Skills-based interviews are becoming the go-to method for charities and housing associations, especially when hiring for support worker roles. These interviews focus on evaluating whether your skill set aligns with the specific needs of the job. But don't worry—if the thought of your upcoming interview for a support role has you feeling a bit anxious, you're in the right place!
Read on to learn how to best prepare.
During your interview, you’ll be asked to discuss past experiences and how you handled various situations in previous roles. The goal here is to demonstrate your ability to deliver a positive outcome, showing how your skills align with the responsibilities of the role you’re applying for.
According to recent findings, a whopping 72% of hiring professionals have steered towards using skills assessments to evaluate whether their candidates are a good fit for the job. Whilst a further 34% of hiring managers judge a candidate by their potential over their previous experience (HR Magazine).
This shift toward skills-based interviewing is largely due to its efficiency and fairness. It removes biases and levels the playing field for those who may not have a long work history or had access to traditional educational opportunities. Instead of relying on who can perform best under pressure on the day, it assesses your potential to excel in the role. Plus, with studies showing that 78% of job seekers have misrepresented themselves on their CVs, this method provides a more accurate reflection of your abilities.
Start by researching the role you're applying for using the job description, and identify the key skills required in the person specification. Next, think of 1-2 examples from your past experiences that highlight these skills. While it’s helpful to prepare, don’t over-rehearse your responses. It’s important to keep things natural, so you can adapt if the conversation takes an unexpected turn.
One of the most effective ways to structure your responses during a skills-based interview is the STAR method. If you’re not already familiar with it, here’s a quick overview:
We've already popped together a STAR information sheet which will give you all of the information on how to make this method work best for you.
10 Key Skills for Support Work and How They Might Be Assessed
Here’s a look at some common skills for support roles, along with sample questions to help you prepare:
1. Crisis Intervention
Question: "Can you describe a time when you had to respond quickly to a crisis or emergency? How did you manage the situation, and what was the outcome?"
2. Risk Management
Question: "How do you approach assessing and mitigating risks in a high-stakes environment? Can you provide an example where your actions directly contributed to someone’s safety?"
3. Professional Boundaries
Question: "Maintaining professional boundaries is crucial in support work. Can you share an experience where you had to balance empathy with professionalism? How did you ensure boundaries were respected?"
4. Support Plans
Question: "Tell us about a time when you developed a tailored plan to address someone’s specific needs. How did you ensure the plan was effective and adaptable to their changing circumstances?"
5. Safeguarding
Question: "Can you provide an example of when you had to protect someone’s well-being or intervene in a situation where you suspected harm or abuse?"
6. Emotional Support
Question: "Providing emotional support is essential in this role. Can you describe a situation where you offered empathetic support to someone in distress? How did you ensure your support was effective?"
7. Practical Advice
Question: "Can you share an example of when you offered practical advice to someone facing a challenging situation? What steps did you take to ensure the advice was actionable and relevant?"
8. Interpersonal Communication
Question: "Effective communication is vital in support work. Describe a time when you had to convey complex information in a way that was easy to understand. How did you ensure the message was received?"
9. Confidentiality
Question: "Confidentiality is essential in building trust. Can you discuss a time when you had to handle sensitive information? How did you ensure that confidentiality was maintained?"
10. Dealing with Confrontation or Challenging Behaviour
Question: "Support roles often involve managing challenging behaviour. Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully de-escalated a difficult situation? What techniques did you use?"
By preparing thoughtfully and using the STAR method to structure your responses, you’ll be well-equipped to demonstrate your skills and experience in your next interview.
Good luck - you've got this!
At Moxie, we will guide you through every stage of the recruitment and application process.
Get in touch with us today and we can work together to ensure you feel as ready as can be!
