Mature student applying for social work. Any interview tips?
hey everyone :) I’m 30 and applying to study social work bachelors as a mature student and I’d really appreciate some advice from anyone who’s already on the course or has recently gone through the interview process.
I actually went to university for a semester when I was 18 studying education studies but I realised pretty quickly that it wasn’t for me. Since then I’ve worked mainly in health and social care. I’m currently a care coordination.
Throughout my career I’ve worked alongside social workers quite a lot. One particular social worker really opened my eyes to what social work actually involves. I was genuinely amazed by how much of a difference she could make. I know it’s an incredibly challenging job but speaking to her about it made me realise that it’s something I could actually see myself doing. So I’ve taken the plunge and applied for social work through clearing!
I have a one-to-one interview and a group interview coming up. I’ve been trying to prepare but honestly there is so much info online that I’m getting a bit overwhelmed. I keep seeing things about the code of ethics, podcasts we’re apparently supposed to listen to, current social work issues etc. I’m struggling to work out what I actually need to focus on.
If anyone has recently gone through a social work interview especially a group interview I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. What should I expect? What kind of things were you asked? Is there anything you wish you’d prepared beforehand?
I’m absolutely terrible at interviews 😭 My anxiety just takes over and my mind goes completely blank even when I know the answer 😭
I’d also love to hear from mature students about what university is actually like. Is the workload manageable alongside working? I’d ideally like to continue working part time while studying but I’m wondering whether the course and placements make that unrealistic.
Basically any advice about the interview process preparing for social work or being a mature student on the course would be massively appreciated ☺️❤️