Social Work Interview Guidance
Preparing for your interview
Observe the world around you
What stories and events are affecting contemporary health and social care work? What’s your opinion on the latest news?
Research the role and responsibilities
Could you meet the expectations? Get an understanding of Social Work England's Professional Standards for social workers and the Professional Capabilities Framework for students studying social work (particularly the 'Point of Entry' requirements.
Values and ways of working
Key concepts in social work may relate to equality and diversity, empowerment and inclusion. Social workers' mission is to promote such concepts and combat discrimination and oppression, while upholding human rights and the dignity of a person. These values underpin the key attributes of all social work professionals.
Personal qualities
Do you have any previous relevant experience, which may include things from your personal life? Make a list of of all your personal qualities that fit with the Standards and Capabilities.
Gaining experience
If you have time, try to get some hands on experience; nothing beats exposure to a real environment working with children, young people or adults in a paid or non-paid (voluntary) capacity.
Postgraduate experience
Consider how your three month (or more) practice experience could be related to social work, and how it may inform your thinking and understanding of the profession and the people you may work with.
What to expect
Shortly after you have booked your interview for either the BSc (Hons) Social Work or MSc (Hons) Social Work courses, you will receive an email about what to expect on the day.
The email will contain a Teams link for you to watch a presentation at the scheduled time and date, which will tell you more about the social work course, our expectations of social work students and what you can expect from Birmingham City University and the social work team.
All applicants must attend the presentation. After the presentation you will be sent a Teams Link for your social work interview which will be online.
Your interview will have a panel of two people – one will be a social work academic or social work professional, the other person will be an “Expert by Experience” colleague. An “Expert by Experience” colleague is a person with lived-experience of social work services.
The interview questions will focus upon your suitability to become a social work student: we will be looking at you communication skills and also your understanding about what being a social worker involves.
You will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of your interview.
Tips
1. Be prepared! If Admissions have requested you bring certain documents to your interview, make sure you bring them! It's also useful to have a copy of your personal statement on hand to remind yourself what you said in your application.
2. Be on time! Promptness is an important part of professional conduct so if you’re coming on to campus, allow lots of time for travel and plan for possible delays. If your interview is online, make sure you have everything set up and ready to go in good time.
3. Don’t talk TOO much! We want to hear about your skills and experience but it’s also important to keep to the point!
4. Don’t make inappropriate jokes or share horror stories! Of course we want you to smile and be yourself, but we’re looking for the next generation of professionals and want to know you can interact with people appropriately..
5. Maintain natural eye contact. Don’t stare us out or anything, but also don’t look at the floor... Just think about the normal eye contact you would make with a friend when you’re having a chat.
6. Don’t be negative but if you must be negative, show how you turned it into a positive.
7. Conduct yourself in a manner that shows you are free from bias and are happy to treat and work with anyone from a cross-section of cultures and society.
8. Finally... Enjoy it! We’re not looking to trip you up – we want you to do well. You’ve put in the hard work so now it’s your opportunity to shine!
