Whether on your application or in your interview, one of the top questions will be why have you chosen a career as a social worker? This post will help you answer this plus other common social services interview questions easily. Plus we give some tips on how to apply and get started in the sector.

Typical questions can be what motivates you to pursue a career in social services? Or why do you want to be a social worker? You may be asked why you want to work in a specific area or department, for example: Schools, Care Homes, Child Protection, Prisons, Housing etc.

Responding effectively to these inquiries is key to the success of your application and interview . The interviewers are not only interested in understanding your drive to begin a career in Social Services, but they also aim to assess your compatibility with the specific role you are applying for.

There are lots of career opportunities in Social Services

A carer in social work can be very rewarding and currently in the UK there are many opportunities both to get into the social services sector but also to progress rapidly. Because the Social Services sector is so large, and there are so many roles within it, you have a lot of career choices.

As an idea, here are some career opportunities in social services and social work:

• Social Worker
• Assistant Manager in the Social Sector
• Care Home Manager
• Care Worker
• Counsellor
• Art Therapist
• British Sign Language Interpreter
• Education Welfare Officer
• Equalities Officer

All of these roles, and there are more besides these, can be very rewarding and have great potential for career advancement.

How to Answer Why Choose a Career in Social Services?

At some point during your application and interview, you are going to be asked this question or a variation of it. This is going to be true regardless of the actual role you are applying for, that comes under the Social Services umbrella.

Some variations of this common interview question could be:

• Why do you feel like a role in social services is the right choice for you?
• What personal or professional experiences led you to consider a career in social services?
• What draws you towards a career as a social worker?

Your motivation for wanting a career in Social Services is important, but that is true of any position. Careers in this sector can be very fulfilling and the people in them often find themselves in positions to help other people.

The following are reasons for wanting to start a career in Social Services, and many people do so because of these and more. This list may help you answer the question “Why do you want a job in Social Services?” when it is inevitably raised.

Opportunity to make a difference: Social work offers the opportunity to support people, often at their lowest point, to change their lives and situations for the better. You get to make a significant difference in the lives of people who need your help the most.

Work with other professionals: In social care, you’ll be part of a team of people with a variety of skills and professional backgrounds. You’ll also collaborate with people from outside your organisation.

Wide range of career choices: Social work offers several different career paths. You could be a care worker for children or adults, a wellbeing officer, a housing support officer, a child protection officer, a counsellor or an occupational therapist.

Rewarding careers: Around 66% of social care workers were recruited from within the sector in 2019-20, demonstrating a clear need for new skills and presenting plenty of progression opportunities.

Personal achievement: As well as being rewarding and providing professionals with a sense of personal achievement, a Social Services role also offers clear progression pathways.

Work variety: A career in social services presents infinite variety in terms of your day-to-day.

Mission-driven profession: The primary aim of a Social Services profession is to improve human well-being and help meet the basic and complex needs of all people, with a focus on those who are vulnerable and living in poverty.

What skills do you bring which are essential to this social worker post?

With this interview question, they will be keen to see that you understand both what is required in the post and what essential skills you bring which fit.

There are various skills and requirements needed for a career in Social Services, such as:

• Effective communication and active listening are crucial for understanding and addressing the needs of individuals.
• A person in Social Services must be sensitive to the situations and feelings of others.
• The ability to remain calm in stressful situations and patience are essential.
• Roles in Social Services often deal with complex and changing situations, so being flexible and open to change is important.
• Social work often involves teamwork and collaboration with other professionals.
• Careers in this field can be challenging and may involve dealing with criticism or working under pressure.
• Social workers need to be understanding of other people’s lifestyles.
• Anyone working in an area of Social Services often has to deal with very challenging behaviour and organise their workload.

To answer successfully, make a list of the top 5 skills they require and you will find these on the job description. Then match these to tour own experience making sure you have a clear example of a task or achievement to demonstrate that you do in fact posses these skills.

Why are you suited to a career as a social worker?

They may ask this interview question to get a sense of how well you understand what is required of you in the job. They will want to see self-awareness and an ability for you to reflect on your strengths and how you can contribute in the post.

Keep in mind that a person suited for a role in Social Services will have some of the following attributes and personality traits. It should be remembered that there are many roles within the sphere of Social Services the following may not strictly apply to all of them, but many are certainly cross-role applicable.

