Caregiver - Interview Questions

Caregivers have a very special and important role, as they are trusted to care for someone’s loved one and can make a true difference in their life. Not everyone is cut out for the role of a caregiver and it takes a very specific and unique set of skills to excel. 

Start your answer by listing a few skills you believe are most important. Make sure they are skills you excel at, such as communication, observation, time management, organization, cleanliness, etc. Then, provide an example of when you put one of those skills to work in a situation with a client. 

“I believe the most important skills for a caregiver are _____, _____ and _____. In  a past role, my _____ skills were particularly important when/because _____.”

Caregivers provide a wide variety of assistance to those who are unable to care for themselves, typically directly out of the patient’s home. This can come in the form of emotional, mental, and physical support, and range from providing companionship, to assisting with tasks of daily living, to full medical or physical care. Your patients may have a variety of physical or mental disabilities requiring the need for a caregiver, so having experience with those conditions will be beneficial. 

It may be beneficial to have a list of types of physical or mental disabilities you’ve worked with to showcase your comfort level, as well as adaptability and level of knowledge.

Caregiving is a huge responsibility, and you should have the knowledge, compassion, and skill to provide appropriate care for your clients with a level of effort you’d expect for your own loved one, and the hiring manager wants to ensure your past clients would feel you succeed at this. 

Think about the clients you’ve worked with within the past, including their family members, and provide quick examples of what they would say and why. Having examples or reasons will help support your answers.

“My past clients would say I am _____, _____ and _____. I show this by _____ and _____ every time I’m with one of my clients.”

You’ll have a variety of responsibilities when it comes to caring for your clients, and oftentimes each visit or shift will be different. While these responsibilities, duties, or even a client or family member can be challenging, knowing you’re providing the care your client needs can be incredibly rewarding. 

Don’t be afraid, to be honest, and transparent here, but be sure to avoid talking negatively about a past client or employer. Instead, talk about how you learned from those challenging experiences and take that knowledge into other roles.

A caregiver provides a range of assistance to people who are sick, injured, mentally or physically disabled, or elderly. They typically work in the client’s home and help with daily activities, from personal hygiene assistance to housework or errands, help clients make appointments, provide or arrange for transportation, and serve as a companion or friend in a time of need. 

You should be comfortable performing necessary tasks to care for your client and showcase flexibility and knowledge to perform these tasks.

“In past roles, I’ve been asked to do a variety of tasks such as _____, _____, and _____. I go into each shift with an open mind, and remain flexible so that I can ensure proper care for my clients.”

Similar to question 6, there may be things you’ll be asked to do for a client that you may not be comfortable with. This could be transporting the patient, providing a certain level of medical care, or providing care for a mental or physical disability you may be unfamiliar with. It’s important to be transparent and honest if you’re asked to do something you’re not comfortable with because otherwise, you could be putting the health or safety of yourself or your client at risk. 

If you have an example of a time this happened in the past, use that to explain your answer.

“With one of my past clients, I was asked to _____. Initially, I wasn’t comfortable with this because I didn’t have the experience necessary to do the task appropriately and safely. I asked my employer to provide additional training and asked for assistance on days when this task had to happen. Eventually, I got comfortable with performing the task alone.”

Some patients need around-the-clock care, so you’re unable to leave them alone even if your replacement arrives late or calls off. The hiring manager is looking for you to highlight your interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills and ability to resolve conflict with colleagues. It’s particularly important to show you’d take steps yourself to resolve the situation before contacting the management or your employer. Be specific with the actions you’d take, and highlight qualities such as patience, loyalty, and reliability.

Again, patience, flexibility, and willingness to adapt are key for a caregiver. In some cases, you may be asked to work with a client who is unable to communicate verbally, or even at all. Be sure to talk about your observation skills as well as your communication skills. 

“I’ve taken American Sign Language classes so that I can communicate via sign language to clients. Also, during one of my first visits with a client, I gift them a notebook and pencil so that they can write down their thoughts or communicate via the written word. Finally, I am constantly observing and learning about my client so I can read non-verbal and other cues that indicate their feelings and needs.”

A family is trusting you to care for their loved ones and ensure their needs are met and they are in a safe environment. Talk about how you work with families, including communicating your client’s conditions and needs regularly, being transparent about questions or concerns, and being honest. If you do anything unique, share that. 

“I have a packet of information I provide to each client and family that includes information about me, my hobbies, and my experience and education. I like to play a little game with my clients so they can get to know me better, and I ensure the family has all of my contact information so they can reach me at all times.”