly. Asking the above question lets you get an idea of how candidates handle stress and how compatible they might be with your organization. Look for:

Some positivity in the answer
No disparaging/blaming others or being overly negative
Accepting some responsibility in the situation

What are the signs of abuse?

This question assesses candidates’ competence for the job, and one of the most important things they should know has to do with recognizing the signs of abuse in whatever population you work with, be it at-risk youths, children in public schools, the elderly or another segment. Look for:

Ability to answer quickly
Specifics
Factual answers (not answers like, “These poor, pitiful people…”)

What would you do if a client acted aggressively or negatively toward a suggestion you made?

Social workers are expected to react logically and rationally to high-pressure, emergency situations. One that commonly occurs is when a client has a negative reaction toward a piece of advice the social worker recommended, which can sometimes result in aggression. Their answer should be positive, professional and mature as they explain their process for handling difficult clients without making disrespectful comments toward the client. The candidate’s answer should emphasize:

Strategy for handling difficult or aggressive clients
Ability to stay calm in high-pressure situations
Decision-making skills

8 Supervisor Interview Questions and Answers

What are some successful ways you’ve been able to motivate employees?

One of the best things a supervisor can add to your team is keeping other employees excited about their work and prepared to give every day 100 percent. Learning how the candidate approaches this task will tell you a lot about how prepared they are to take on the role.