How to prepare for your interview day
Interview Format - Preparation is key
Welcome talk/Group work activity
The welcome talk will be led by a member of academic staff and will provide further information about the University and the programme, there will also be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have at the end. The group work activity will follow the welcome talk and will last for approximately 10-15 minutes, it is designed to assess your communication and interpersonal skills in a group setting.
5-minute presentation
Preparation and delivery of a 5-minute presentation at the start of your individual interview to your interviewers with the title: ‘My understanding of professional social work’. Your talk should demonstrate some prior reading/ research - here are some suggestions that you may wish to include:
- What do social workers do?
- What might be seen as some of the challenges?
- How might social workers improve the lives of vulnerable people?
- The role of legislation and policy
Please note no presentation aids (e.g. PowerPoint) are to be used.
Individual interview
An individual interview which will last approximately 30 minutes. The interview panel will consist of one or two members of our experienced and friendly academic staff and will be recorded for monitoring purposes.
On the Day
You will need to “join” both the initial welcome talk/group work session via the link provided in the invite email, and then your individual interview timeslot at your chosen time. We advise for you to “join” the individual interview timeslot at least 10 minutes before it is due to start. Once you have pressed “join,” you will be waiting in a virtual lobby. Our interview panel will invite you in when they are ready.
Please have some photo ID (e.g. Passport or Driving Licence) ready to confirm your identify at the start of your interview.
Microsoft Teams
Our social work interviews are conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Please ensure you have a Microsoft Teams account on your PC or tablet. Signing up is free and it is simple to use. Please ensure you use the same email that you have given on your application.
It is essential you book an individual interview timeslot, once this has been booked you will receive a confirmation email which will contain a link where you can directly join your interview (“meeting”) at your selected time. The welcome talk/group work activity Microsoft Teams link is in your invite to interview email.
Outcome
The criteria used for selection is detailed below:
- Applicants must demonstrate that they have awareness of the changing nature of social work and have a realistic awareness of the requirements of professional social work today.
- Applicants must show that they have undertaken relevant academic study and be prepared to demonstrate how life/work experience has helped to prepare them for social work training also to demonstrate their learning from their experiences at the appropriate life stage
- Applicants must be able to present information, ideas and opinions clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
- Applicants should demonstrate a beginning level of understanding/awareness of the roles and tasks of a social worker.
- Applicants should show a beginning level of understanding/awareness of discrimination, prejudice and oppression, and demonstrate the potential to promote positive social work practice.
- Applicants must demonstrate a beginning level of self-awareness and the ability to question their own values and beliefs.
After the interview, all the information we have gathered from your application form, group work, presentation, and individual interview will be reviewed against the course’s selection criteria.
We will aim to inform you of the outcome of your interview as soon as possible. If you have not received notification of a decision after a week, please contact Health and Social Care Admissions to check.
If you do not receive an offer of a place on the course, feedback is available from the Health and Social Care Admissions team should you require it.
