Professional Counselor Interview Preparation Guide

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I have always been impressed by the name of XYZ College and have heard a lot about how you deliver quality education with matchless standards, which is why I would like to join your winning team.

Stability, to meet specific objectives, to offer educational opportunities to student s and their families, to represent the mission of the school.

I am passionate about this career because I enjoy communicating to others the possibilities of a great career and what they can look forward to in their future ahead of them. I thrive on seeing the excitement that I can bring to others with effective communication and making sure that the potential student is confident in their decision.

Well, being an admirer of the cooperative model by Deutsch, I usually negotiate with the individual until he or she is willing to cooperate. In advanced cases I occasionally take the competitive approach which I feel is sometimes needed to bring up the candidate's level of interest.

I worked with students for many years and get a kick out of helping them. I also enjoyed meeting with their parents and helping them with questions about college.

Only one university asked me these hands-on questions, but they were the most fun to answer because they allowed me to truly demonstrate my strengths and skills, rather than just talking about them. For these hands-on questions, I drew heavily from the knowledge and experience that I had gained in my career services internship, and I even brainstormed with my internship supervisors about how I could best showcase my strengths.

I am a big fan of group counseling and I believe it is a very effective counseling technique, however, after every group session, the counselor typically offers one to one sessions if requested. Matters of confidential nature can easily be handled via such individual sessions.

These "what-if" questions asked me to imagine what kind of innovation I might bring to the position. They were the most difficult for me because they forced me to put my ideas out on a limb with only limited knowledge of what the department and position was like. I found that research was my most important ally in imagining how I would contribute to a position I didn't yet have. I scoured university and department websites for every piece of information I could find about their work and values. That gave me the information I needed to articulate how I could contribute.

Experience-based questions asked me to consider how my previous experience related to the current position, and they formed the bulk of my interview questions. Just like I teach my students, I prepared for these questions by creating STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories about every task on the job description. To be clear, I did not write out my example stories word-for-word - at least not after that first interview - but I did write bullet points so that I wouldn't forget the key details.

► What is your experience with implementation of the school counseling core curriculum?
► How would you approach individual student planning?
► How do you develop a positive relationship with students in individual counseling? Small group counseling?
► How would you handle a large group of students having attendance problems?
► What experiences have you had with developing transition plans?
► Describe how you would implement small group counseling/classroom lessons?
► What might your professional development plan look like?

► How does a comprehensive school counseling program support the school's academic mission?
► What is your school counseling/educational philosophy?
► What is the counseling theory or approach that you most closely follow?

• Of all the areas that are handled by a high school counselor which is the area that you feel strongest in? In which area do you think you need the greatest improvement? (e.g. College, career, crisis intervention, special education services, financial aid, student scheduling. academic improvement).
• What is your plan for improvement in this area?
• How do feel about writing letters of recommendation (HS)?
• What methods would you use to help a student make the decision regarding higher education, vocational training or joining the work force? How would you involve the parents in this decision?
• What are your plans for increasing your familiarity with various colleges over the next three years?
• What experience have you had with the college admissions process? If a student were planning on applying to "inappropriate" schools, what would you tell him?

• Because time is a scarce resource in schools today, and because of a strong push for improved standardized test scores, best educational practices suggest that in-class guidance lessons not take away from classroom instructional minutes. How will you address this issue as a school counselor?
• How would you divide your time between meeting the immediate needs of the students and keeping up with the paperwork?
• What do you do with a student who stops you on the way to lunch or comes in without an appointment?

► What do you like about working with (elementary/middle/high school) students?
► How is your role different from that of a social worker, mental health counselor, or school psychologist?
► How much experience do you have with LGBT students?
► What has been your experience with special education students?
► Describe the profile of an at-risk student.
► How do you manage cultural differences in a school setting?
► Describe your experience with group counseling.
► Talk about the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP plan.
► What situations might call for a behavior management plan?
► Recall a time you resolved a problem with a difficult parent.
► In what ways do you balance the needs of students, parents, and school administrators?
► In what ways have you helped students cope with grief, loss, or mental health issues?
► What factors would you consider before recommending an outside agency referral?
► In what ways have you coordinated efforts with other school specialists towards a common goal?
► How do you keep up with current trends or news in the field of guidance counseling?

► How will you evaluate your school counseling program?
► What type of data would demonstrate an effective school counseling program?
► What do the most recent state standardized test results indicate about this school district and this school; and what is your role regarding standardized testing?

• How would you deal with student/teacher personality conflicts?
• How would you go about establishing a working relationship with counselors and faculty?
• How would you go about identifying students who are at risk?
• How would you work with a student whose parents come in and tells you the kid is having problems but don't tell him I told you?
• If you can't make a parental contact during the day, what procedure would you follow?
• What are your thoughts on encouraging parental involvement in the counseling process?
• What are your views on confidentiality? What sort of information do you consider confidential? To the student? To the faculty? To the parents? To prospective employers? To the college admissions office?
• What do you think the role of the counselor is in preventing school violence?
• What experiences have you had in working with special education students?
• When considering ethical standards and school policies, how would you handle a conflict between the two?

