Preparing For Your First SLP Interview
Explain how you would assess a child who is a non-native English speaker.
What They Want to Know: School hiring committees may ask this question if they serve a large population of non-native English speakers, so be prepared to explain how you would handle language differences with your students and their parents.
I am bilingual in English and Spanish, so I’m able to work directly with students and their families who are native Spanish speakers. For other populations, I have experience sourcing and working with translators to communicate effectively.
SLP Interview Questions: School Settings
About two out of five Speech Language Pathologists worked in schools in 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If working in a school is where you want to be, then you should also be prepared to answer these specific speech therapist interview questions.
6. What techniques do you use for evaluating patients?
This is a common question for speech-language pathology job interviews. Go in ready to talk about the qualitative and quantitative techniques you use to assess patients and monitor their progress. Speak to your familiarity with tools such as stroboscopes, ECGs and adaptive communication switches.
2. Why are you interested in this position?
Explain why you’re interested in the position, but don’t make it too much about you. Focus on the value you can bring to the company. Frame your answer in a way that shows how you can contribute to the organization and the people you’ll help if you’re hired.
Why did you choose speech pathology as a career path?
What They Want to Know: This question assesses your professional dedication and enthusiasm for your career.
When I was a kid, I had a bad stutter that was really embarrassing. I was fortunate though, that the speech pathologist at our elementary school was truly excellent. He was so much fun—and had so much patience—that our sessions were the high point of my school week. He gave me the tools I needed to largely resolve my stutter, and inspired me to become a speech pathologist.
More Answers: Tell me about yourself.
SLP Interview Questions: Hospital/Private Clinic Settings
If a hospital or private clinic working with adults is more your cup of tea, prepare with these questions instead.
7 Typical SLP Job Interview Questions
Before an interviewer dives into environment-specific questions, they’ll likely ask you a few broad questions. Below are some general speech-language pathology job interview questions to prepare for.
Try to keep your answer concise and relevant to the role you’ve applied for. Explain why you’re passionate about speech pathology. Highlight your work experience and the communication disorders you have experience working with. Mention skills—such as empathy, communication or organization—that make you a good match for the specific position.
