Interview Techniques for Social Workers

This document provides insights into interview techniques for social workers, including handling personal biases and utilizing verbal and nonverbal communication. It also discusses the importance of understanding client autonomy and offers tips for handling client rejection of aftercare treatment plans.

Direct practice
Name
Institution
Professor
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Date

Briefly summarize your client and the reason for their visit to the agency. (40-50 words)
My client is a middle age man who seems quite outgoing and composed. His main purpose for
visiting the agency is seeking for a job opportunity to work in the social work programming
department
Briefly describe the setting of the interview and its impact on the client. (HR office? Social
agency? School office?) (40-50 words)
The setting of the interview is occurring in the HR office
What were the social phenomena present in this case? Explain any cultural issues. (40-50 words)
Some of the social phenomena include the urge to serve the community welfare and giving back
to the society (Horejsi, Horejsi,& Sheafor, 2010). There is need to help the disable people, aged
and poor people by providing them with care and resources. Some of the cultural issues are the
traditional values and beliefs of helping the community and societal harmony and unity
Explain how you handled your personal biases (if any). Provide some tips for social
workers on how to handle personal biases regarding your client’s situation: (40-50 words)
Unconscious personal bias involves the areas where our individual background, personal past
experiences, societal stereotypes and various sub cultural context can affect our decision making
process and several actions in a meeting without knowing. During the interview I did not expose
my personal bias to the client as it is highly complex. I handled my personal bias through
opening my mind and reviewed my internal conversation. I also gave attention and time to the

client throughout the interview to reinforce important values. I also utilize inclusive language
technique. I relaxed and maintain a comfortable posture (Horejsi et al 2010).
Social workers change lens, beware of existing personal bias and take immediate action to
address the issue that will benefit all clients. They should also focus on developing a vital system
that incorporates aspects of fair treatment and respect for clients. They should also empower
mentors for the existing underrepresented clients.
Explain some effective physical attending behaviors you used to help the process move
toward positive responses with the mock client. (50-75 words)
I used an effective reflective listening technique in order for the client to reflect his own personal
thoughts and feelings. This helped me achieve positive outcome. Good attending behavior shows
that the person is respectable hence making the client be free to communicate.
I maintained eye contact during important points like question and answer session to show
interest on the client’s communication. I slightly leant towards the client in a relaxed manner. I
also used verbal behavior where I directed my comments and several questions on the main
points offered by the client. I also utilized gesture and facial expressions. This indicated ability to
respond positively.
Explain how you used reflective listening to help your client feel valued. (50-75 words)
This revolves around the ability to literally focus to the important content and feeling shown in
the client’s communication. I utilized this particular aspect by hearing and understanding the
client’s conversation through phrase and use of body language technique. I also used reflective
listening by providing response to the client by correctly contemplating my thoughts and
personal feelings that I listened to from his voice. I used a medium tone of voice, maintained a

relaxed body posture and used gestures such as show of hand to demonstrate and emphasize on a
point. I did this to encourage and capture the client’s attention. I this way I was able to
understand what the client was saying
Summarize the engagement strategies and questioning techniques you used to glean more
information from your mock client. (75-100 words)
Some of the engagement strategies used included:
 Getting personal and identifying the client’s goals in future. This was aimed at
understanding the client’s views in order to balance life and activities thus creating a
connection to gain more information from the client
 Taking the client through the company goals to identify the client expectations and
strengths.
 Kenly listening the client with empathy.
 Learning what really matters to the existing client.
 By promotion of engagement through asking various important questions. This was
meant to make the client comfortable and be in a relaxing mode so as to make him open
up and provide more information
 Connection and encouraging the client to actively participate in various reviews.
Questioning techniques
It is evident that asking the clients the right question during the interview is an important
communication system and information swap
Some of the techniques used were;

Gathering more information, learning, designing greater relationships in order to manage the
client effectively.
Use of open and closed questions
Us of funnel techniques. This involves beginning with general questions and then digging deeper
at each specific juncture.
Probing questions
Lead questions. They assisted the client to go to my way of thinking. This is by asking a
questions with a yes response and offering him to choose between to options.
Use of rhetorical questions
What were some measurable goals you suggested for your mock client? How could those
goals be measured and evaluated? (50-75 words)
Some of the measurable goals that I recommended to my client included the following
 Documenting the client progress and job operations with the executive management in
order to make sure that he is meeting the long term, short term goals and company
expectations within a duration of one year.
 Having the capability of measuring objectively the overall performance per weak and
progress by keep record of how many customer she bring while at the same time maintain
the previous clientele base.

