You’ve completed your training and gained your social services qualifications and yet that all-important job is proving as elusive as a complete sentence from Donald Trump.
What’s to be done? Worry not!
Here are our top tips for acing that interview and landing one of the best social services roles from s1jobs.
Show all Social Services and Housing jobs across Scotland
Customise your approach
Employers don’t want to hear only about the experience you’ve had. That’s because they know students don’t always get to choose their work placements.
Instead add examples of all the skills you have by applying them to the specific area of social work you’re being interviewed for.
This not only shows initiative but gives you the edge on other candidates.
Show you have motivation
You may not have worked in this particular area of social services before but you can describe to your interviewer how your current skills, training and previous work experience can all be brought to bear fruit in this new environment.
Being motivated is key to success.
Never go in unprepared
Homework is paramount before any interview so read up on local social care policies and procedures. Look, too, for local news stories that might have a bearing on the work being carried out by the team you wish to join.
Above all, get a feeling not just for the job itself but for the work environment you’re seeking to become part of.
Don’t hamper your chances
Sometimes you’re going to have to accept there are elements of your CV that will regularly let you down.
Not having a driving licence, for example, is seriously limiting when it comes to the vast majority of roles on offer in the social services sector.
Once they’ve been identified, make moves to fill these gaps. Let’s look out those L-plates!
Own your imperfections
Life is never perfect – a truth that anyone working in the social services sector knows only too well – and so why should you be?
Don’t get hung up on trying to portray yourself as the ideal candidate.
Employers will not expect you to know everything – the most important thing is to demonstrate your willingness to learn and continually improve your skills (especially driving).
Take the first step on your road to a new career with a wide range of Social Services/Housing vacancies from s1jobs