15 Best Interviewing Tips For School Counselling Position In 2023

The good news is that you won’t be up against the stiff competition in your interview for a role in the school counseling department. In many circumstances, you may be the only candidate for the job or one of two or three candidates. Nonetheless, persuading the hiring committee of your abilities and suitability for the position would be best.

How are you going to do that? You’ll need to show that you have excellent listening skills. A comprehension of the difficulties pupils confront and their emotions, as well as knowledge of the numerous circumstances that arise in a school counselor’s employment and how to handle each.

Furthermore, the bad news is that you’ll be asked many questions, from easy personal inquiries to more challenging behavioral and technical (job-specific) inquiries. Finally, school officials must perceive you as an ally who will fight for the pupils but not at any cost. They listed school counseling interview tips below.

1. Do your Homework:
2. Create a Portfolio:
3. Nail the Questions:
4. Tell A Story About a Time:
5. Ask Questions:
6. Advocate for Yourself:
7. Say Thank You:
8. Stand Tall:
18 Sample School Counselling Interview Tips
Conclusion
References
Recommendations

1. Do your Homework:

Our first school counselling interview tip is Doing your homework. The most important piece of advice I can give is to do some preliminary research on the school and district before the interview.

What kind of people live there (rural, suburban, urban, high-poverty, moderate-poverty, and so on)? Is there anything notable about the school in the news (awards, grants, etc.)? On state testing, how does the school/district fare? The more you know about the school and the district, the better.

Most schools and districts have websites with information about the school or district. If you’re having problems finding data on a certain school or district, go to the National Center for Education Statistics website.

Data on schools, colleges, and libraries across the United States can be found at the National Center for Education Statistics, which can be searched by name, city, state, and zip code. Knowing a lot about the school and the district demonstrates that you care about it and want to be a part of it.

2. Create a Portfolio:

Secondly, one of our school counseling interview tips is to create a portfolio. Make sure you have an up-to-date portfolio regarding your preparation. Will the administration demand one?

Maybe, but likely not. Is it still a valuable approach to demonstrate your abilities and professionalism? Yup! Some aspects of your previous work and how you envisage a counseling program are difficult to explain in an interview.

The interview, for example, could focus on your communication style and fit with the institution, while your portfolio could demonstrate your data analysis and specific experience.

You can also submit a digital portfolio to them so they can check it over before the interview or later if they didn’t have time during it (they’re sometimes extremely quick!).

I recommend including the following sections in your portfolio (some of which may be divided into many sections):

· A section presenting your tier 1 work (example lesson plan, curriculum map, instructor activities, etc.)

· Tier 2 work is showcased in this section (small group data, behavior interventions, etc.)

· How do you provide service to stakeholders? (teacher training, parent workshops, community partnerships, etc.)

· Programming for the entire school

· How have you influenced the culture and climate of your school?

3. Nail the Questions:

Another important school counseling interview tip is to nail the question. When interviewing for school counseling positions, ASCA has a series of sample interview questions that HR/admin/whoever can use. It’s worth taking a look at!

Those may be the questions asked if your interviewer is a fellow counselor or the director of counseling for a district. However, principals do not use them regularly.

Principals often have no idea what ASCA is, much less what a “complete school counseling program” is. Furthermore, in those cases, the questions they ask are primarily based on 1) their prior experiences (both positive and negative) with school counselors; 2) what they require in a school counselor.

And 3) questions they would ask teacher candidates. With that in mind, I’d like to share some more questions for which you should prepare.

4. Tell A Story About a Time:

Another school counseling interview tip is to tell about a time. My least favorite questions are the ones that ask you to “explain about a time when…” I immediately forget everything I’ve ever known in my life. I’ve been asked a lot about times I’ve managed conflict, failed at work, and had to manage a lot at once. Here are several examples I have gathered from different counselors:

· Tell us about a moment when you and a coworker didn’t get along.

· Tell a story of a moment when you had to provide feedback to a coworker.

· Also, tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team or collaborated with others.

· Tell me about a time when you used your imagination to solve a problem.

· Tell about a difficult situation and how you handled it.

· Also, tell them how you manage your time and prioritize – some will even give you a list of numerous items (a fight on the playground, a scheduled lesson, a weeping kid) and ask you to prioritize them.

· Tell a story of a moment when you made a blunder with a student. What would you have done differently if you could go back in time? (Courtesy of Larissa R.)

· Tell us about a time when you stood up for a pupil. (Emily Weber) Describe an instance when you organized a meeting or a workshop. (Photo courtesy of Emily Weber)

· Also, tell about a period when you had a bad relationship with a parent and how you’ve grown and evolved because of your answer.

