Getting your first job or changing jobs in the Social Care sector can be a bit daunting. We understand why people get nervous in interviews, but the more prepared you are, the more confident you will be when answering and asking questions.

We have written this “Nail Your Interview” guide for several care organisations we work with, so thought we best share it on our blog.

We are sure this advice will help you.

Confirmation information

1 Has the service you are interviewing with sent over who you are meeting, when and where? Have they specifically asked you to read information and complete pre-interview forms? Make sure you read all the confirmation well in advance so you can plan your route, either by car or public transport and where you can park and the walk from the station or bus stop.

Turn up

It is important NOT to be late! This might sound silly but 1 in 5 applicants don’t show up and do not confirm non-attendance. This means important Management staff are taken away from providing care. If you are not able to attend, always call to explain and reschedule.

Why are you great?

Take time to think in advance why you are right for this position? What is it about you that makes you great to work in this sector, who have you supported and why did you make a difference to that person’s life? What do you enjoy and excel in? Skills for Care – talk about the Cs in Care –

Think about your values and the impact you want to make to vulnerable lives. You may get asked hypothetical or real-life example questions so be ready to think on your feet and give relevant examples about how you might deal with a situation.

What is essential to know?

There could be questions around Health and Safety, Medication, Qualifications, or any training you have completed. Having a good understanding of the type of care provision and CQC for the service you are meeting are all good things to research before an interview. This information should be readily available on a service website or by googling the CQC for the service. Spend time refreshing your knowledge on where you are with your training and development.

Body language and building rapport

Nobody likes awkward silence or being made to feel uncomfortable so it’s important to try and read the person you are meeting. Be relaxed but not too chilled! Give good eye contact and be mindful of who is doing the most talking and whether the interviewer is engaged with what you are saying. Always be polite and speak clearly and slowly (especially if English is not yours or the interviewers first spoken language). It’s good practice to build rapport so ask questions like.

• How are you?
• What does your role involve?
• Why do you love working in this sector and specifically within this service?

Conversation in interviews flow when you can find some common ground.

Asking questions

Questions will arise throughout the interview, but you might want to take a couple of your own with you. It is hard to guide you on what questions to ask, but good ones are always around:

• The team you will be working with
• The hours you will be needed to work
• Why the service is a good place to work
• The types of training and support you will be given to increase your confidence and ability
• The rate of pay you will get (don’t make this the first question)
• Flexibility offered / additional shifts offered.

Think about your career progression

An interview for a specific job can sometimes only be about the here and now and the expectation on the day you start. Having no progression is one of the main reasons people leave jobs so does need to be discussed at interview. You should be asking about the training, the next level of opportunity and the time it might take you to achieve this. Showing willing to do more and be better at your job is always a positive conversation to have.