1st interview in 15 years tomorrow - what will they ask?

[ARoomSomewhere]

So I'm going for my first interview in 15 years tomorrow.

I'm completely scared.

I've done a practice drive to the location (30m away)

I've re-read my application and person spec.

It's for a Counselling type position with NHS.

What else can i do to prepare?

I guess its anyone's guess but I REALLY need this job
(who doesn't but I've escaped a fairly grim situation and this would give me such security)

I don't know much about this kind of role but have done a lot of interviewing for admin type jobs. The questions are often 'competency based' asking you to describe how you deal with a particular situation and are best answered by 'telling a story'. eg. can you tell me how you would have dealt with a difficult customer/patient/work colleague'. Google STAR answers to competency questions to get an idea. The aim is to describe what the situation was, what task you had, what action you took and what the result was. Make it specific and don't forget the last bit about the result (lots of people do in interviews). Remember to use 'I' not 'we' when describing what happened, it isn't how we talk in real life but you need to show you did stuff. Also, don't forget to smile. The interviewers will be looking for someone nice to work with not just someone who can answer questions. Good luck

Thanks smallest
grateful for any tips at this stage

If it's NHS read the job description and think how you could apply it to your experience

Remember they will only give you marks for things you actually say (lots of people assume the people interviewing know about your experience or knowledge so don't say it- but you won't get scores for things in your application form - only the things you actually say)

Think about your work with clients - times that have gone well and times that haven't. Think about issues such as working with cultural diversity, safeguarding, working with teams, working in difficult situations or with conflict.

Try to think of it not as an interview but as a chat with someone with a shared professional interest. Show them who you are and what you know.

Good luck!

Confidentiality, safeguarding, conflict of interest, managing difficult clients, time management, equality and diversity, theory and your practice experience.

I'm not certain but these are the favourites to come up so far.

Thanks sourpatchkid
Thanks Unsure

Really helpful suggestions. I've noted them down to read just before i go in :)