• Artistic and social: Those in Social Services tend to be artistic, meaning that they are creative, and original and work well in a setting that allows for self-expression. They also tend to be social, meaning they thrive in situations where they can interact with, persuade, or help people.
• Socially responsible: The top personality trait of people in these jobs is social responsibility.
• Do you have compassion and empathy? Empathy is an important quality to have when dealing with other people. Empathy involves putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and making an effort to understand their perspective.
• Objectivity: While empathy is an important trait for social services workers, so is the ability to remain objective.
• Professionalism: Setting boundaries is important in any work environment, but this is especially true for those working in Social Services.
• You need to be patient: A desire to help others is noble, but many people who desperately need help may not want or appreciate it when it comes.
• Resilience: It takes a special type of person to work in Social Services, and resilience is one of the key personality traits required to work in this challenging, but very rewarding field.
• Organisation and flexibility: These are also key traits for someone wanting to start a career in this field.
• Anybody who desires a career in Social Services must have high ethical standards, and depending on the role you want to be in you need to base all decisions on fact and not opinion.

What would you say are the key responsibilities of a social worker?

The responsibilities within a career in social services can vary greatly depending on the specific role you are interested in. Here are some general responsibilities that are common across many roles in Social Services:

• Assessing Needs
• Providing Information
• Budgeting for Support
• Referrals
• Emergency Intervention
• Visiting Clients
• Organising Support
• Keeping Detailed Records
• Attending Meetings

This is just a selection of the responsibilities that may be involved, you will find that your specific area of interest will have a set of its own but some of these will be involved as well.

What qualifications are needed to apply for a role in Social Services?

Social Services is a diverse sector, with many professional roles that fall under its banner. Because of this, the qualifications required vary from to role.

As a general guide, however, some qualifications may be required in roles associated with Social Services. To pursue a career in Social Services in the UK, you would typically need the following:

Education

• 5 GCSEs at Level C or above, two of them must be English and Maths.
• 2 – 3 A levels in any subject, however, it is recommended that these subjects be covered:
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Health and Social Care
• Law
• Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

Undergraduate Degree

• An undergraduate degree in Social Work, which is approved by Social Work England.

Social work is a graduate profession and you’ll need either an honours (BA or BSc) or a postgraduate degree in social work to find employment in this particular role.

To become a social worker in England, you will need a degree in social work accredited by Social Work England. To work in other parts of the UK, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the regulatory body.

It should also be noted that you don’t normally need a qualification to start your career in social services, and many employers will hire people based on their values and positive attitude.

Note that these are general guidelines and specific requirements will likely vary depending on the specific job role and employer. It’s always a good idea to check the specific requirements for any job you’re interested in.

How do you apply for a career in Social Services?

To apply for a career in Social Services in the UK, there are a few steps to be taken. The following should help point you in the right direction:

The first thing is to find a position you would like to apply for

Carry out some research about the job that you are interested in. The National Careers Service provides a comprehensive list of careers in the Social Services sphere. Using the online hub they provide, you can explore different roles and understand what each job entails.
Various recruitment sites, including government ones, allow you to filter search results so you can narrow down the type of jobs you are looking for.

Gain relevant experience

For most careers within Social Services, you will need experience working with vulnerable groups or children. To gain the skills and experiences that you might need, you could apply to be a social work assistant or support worker.

Prepare your application

Put enough time aside to prepare your applications. This means getting your CV, cover letter and the actual application forms right. Remember that this is your time to show employers and recruiters how committed you are to a career in Social Services, and what your career goals are.

Apply for Jobs

Once you have identified the position you are interested in, you can start to apply for jobs. You can find job postings on various job portals, company websites, or through recruitment agencies.

Proofread everything, even any email subject text that you write. Check your spelling, grammar, choice of words… everything. If possible, get another pair of eyes on your application.

The application process for a career in Social Services

The application process is going to vary depending on the role that you applying for within Social Services, but generally speaking, it is similar to any other job.

Assuming you have narrowed down the field that you want to specialise in and you have the relevant qualifications and experience, then you need to do your ‘paperwork’.

Create an engaging CV, no more than two pages but one is better. Write your cover letter next, making sure that it and the CV say the same thing: you are qualified and committed to a career in Social Services.

Register on relevant sites next, such as the government’s findajob.wpd.gov.uk, upload your CV and look for the roles you are interested in.
Once you have found the ones that you like the look of, it’s a case of hitting ‘Apply’ and following the directions.

Social Service careers are extremely rewarding for the right people, and if you have a genuine interest in the betterment and care of others then you could far in this field.

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