Draft interview questions for PA/Carer role

 

Although there is no set format that every job interview will follow, there are some questions that you can regularly use . Here’s a list of the most common questions and a guide to the kind of answers your interviewer wants to hear.

Personality care questions

1)    Win lottery tonight 10 million what would you do – if spend on self ( potentially self) if look after family ( family) if charity etc then community- ideally bit of all.

2)    List of things : door bell rings, bed needs making, it’s your break time, I’m calling you? Which one first – you should always come first.

3)    We are out on the street and I start talking to someone they respond to you. What would you say/do?

4)    You have an hour spare, what would you do? – look for something to do,and then look again ask if anythings needs doing. Then ask if OK to take a break after you’ve checked I don’t need anything.

5)    What sort of relationship do you expect to have with me? The answer should be as you want. Your in charge, if you want a formal relationship, that’s  fine, if friendly that’s OK, just let me know  here to support you.

6)    We go to the cinema and I can’t decide what to watch, what suggestions would you offer. – should be based on your likes and drives.

Typical interview questions

·         Tell me about yourself - This is usually the opening question and, as first impressions are key, one of the most important.  Answer  should be under five minutes, beginning with an overview of their highest qualification then running through the jobs they’ve held so far.use the structure of their CV as prompts, they should give examples of achievements and the skills they’ve picked up along the way. they shouldn't go into too much detail,prompt them on if need be "by tell me more about" –  take notes and ask for them to expand on any areas where you’d like more information. 

 

·          What are your strengths? -  They should pick the three biggest attributes that they think will get them the job and should give examples of how they have used these strengths in a work situation.  again prompt them with the question ie how are these relevant? They could be tangible skills, such as proficiency in a particular duty, ie, manual handling, intangible skills such as positive outlook . If  they're not sure where to start, refer them to look at the job description. There should be a section listing candidate requirements, which should give them an idea of what you are looking for. See below for examples

·         What are your weaknesses? - The dreaded question, which is best handled by picking something that they have made positive steps to redress. For example, if tea making skills are not good , they can state it as a weakness but they should statec something along the lineso f but im willing to learn and to improve on this. their initiative could actually be perceived as a strength. be wary of people say “I don’t have any weaknesses”, , or “I have a tendency to work too hard”, which is seen as avoiding the question. See below for answers.

·         Why should we hire you? or What can you do for us that other candidates can't? - What makes them special and where do their major strengths lie? they should be able to find out what they are looking for from the job description. “I have a  combination of strong  skills and the ability to use these flexibly  is a good opening sentence, which can then lead onto a more specific example of something they have done so far

·         What are your goals? or Where do you see yourself in five years time? - It’s best to talk about both short-term and long-term goals. Talk about the kind of job they’d eventually like to do and the various steps they will need to get there, relating this in some way back to the position you’re interviewing for. they should try and show you  that they have the determination to make the most of every job you have to get where you want to be.

·         Why do you want to work here? -  listen for an answer that indicates they’ve given this some thought. If they’ve prepared for the interview properly,they should have a good inside knowledge of your needs.

·         What are three positive things your last boss would say about you? - This is a great time for them to brag about themselves through someone else’s words. they should try to include one thing that shows your ability to do the job, one thing that shows their commitment to the work, and one thing that shows they are a good person to have in a team. For example, “My boss has told me that I am one the carers he has ever had. He knows he can always rely on me, and he likes my sense of humour.”

·         What salary are you seeking? -  if you've not advertised one.they can prepare for this by knowing the value of someone with your skills and market values.. Try not to give any specific numbers in the heat of the moment – it could put you in a poor position when negotiating later on.  If you've provided a guideline salary with the job description, you could mention this and say it’s around the same area they’re looking for.

·         If you were an animal, or fruit etc which one would you want to be? - this is more of a fun psychological question to see if they can think quickly. If they answer ‘a bunny’, they will make a soft, passive impression. If they answer ‘a lion’, you may see them as aggressive. What type of personality do you think will it take to get the job done for your needs?

·         Tell me about a time when? You’ve succeeded/failed/dealt with an issue -  they should have prepped   for this by having some stories ready, remember stories can work both ways, so something that’s gone wrong, can be turned it to a positive learning experience, i.e. “after that I made sure in future”

 

Questions they could  ask

o    What exactly will I be doing should I be accepted for the position?

o    What is a typical day like for someone in a similar position to the one I am applying for?

o    Will there be a probation period for this position? How long?

o    What training will I be given?

o    How is performance measured? How often?

o    Are there any company incentives?

Strengths to look for

Hard worker

Punctual

Determined

Believe in myself; self-confidence

I like to work in team and have been an active participant and organizer at several places.

One of my greatest strengths I've acquired during my education is good analytical and planning skills.

 This has always benefited me to set goals and try to achieve them. But at the same time, I'm driven by the thoughts of success.

Full commitment to my work

Highly energetic

Having good interpersonal skills

 

Weaknesses – things to worry about

Some people say I'm over-friendly.

I lose patience with myself sometimes when I can’t complete the job in time.

I have to work on having more patience and giving myself a break, because I always want everything done at once.

Tend to go to any limits while helping my friends without thinking of the consequences for myself.

Bit of a perfectionist, so get annoyed when I cant do things as I would like to the best of my abilities.