Depending on what type of residential facility you are working for as a residential counselor, you will be asked grilling questions at an interview.
Since a residential counselor’s job is to handle an entire facility in terms of logistics, security, and operations, he must have something substantial to give to the interviewer.
Before you appear for an interview for a residential counselor position, make sure that you are well prepared for what questions might come your way.
You will be tested on your ability to handle the facility as a whole, and you will also be asked to provide examples of incidents that will prove what you say is right.
Interviews are not only designed to derive information from interviewees but also to make them stumble so that employers can gauge how well they can handle tricky situations.
This is especially apt for an interview designed for positions such as residential counselors.
Related: Residential Counselor Resume
Have a look at the following set of interview questions and answers so that you can somewhat prepare yourself for a residential counselor interview:
Residential Counselor Interview Questions and Answers
1. What are major the responsibilities of a residential counselor?
A residential counselor is primarily responsible for supervising the daily activities of the residents, developing and implementing individual-based short-term and long-term rehabilitation goals, and facilitating group therapy sessions and recreational programs.
2. What makes you a good fit for a residential counselor’s position?
I believe that I can work with different kinds of people which make me a good fit for a residential counselor’s job.
3. What do you think is an essential skill that a residential counselor needs?
While there are many vital skills that a residential counselor should possess, it is the ability to gauge what residents are capable of doing that makes him successful. A few years in this line of work give you a lot of experience where people are concerned, and one develops a sixth sense about people.
4. Do you have a problem working with people belonging to another culture?
Not at all, in fact, I enjoy working with people from varied backgrounds and usually get along very well with them.
5. What are the three biggest challenges a youth residential counselor faces at work?
A youth counselor commonly faces challenges of non-cooperation from young residents, aggressive episodes, and difficulty in developing a relationship of trust.
6. What components of your education do you think are relevant to this job?
My major is in psychology, and pretty much all of my education is related to this role. I practiced the therapeutic and assessment techniques and kept my knowledge up-to-date by reading the latest journals issued by the American Psychological Association related to counseling psychology.
7. Which therapeutic schools of thought are you familiar with?
I am well versed in behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic therapy techniques which are the most commonly practiced modern-day schools of thought.
8. Which form of therapy works best at residential facilities to resolve aggression in clients?
Behavioral therapy is most useful for dealing with aggression. However, I make sure ample recreational activities and vigorous outdoor activities are made available to channel out the residents’ negative energy in a positive manner.
9. What do you do if your assigned resident is not responding to the treatment plan you have devised for them?
I analyze my treatment plans regularly, and if the resident is not responding to therapy, I revise my policy. Before changing the strategy, I always discuss the case with my colleagues. Brainstorming always helps in this profession.
10. What do you know about us?
American youth Rehabilitation center is a residential facility that caters for disturbed young people in need of psychological support and drug-dependent young people seeking dependency withdrawal.
You provide medical care, psychological support, and recreational programs for residents. Also, assist in achieving short and long-term rehabilitation plans for each resident.
11. What are the three strengths needed to succeed as a residential counselor?
Compassion, patience, and practical communication skills are three must-haves for any residential counselor to succeed.
12. How do you gain the trust of assigned residents?
The Trust of residents cannot be achieved overnight. It requires some time and strict practice of confidentiality rules. Once a basic relationship is developed I usually negotiate with the resident, and we decide on some terms of interaction amongst us, wherein they promise not to hide anything, and I promise to maintain their confidentiality and to take their informed consent for every new step in treatment.
13. Do you believe that psychology plays a vital role in how a residential facility is managed? Can you explain how?
Yes, psychology is one of the most significant factors that one takes into account when working in a residential facility. There are many different kinds of people one has to manage, and all of them have different mindsets brought on by separate experiences and backgrounds.
It is essential to understand what their motivation in every aspect is and to work with them accordingly. It is also important when determining ways to handle tricky situations such as disagreements or blame games.