· Tell a story of a moment when you and your parent got along swimmingly.

· Tell about an instance when you had to de-escalate a situation. (Pittsburgh, PA resident Megan W.)

· Also, tell a story about when you led your building/organization/classroom. (Houston, TX resident Sarah M.)

· Tell about a time when you had an ethical challenge at work or when you had to apply your ethical code. (Houston, TX resident Sarah M.)

· Tell a story of a moment when you made a blunder with a student. What would you have done differently if you could go back in time? (Courtesy of Larissa R.)

5. Ask Questions:

Asking Questions is another important part of the school counseling interview tips. The school/district is trying to determine if you’d be a suitable fit for them. Simultaneously, you should determine if the school is the right fit for you.

“What are the key tasks and responsibilities for school counselors at School?” for example. “In your opinion, what are the most crucial skills/abilities for a school counselor at School?” “What is the most pressing need at School?”

When you’re asking questions, make sure you’re also answering them! The goal of asking questions is to determine if the school is a good fit for you and demonstrate that you are a good fit for the institution. For example, if your question is, “What is the greatest need School is facing?” Discuss how you can combat or meet the needs as a school counselor with the interview team.

6. Advocate for Yourself:

Another great school counseling interview tip is advocating for yourself. If the interviewer asks, “Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?” or “Do you have anything else to say?” You have an excellent opportunity to speak up for yourself.

Finding out what the school is looking for and explaining how you match is a wonderful method to answer this question. Summarizing the interview’s highlights is also a good idea.

7. Say Thank You:

Saying thank you is a must-do school counseling interview tip. It’s critical to say “Thank You!” When the interview is completed. Following up with a “Thank You” after the interview is also crucial.

There are numerous theories about the most effective method: email, handwritten notes, or typed letters. I normally do all three of these things.

It seems to be a significant amount of work, but I believe it is worthwhile and covers all of your bases. Furthermore, A “Thank You!” Forces the interviewer (and whoever is in charge of your file) to think about you again. In your “Thank You,” add some highlights from the interview. Include your contact information so they can get in touch with you. A business card is a fantastic addition.

8. Stand Tall:

Standing tall like a hero is also among the best school counseling interview tips. I once saw a Ted talk about our body language’s importance to us.

According to Amy Cuddy, if we “pose” confidently for a few minutes before doing something, it can affect our confidence and how we act! Before interviews, training, and other events, I’ve tried striking a superhero position for a few minutes. It could just be the placebo effect, but I believe it effective.

18 Sample School Counselling Interview Tips

If you’re looking to get into counseling, there are a lot of interview tips you must learn to perform exceptionally well. These tips include:

1. Why Are You Interested In This Position?

This warm-up question is crucial in making the best first impression possible on your interviewer. I have a Master’s degree in Counseling under my belt. Helping people has always been a desire of mine; therefore, I decided to pursue a career in this industry.

While there are various types of counseling, I am mainly interested in school counseling since it is critical to molding pupils while they are still young. I enjoy both seeing and participating in the development of students.

2. What Are The Roles Of A School Counsellor?

A school counselor’s key responsibilities include assisting children with schoolwork and providing emotional support. School counselors usually hold events or activities aimed at helping kids enhance their academic accomplishment strategies.

They provide students with information about their academic plans, particularly the options available after graduation.

3. What Are The Qualities That A School Counselor Should Possess To Be Effective?

Aside from communication abilities, a school counselor must have a high level of empathy. They should be able to put themselves in the same boat as the kids to present the students with the most sympathetic approaches and solutions. Interpersonal skills and a grasp of the students’ situations enhance this ability.

4. What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Role? And how did you handle it?

Dealing with bullying was the most difficult of my experiences in my former school. It was easier to spot a bullying situation than solve one. The fundamental issue is the victim’s fear of reporting the crime. As a result, bullying cases often linger for a long time, and the steps to resolve them are completed in stages.

5. What strategies and mindset are required for this role?

I make it a point to stay up with my students’ pace. Despite the inherent generation difference, I will try to learn about my pupils’ interests. This could bring me closer to them while also allowing me to better understand them. Knowing what’s hot will also keep me from being judgmental by limiting my viewpoint to only a few points of view. This will enable me to see things more clearly from their perspective.

6. Describe your experience in this field briefly:

For three years in a row, my prior school had a significant reduction in university admissions among pupils. I was a member of one of the committees tasked with encouraging students to continue their education at colleges of their choosing.