 During responding to customer calls, they will be answered within 2-3 rings of the line.
The support chat services that helps customers will run on daily basis (remain open for 24
hrs.)
 To enhance loyalty and improved review of client service experience
 Helping the company to increase revenue or earnings by approximately 10 percent.
The goals could be measure and evaluated through choosing a specific point on which to focus a
particular goal for improvement.
Proper assessment of the current existing performance of the improvement target area that has
been identified.
Setting of the a key attainable point for increased improvement
Establishing a realistic and attainable deadline on the tome horizon required to complete the
entire target goal. It can also be measured and evaluated by breaking down the deadline into
specific period review dates to enhance manageability and progress.
Collection of the necessary measurement data set or relevant information from various pats
reports, job audits and other primary sources. One can utilize a core spreadsheet in order to carry
out analysis and track the required information
Summarize how you utilized verbal and nonverbal interviewing techniques. Explain how
you dealt with any barriers to communication. (75-100 words)
Verbal techniques

I spoke with clear voice volume, took care of my word and phrase pronunciation, speech
intonation and use of rhythm techniques. I maintained positivity throughout the entire interview
when sharing my work and personal experiences (Horejsi et al 2010). I also prepared important
questions about the company and my prevailing job position. I carried out research in order to be
more knowledgeable and experienced that the client
Non verbal
I utilized this aspect by being confident during the interview through direct eye contact and
maintaining a suitable position posture. I also respected the personal space of the client. I dressed
appropriately looking good and clean. I also avoided exaggeration by maintaining a balance
between various subtle body movements and using an over stiff posture.
Dealing with barriers to communication.
I used a plain and understandable language. I utilized repetition, visual communication
techniques and maintained clients respect. I focused, listened carefully, paid attention and asked
questions to prevent commination barriers.
Why is it important for a social worker to understand the client’s autonomy? Explain how
a social worker might handle a client rejecting a social worker’s aftercare treatment plan
Understanding clients autonomy is important as it improves the confidence and decision making
ability of the client. Social worker thus honors and respects the personal domain and decisions of
the clients which is important in carrying out duties diligently (Rubin, & Babbie, 2016). It also
enables the social workers to manage and control conflicts. Social workers also respect and

promote the ability of various clients to have self-determination. They help them to acknowledge
and offer their personal goal clarification.
What part of the intake interview process proved to be the most challenging? (50-75 words)
The hardest part of the intake interview occurred in the first 2 minutes. This is because the client
and I were trying to make the largest positive and negative impression of each other (Horejsi et
al 2010). There was some difficulty in finding the common ground of the interview and
acquiring ‘in sync’. Another hard was preparation for the actual interview session with the client.
Explain how this assignment can help prepare you for the intake interview process when
you become a social worker. (100-150 words)
This assignment provided me with active listening and communication skills that are important
in the field of social work. As a social worker I will be required to effectively communicate with
various elected leaders in order to continuously advocate for the grievances and help them
acquire appropriate funding programs (Rubin, & Babbie, 2016). It provide me with core social
skills such as problem solving, critical thinking,documentation,and assessment knowledge which
are important in establishing a successful career as goal oriented social worker in future
It helped me gain information regarding social culture thus helped me appreciate and gain
positive altitude towards social workers. It is clear that social workers should clearly understand
existing human relationships in the society such as family setting.

It also increased my confidence levels helping me reflect, interpret and pay attention to details.
This will help me to improve my professional development strategies and also be able to handle
unexpected crisis events

References
Horejsi, C. R., Horejsi, G. A., & Sheafor, B. (2010). Techniques and guidelines for social work
practice. Allyn and Bacon.
Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. R. (2016). Empowerment series: Research methods for social work.
Cengage Learning.