Social Work interview guidance

The interview is an important part of the selection process for the BSc (Hons) and MSc (Hons) Social Work degrees. It enables us to get to know you beyond your application and understand your motivation for pursuing a career in social work. Just as importantly, it gives you the chance to find out more about the course, our approach to teaching and the support available to students, helping you make an informed decision about whether Portsmouth is the right fit for your future.

Booking your interview slot

After you submit your Social Work application, you'll be notified by email if you've made it to the interview stage. To book your interview date and time:

• Log in to your Applicant View (this will be linked to in your email
• Click the ‘Book a Slot’ button to pick your interview date. 
• Answer the mandatory questions of ‘do you have any special access requirements’, and provide your telephone number.
• Once completed, you’ll have a message on screen saying ‘Thank you for responding to your interview invitation’ and you’ll see details of what to do if you need to change the slot.
• You will receive an email providing your interview date, and any important information you should carefully consider.
• You’ll also be able to view the interview details in the ‘your events’ tile on the applicant view along with any attached documentation you may find useful for interview preparation

Preparing for the interview

There are three elements that must be completed ahead of your interview:

• Complete the Written Task (submitted at least 24 hours before your interview date). This task is designed to test your written communication skills, as well as your understanding of the Social Work profession. It consists of two parts:
  • You will be asked to respond to one question in a short-written paragraph. 
  • You will be provided with a case study and asked to answer five questions relating to the information presented.  
• Complete our online declaration form before your interview.

Your interview

Interviews take place through Microsoft teams. Applicants are required to register their attendance online at the start of the day at 9.30am (UK time) and then staff will allocate you an interview time on the same day. 

Top tips for your interview: 

• Research the role of a social worker, including what social workers do and the settings in which they work. Think about why you want to study Social Work and pursue it as a career. Be prepared to discuss your motivations at interview. Explore resources such as Social Work England, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), and Community Care.
• Consider why you have chosen Social Work rather than another helping profession, and what supporting and empowering others means to you. Reflect on your own values, strengths, and experiences, and how these may help you become an effective social worker.
• Research the University of Portsmouth and our Social Work course, and be ready to explain why you would like to study here.
• Think about the transferable skills you already have through work, volunteering, placements, study, or life experiences. This may include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, and risk awareness.
• Please note that the interview process includes a written case study, so it is helpful to consider examples of how you have adapted your communication style, worked effectively with others, and managed challenging situations.
• As the interview is online, please ensure you have access to a device with working audio and video facilities and that you are in a quiet and comfortable space where you can participate without interruptions.

After the interview

When the interview's finished, you might have a mixture of relief that it's over and regret that you could have done better. That's natural, but it's important to remember there's no one right way to interview. Note down where you think you did well and where you could improve in future interviews.

There'll be a bit of wait between your interview and finding out if you made it through. Try not to stress about the outcome, instead spend this time on reflection, thinking about what you can work on, and self care to make sure you're keeping happy and healthy.

 If you have questions about the interview process or need help along the way, contact our Admissions Team via [email protected]