Practicum Interview Prep for MSW Jon Bray, Career Educator

CAREER CENTRE

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214 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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© 2012 Career Centre, University of Toronto

www.careers.utoronto.ca

Telling Stories One-minute success story – What is your most meaningful accomplishment?    

What was your role? What did you do? What was the result? Why is this meaningful for you?

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Goals for today  What is a practicum interview?  How do I prepare for an interview?  Interview questions: 

What might I be asked?



How do I respond?



What can I find out and what should I ask?

 How can I do well when I am nervous?  Interview tips/resources

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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What is a practicum interview?

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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The interview is…..  An opportunity for the employers to find out if you are the right candidate for the job   

Do you have the right skills and experience? Do you demonstrate motivation and commitment? How well will you integrate with the existing team?

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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The interview is….  An opportunity for you to learn about the job, helping you can make an informed decision 

How well does the job match your skills and interests?  How will this environment support your professional development?  Will it challenge you and for how long?  What is the working environment?

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Interview Formats      

Panel, Board & Committee Multiple Rounds Telephone Interviews Video Conferencing Case Interviews Technical Interviews

Interview Components 

Pre-Employment Tests



Presentations CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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Interview Preparation  Research  Organization  Industry  Interviewers (type of interview)  Question Preparation  Identify potential questions from job description  Create responses  Prepare questions to ask

 Practice, practice, practice….

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Interview Questions  Open-ended questions – Cannot be answered yes or no.  Behavioural questions – Focus on asking for specific examples of where you have demonstrated a particular skill, or how you have handled a particular situation in the past.  Situational questions – Hypothetical scenarios that require solutions.  Technical – related to specific field CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Professional Communication  What does are the communication skills required to succeed in social work?  How can you demonstrate these skills in the space of an interview?

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Predicting Interview Questions Position Summary - Clinical Social Worker - First Steps to Home The Clinical Social Worker – First Step to Home position is responsible for the coordination, planning, implementation of the program components including, but not limited to, support to individuals with concurrent disorders, comprehensive case management services, housing supports, group programming, crisis intervention, community development, counseling, education, clinical consultation, on call rotation for the mental health supportive housing cluster, and peer program development, implementation, and evaluation. Main Responsibilities:  Provide comprehensive case management including assessment, goal setting/planning, counseling, instrumental assistance, crisis intervention, case conferencing and referrals.  Providing follow-up supports to individuals with substance use and mental health issues based on solution focused, recovery based, and harm reduction approaches.  Act as a harm reduction and concurrent disorders specialist to WoodGreen Community Services staff and the staff of other community agencies, by providing information, clinical consultation, attending meetings, and organizing educational sessions.  Work closely with WoodGreen Community Housing staff and tenants on strategies that support tenants who are using substances, with or without mental health issues to maintain their housing.

 When needed, disseminate resources, provide support and clinical consultation to the staff of Housing and Community Supports, and clients who have substance use and mental health issues.  Maintain individual case files according to legal, Centre and Unit policies/standards.  Engage in an ongoing review of best practices service in the area of harm reduction and concurrent disorder services, and identify ways, where possible, of incorporating these approaches into our services.  Identify and implement community development and self-help opportunities that involve users. CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Responding to Questions Re-visit One –Minute Story activity:  What was it about the story that made it a great/compelling story?  What do you think are some characteristics that should be included to effectively engage an employer?  What do you think an employer wants to know about you from your stories?

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Answering Questions  You need to be specific and relevant  STAR 

Situation  When and where did you demonstrate the skill/qualification?



Task  What was your role or task that best demonstrates the skills qualification?



Actions  What did you do?



Result  What came out of the experience?

 Demonstrate the relevance by linking it to the position. CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Response Structure Context • • • •

Problem Goal Setting Situational details

Action • What did you do? • Skills & knowledge • Processes & procedures • Tools, observations, adjustments, etc.

Result • So what? • Success? Why or why not? • Problem solved? Goal achieved?

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Connect your skills to employer’s needs Employer’s needs Requirements of the field or job of interest based on your research and the job advertisement.

Your skills Your skills identified through your selfassessment

Your related experience How and when you developed or used this skill

• working closely with other staff

• Teamwork

• Acted as secretary for Economics Students’ Association with team of 5 executives

• gather and analyze information

• Analysis

• Student project: analyzing market trends

• writing and editing report

• Written communication

• Contributed weekly articles to Opinion section of The Varsity

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

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| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Practice Interview Demo

 What previous experience that has prepared you for the duties and responsibilities of this position?  Give an example of a time when you demonstrated creative problem solving.

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

http://www.arxan.com/assets/1/7/demo.png

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Transforming Interview Anxiety  Practice/interview prep  Visualization  Breathing  Exercise/movement  Listen to your favourite music  Affirmations

 Plan enjoyable activity for after  Mindful meditation  Sleep  Avoid over-preparing

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Interview Preparation  Research  Organization  Industry  Interviewers  Question Preparation  Identify potential questions from job description  Prepare STAR examples  Practice  Interview Stream (www.careers.utoronto.ca)  Career Educator appointment  Student Interview Coaching (Engineering & Business focus) http://intervu.wix.com/intervu CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Interview TIPS  Be Punctual   

Arrive 10 minutes early Confirm location and directions Leave extra time for unexpected events

 Appearance   

Wear clothing appropriate for job and organization Wear clothing that you are comfortable in Consider the environment – what does professionalism mean here? CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Interview Tips  Body Language   

Make eye contact Smile Stay energized

 Thank You 

Follow up with a thank you afterwards

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Resources Interview Practice  Career Centre Workshop: Practice your Interview  Career Educator appointment  With employers – Jan & May

Additional Information  Career Centre Website (handout) www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/cc

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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Questions?

CAREER CENTRE | 214 College ON Street, M5T 2Z9 CAREERCENTRE | Street, 214 Toronto, College

www.careers.utoronto.ca

| www.careers.utoronto.ca Toronto, ON M5T 2Z9

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