► How do you see the word "leader" fitting in to your role as a school counselor?
► What leadership experiences have you had?
► How have you advocated for students?
► How do school counselors advocate for students differently than other school staff?

► What do you see as the main role of a school counselor?
► Have you implemented any components of the ASCA National Model for School Counseling?
► What do you think is the most important characteristic of a school counselor?
► When considering school counseling ethical standards and school policies, how would you handle a conflict between the two?
► What do you think the role of the school counselor is in preventing school violence?
► What can you provide that is different from a social worker, school psychologist, or mental health counselor?
► What is the difference between a therapist and a school counselor?
► What does your future comprehensive school counseling program look like? What is your plan for achieving this?

► What is the role of the school counselor in relation to teachers, parents, administrators and other counselors?
► How would you handle an irate parent?
► How would you handle a passive or uninvolved parent?
► How do you see yourself fitting in with school counselors who have many years experience as veteran teachers?
► What is your view on collaborative consultation in the schools?
► Describe past interactions with parents in home visits.
► How do you handle conflict with a colleague, parent, administrator?

• What was the most challenging professional situation you've encountered and how did you handle it? Were you prepared to handle this situation? In hindsight, would you have handled this situation any differently?
• Describe a time when you faced a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.
• Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and were required to prioritize your tasks.
• What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
• Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
• Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
• Give me an example of when you motivated others.
• Describe a situation that best demonstrates your ability to be flexible and adapt to a new situation.
• Give me an example of a time when you identified a problem, gathered information, and recommended a solution.

► One of your students told you she was pregnant?
► You suspected one of your students is being abused?
► One of your students talks to you about wanting to kill himself/herself?
► One of your students tells you they are being abused?
► A student requests a teacher change because he/she doesn't like them?
► A parent requests you to switch their child's teacher?
► A student requests to be in the same lunch period as their friend?
► You suspect one of your students is abusing drugs/alcohol?
► One of your students admits to being sexually active?
► One of your students told you he/she is gay?
► One of your student's parents is terminally ill?
► Your student does not get into their number one college choice?
► One of your students wants to drop out of school?
► You overhear the makings of a fight that is about to happen?
► One of your seniors is not going to graduate?
► A parent asks to meet with you at 5 p.m. because that is the only time he/she can get off of work?
► You see one of your students (or parents) in town?
► One of your students continues to fail math (or any subject) each quarter?
► You have a faculty member's child in your caseload?

• How do you handle criticism?
• How do you handle stress?
• How do you keep yourself organized? Discuss how you multitask.
• How do you see the word "leader" fitting in to your role as a counselor?
• If I had observed you how would I know that you're the right person for us to hire?
• What are your strengths or weaknesses?
• What do you bring to this position that is unique?
• What do you think is the most important characteristic of a counselor?
• What evidence could you provide of your commitment?
• What is it that you like about (level) school students/clients?
• Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
• Why did you choose counseling as a career?
• Tell us what you know about XYZ School/Organization? What makes you want to work at our School/Organization?
• What is the most appealing aspect of counseling to you? What is the least appealing aspect?

► How do you use data in a school counseling program?
► What type of school counseling activities would you institute to help close the achievement gap at our school?
► What innovative and new ideas would you like to employ as a school counselor?
► How would you divide your time between meeting the immediate needs of the students and keeping up with the paperwork?
► What technology applications do you see being useful in your work?

• How do you know when to refer a student/client to another professional?
• How would you deal with an unmotivated student/client (to raise their expectations)?
• How would you handle an irate parent or client?
• How would you handle serious personal problems revealed to you through counseling? i.e. drugs, alcohol, sexual identity.
• If you suspected child abuse towards one of your students/clients, what would you do?

► What influenced you to be a school counselor?
► What practical experiences have you had that make you feel capable of being a school counselor?
► What is your strongest asset?
► What do you know about our school that you would consider a strength? a weakness?
► Tell us about a successful (satisfying) case that you have handled? And, one that was not so successful; what would you have done differently?
► What makes you want to work at ______ School?
► What is it that you like about working with (grade level) school students?
► How would you deal with cultural differences in a school setting?
► What is something new you could bring to our program?
► How do you handle criticism?
► How do you handle stress?
► Are you available to work in the evenings for functions such as parent programs, student programs, etc.?
► What experiences have you had in working with special education students?
► What has your experience been in working with students of color & gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgendered students?
► What is your experience with parenting programs?
► How do you approach writing letters of recommendation (HS)?
► What does school counseling mean to you?
► How do you keep yourself organized? Discuss how you multitask.
► Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
► Are you proficient in a language other than English?