We organized and ran events to introduce students to good universities both in the United States and abroad. Compared to the previous year, the program could increase the percentage of university admissions by 60%.

7. How do you deal with domestic issues reports from a student:

I’ll look at the school’s procedures for dealing with pupils’ complaints of home concerns. If I’m unsure what the problem is, I’ll seek advice from more experienced colleagues. If the situation is critical, such as an abuse case, I may need to contact the appropriate authorities to address the problem. However, I will try to provide the pupils with as much emotional support as possible.

8. What are your goals as a school counselor at our school?

If I am accepted here, my priority will be to increase the number of students admitted to tertiary education. I want to encourage students to recognize their passions and follow their goals. This goal will be met by implementing a program that focuses on tertiary education paths. Aside from that, I could introduce one-on-one conversations with kids to offer advice on their plans.

9. What is the biggest challenge that you foresee in this field?

I predicted that the growth of mental health difficulties would be the most difficult obstacle. Anxiety, sadness, and other mental health issues have many symptoms and conditions. This is difficult, since dealing with these situations requires expert help. As a result, I’ll keep track of any early signs so that they may be addressed with permission from parents and pupils.

10. Describe a time you failed in this job and the lesson you learned:

My worst blunder was expressing my surprise in front of my student when she was discussing her problem. It took a lot of courage for her to talk to me about it, and I believe my lack of composure at the time influenced her feelings and trust in me. That experience has taught me always to expect the worst and remain calm, no matter how serious my kids’ problems are.

11. How do you stay motivated at work?

The success of my students is my greatest source of inspiration. Many of my past students came to see me and expressed gratitude for helping them with their plans. Seeing them pursue their education overseas and grow into excellent individuals gives me huge delight and motivation. I always hoped that I would be able to provide constant support to all of my pupils.

12. How Well Can You Handle Criticism?

To be honest, criticism has an impact on me. However, I am always teaching myself to reflect on myself and accept criticism’s beneficial aspects.

I’ve been chastised for my actions on several occasions. Those criticisms encouraged me to be more adaptable in my thinking. I also learned always to seek out the advice of others, such as my senior coworkers or even school administrators.

13. How do you evaluate the Counseling Program?

I’ll divide the evaluation into two categories: short-term and long-term. Some outcomes could be achieved in a shorter amount of time.

I’ll assess them to see if the program’s objectives have been reached. I’ll also compare my performance to that of past years. Progress, such as a graph, could be presented numerically to provide a clearer picture.

14. How do you plan to deal with Upset Parents?

Surveying students to determine how useful our counseling program is an aid in tracking future changes. I also recommend using other colleges as a standard. This will give us an idea of how well our school performs compared to other schools. The valuable information gathered could be used in our counseling program.

15. What is your biggest weakness as a school counselor?

My greatest flaw is that I am often emotionally exhausted after dealing with major occurrences. This was difficult because I often had to summon my strength to give my all for the impending event.

However, I’m progressively gaining the ability to deal. My seniors taught me that taking a break is fine as long as it does not interfere with my ability to be a competent school counselor.

16. Describe your preferred Approach to Counseling?

Person-centered counseling is my preferred method. Adopting this strategy will empower pupils to make their own choices. This will remind them that they have complete power over their will and that counselors will always be available to help them in thoroughly evaluate any strategy they are pursuing.

17. What do you do if a student wants to quit school?

I’ll demonstrate that I’m aware of their situation. I will encourage them to construct a list of the advantages and disadvantages of the option they will make.

This will aid them in making a more informed selection. I shall try to persuade them of the importance of education in their lives. As a result, I will offer guidance and assistance in eliciting their motivation.

18. How do you deal with student-teacher conflict?

It is critical to hear both viewpoints and refrain from choosing sides. I shall maintain neutrality and act only after conducting a full inquiry.

If the disagreement is mild, I will advise them both to address and resolve their disagreements on their own. If the conflict is large, I may need to address it more carefully.

Also, if you’re applying for a position as a school counselor, you might want to review these 18 interview questions and answers. We wish you the best of luck in your interview!

Conclusion

Employers may already know who they want to recruit before you walk through the door. This is standard information in other disciplines, but the truth is that it occurs in education 100 per cent of the time. While it’s critical to quickly review “what could I do differently next time,” don’t overthink it.

It’s not always meant to be. Maybe you shouldn’t want them if they don’t want you. Whether you gain employment or not has nothing to do with you. It’s also fine to express your sorrow about losing a potential job opportunity.