If you want to get a job as a mental health technician, it is imperative that you prepare for the interview process with great diligence.
In the mental health technician interview, you will be judged on many levels, including your knowledge of mental health metrics, as well as your personality.
Since patients will come to you while in distress, it is imperative that you are a compassionate individual, which is most of what will be judged during the interview process.
Related: Mental Health Technician Resume Sample
Some questions and possible answers that you can go through to determine how to ace a mental health technician interview are provided below:
40 Mental Health Technician Interview Questions and Answers
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I have worked as a mental health technician for 5 years. My interest in this work stems from a teen awareness campaign about mental health. Since then, I have strived hard to be where I am now.
2. What specific duties have you performed in the role of a mental health technician?
As a mental health technician, my main work has been to observe patients to determine their mental and emotional conditions and assist them accordingly. More specifically, my work includes the overall maintenance of therapeutic environments, ensuring patients’ mental and physical safety. Furthermore, my work involves assisting patients with activities of daily living and handling patients’ records amongst other things.
3. What skills do you possess which make you a perfect individual to hire for this position?
I am skilled in many areas related to this work, including possessing in-depth knowledge of behavioral problems, and their solutions. I am well-versed in charting patient observations, and can effectively participate in the development and implementation of patient treatment programs.
4. What do you like most about this work?
I love the fact that I can help people with their troubles, while I do what I am best at.
5. What do you dislike about this work?
The sad part is that one cannot help everyone, and that makes me feel a bit overwhelmed.
6. How do you handle the stress associated with this work?
I must admit that the stress was manifold when I initially began this work. Now, I have learned to keep my emotions in check. I am a compassionate individual by nature, but I can control my feelings, and concentrate on work.
7. How do you deal with agitated patients?
I feel that patients are always in a state of distress when they approach you, which is why they need as much love and understanding as one can give to them. I deal with all my patients very patiently, providing them with love and comfort as much as possible.
8. What motivates you?
The fact that my services have the potential to change lives is what keeps me constantly motivated.
9. What demotivates you?
At this stage in my career, I do not get demotivated at all. In fact, I learned that adverse situations are actually opportunities to do better.
10. Why do you want to work for our concern specifically?
I have heard great things about your patient treatment plans and processes, which makes me feel that I can also add to this. I want to work with your concern to further its message and services.
11. How did you hear about this opening?
This opening was mentioned to me by a friend who works here in a similar capacity.
12. Out of all the candidates, why should we hire you?
I feel that I am a great contender for this position, as I am highly skilled in providing mental health assistance. My experience in this regard is vast, and I have many accomplishments to my name which qualify me for the position.
13. What is your greatest professional achievement?
All the patients that I have assisted successfully are my achievements. However, I would like to mention a time when I successfully rehabilitated a patient, whom most other mental health professionals considered a very difficult case.
14. Tell me about a time you failed.
Unfortunately, I have had a couple of failures where I could not provide my patients with the kind of help that they needed. I was dealing with a patient who was quite volatile, and since it was quite early on in my career, I was unable to handle the tantrums, and he end up hurting himself.
15. Why do you want to leave your current job?
The facility that I am working for is closing down due to funding issues.
16. What is your greatest strength?
My greatest strength is my ability to work even when the odds are against me.
17. What is your greatest weakness?
My greatest weakness is that I tend to get too emotional, which can cloud my judgment.
18. What are you doing to overcome this weakness?
I am training myself to remain detached, and I feel that I am 80% successful.
19. What are you looking for in a new position?
I am essentially looking for a challenging position, where I can apply my skills in the best way possible.
20. Have you ever suffered from a mental health issue yourself?
I have never been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. However, I do believe that stress triggers a response quite similar to what many of my patients feel, even though the comparison is weak.
21. How would your previous boss describe you?
I am sure that he will describe me as a great individual, with a kind heart, and a passion for helping people.
22. What are you most passionate about?
I am most passionate about success in what I do.
23. How do you like to be managed?
I like learning from my managers, and I like it when they let me exercise my own judgment.
24. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
I plan to do this by working as hard as possible.
25. What makes you unique?
I am unique because I have the capacity to delve deep into my work, without thinking about consequences.
26. What is your dream job?
My dream job is the one that I am already working on.
27. What kind of environment do you like best?
An environment that is conducive to success is what I like best.
28. What is your leadership style?
My leadership style is to lead by example.
29. What do you like to do outside of work?
I love volunteering my time at the local SOS concern, helping orphans live as normal a life as possible.
30. Tell me your top 3 positive traits.
Dedication, efficiency, and compassion are my 3 positive traits.
31. What do you think really drives results in this job?
I feel that hard work, paired with compassion is what drives results in this job.
32. Do you prefer working independently or in a team environment?
Depending on the type of assignment given to me, I can work equally well in both. Usually, I work solo because of the nature of my job.
33. How do you handle multiple patients at the same time?
I do not take on more than 2 patients at a time, as I feel that I won’t be able to do justice to justice to them. With 2 patients, I can divide my time and work properly, providing priority to both of them.
34. What did you do in the last year to improve your knowledge?
I am in a consistent mode of self-education. I recently completed a course on mental health and its effects on the workplace.
35. What are your salary expectations?
I believe that the salary offered to be should be conducive to my experience and qualifications.
36. Are you applying for other jobs?
Yes, I have applied at one more place, apart from here.
37. How do you feel about working long hours?
I don’t have any problems working long hours, as I understand that this work sometimes demands it.
38. If we decide to hire you, when can you join us?
I can join you within the next 10 days.
39. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I see myself working as a mental health instructor, which is the pivotal role that I want to attain.
40. Do you have any questions for me?
I would like to know more about the types of cases that you have received in the last year or so.