Preparing for an interview is never easy. But when you’re going for a position as important as a school counselor, there’s added pressure. Being able to answer these school counselor interview questions will help you stand out from other candidates.
While we can give you the questions to ponder ahead of time, it always helps to get a little practice in. Take these questions and spend some time jotting down your answers until you get them just right. Practice saying them aloud or ask a friend to do a mock interview with you.
When it comes to interview prep, any little bit helps! Now, on to the school counselor interview questions.
Why do you want to be a school counselor?
In a job that deals with students’ emotional and mental well-being, hiring managers want to know why you want to be apart of their lives. What motivated you to become a counselor? Is there something you hope to accomplish in a role like this?
Be honest and tell your story. This is a typical question, but it gives employers more insight into who you are and why you do what you do.
How would you handle a student reporting abuse by a teacher or parent?
School counselors face tough issues every day, and they need to know how to handle them confidentially and legally. You’ll need to know typical school district protocols, legal requirements, and of course, how you’ll respect the student’s truthfulness.
A question like this is never easy, but it provides excellent insight into how you might handle a genuine and serious situation. Spend some time thinking through your response, so you have it prepared when the time comes.
What counseling approach do you follow?
We all have different approaches to our work. Now it’s time for you to showcase yours. What will you bring to this job that another candidate might not? How can you take your approach and make it a success in this environment?
More than that, why is this your approach? Give the hiring manager plenty of opportunities to see your self-confidence and work style.
How would you handle an angry parent or guardian?
The wrath of the parent is very real for counselors across the country. This is another situational interview question that shows your calm under pressure. When you’re meant to have the student’s best interest at heart, it’s not always easy to shift your attention to the parent.
Think back on a time where you’ve done this and managed the situation successfully. If you don’t have much counseling experience, think through your own strategy, and be prepared with a concrete answer.
What would you consider a strength of this school? A weakness?
Every school has it’s pros and cons, and this is no time to pretend that it’s all rainbows and sunshine. Praise the school for what they do right and why you think that’s important. But don’t hesitate to highlight areas of improvement.
These areas of improvement can even turn into questions at the end of the interview. Why does the school struggle with these things? What, if anything, are they doing to turn that around?
Becoming a school counselor is an amazing job with a tough interview process. With these answers at the ready, you’ll do great!
