Interview tomorrow! eeeek! help!

NMSE12

Hello!
So tomorrow is my first interveiw in 7 years! EEEk not only that but this i feel is the perfect job for me so i realy really want it!
Can anyone give e any help, pointers or tell me what to say??
It's for a residential support worker in a childrens home, Males aged 11-18yrs. They have/will interviewed 52 people for the same role! I am being interveiwed on the last day so hopeing to wow them and stay fresh in their mind!
Any help will be grately apreciated!
Thanks in advance for your time and support.

NMSE12

dissapointing there have been 13 views and not even a simple "good luck."

sagalout1954

You may be faced with some "what would you do" or "how would you handle" certain scenario's, so you might need to think about what problems might arise with 11-18 yr old males. Take another look at the job description, there will be some clues in there.

READ your CV/application thoroughly, it's what got you shortlisted, you can expand things from it for some of your responses perhaps.

Include all interviewers in your responses, not just the one who asks a question, smile.

There may be very specific procedures for some things (ie what if an 11 year old tells you an older boy has been touching him), where you would be expected to comply with a set process for ensuring this was passed to an appropriate person. You obviously won't be expected to know what all these procedures are exactly, as long as you are aware there will be some for certain circumstances.

Good luck

Ah, nattprice, your 2nd post just pipped mine.....which does wish you luck.

NMSE12

Thankyou so much! unbeliavably nervous, feel sick to the stomach!
Your answer was really really helpful!

sagalout1954

You've been invited for interview, if they weren't interested you wouldn't be this far. Try not to let your nerves get the better of you, it just prevents you from 'thinking straight'. You may have a 'young person' on the interview panel, don't forget to include them fully.

Know when to stop with an answer, don't waffle until their eyes glaze over. Take a second or three to phrase a response. Sit properly, you're not a sack of spuds. Don't get there too early nor late (even worse). I usually sit in the car park composing myself (& feeling a bit sick), you're sooooo not alone with feeling nervous.

I've just stuck 'residential support worker job descriptions' into google, came up with one which said something about building relationships with family members of the residents, also touched on record keeping. Will you have to work shifts/sleep in, if so flexibility will be a good point.

I can think of lots of scenarios you might encounter in your role, abuse/fighting/smoking/drinking/staying out past curfew/homesickness/resentment/anger............ think of the skills you'd use to deal with any/all that.

Afterwards, write down all their questions you can recall, helpful if you don't get it THIS TIME. After redundancy I viewed every interview I got as a learning curve NOT just a rejection.

Pity no-one on here is in this field of work to provide more suggestions.

NMSE12

Can't thankyou enough for your re-assurance. Imhope i get this job but aware that so do the over 50+ people who are being interviewed so if anyything it is experiance!
I'm definately taking all your tips and ideas with me tomorrow.
Thankyou againx

stephyt23

Just make sure you stay calm, smile loads and try not to be too nervous. Good luck!

purplerose

Only thing to add really is you could maybe consider the STAR technique to answering questions when asked about how previous experience has given you a certain skill. It's good for giving a structured answer to a questions like - can you tell me about a time when you have been in a situation where you had to deal with challenging behaviour and how you resolved the issue? More information can be found about it here http://www.sentient-recruitment.com/star-technique.html I used it in my last interview and it really helped me cut out all the waflling I can be prone to doing when I'm nervous.

Good luck, I hope you get it

GothicStirling

I would wear a suit, make yourself look as professional as possible. Arrive with plenty of time to spare.

shamrock77

Confidentialty might crop up - if you spot signs of abuse what would you do?, if you are asked for personal detail ect phone number from service users who you will be supporting " how would you deal with this. Another i got asked was if service user i was supporting asked if they could tell me something but it was only me they wanted to tell! how would i deal with that without destroying trust established? I was at an interview 2 weeks ago to work with adults with learning difficulties who live in their own home. If any other question spring to mind ill pop them on here. Goodluck.

How i'd be suitable for this post above others applying? just remembered that.. goodluck :D

Savvy_Sue

As well as what they will ask you, think about what you want to ask them: they should give you that chance, and if they don't you can always ask anyway!

What training do they provide, immediately and over time? What arrangements do they have for staff supervision and support? If it's an unqualified post, you need to communicate that you're keen to learn, rather than that you're keen to get qualified and move on. But you also need to communicate that you know that qualifications and training are essential, and so is good staff support, especially when something goes not quite to plan!

I'm suggesting those things because everyone else has pinched my ideas - apart from equal ops! know what equal ops covers and think about how whatever they say about it can be translated into reality. For example if the residents are predominantly white / non-white, gay / straight, disabled / non-disabled, Muslim / Jewish / Christian / militant atheist, but all the staff are the other, how can they ensure that needs are met. Also I guess they might ask about how to foster healthy relationships with females in a predominantly male environment / how to provide good male role models if there's been no consistent father figure etc etc etc.