For many educational therapists, answering job interview questions is one of the most challenging aspects of the job search process. According to Business Insider, interviewees have only seven seconds to make a memorable first impression, which can understandably increase anxiety and distress.
As speech-language pathology (SLP) school staffing professionals, we realize that preparing for job interview questions can be nerve-racking and, to some, downright terrifying. Predicting the job interview questions that prospective employers will ask can be challenging–even for the most experienced job candidates. So, if the thought of presenting your elevator pitch makes you queasy or weak at the knees, don’t panic! Our SLP school staffing experts are here to help.
If you’re ready to sharpen your skills to ace your upcoming Speech-Language Pathology job interview, then keep reading! We want you to discover how to answer the top five Speech-Language Pathology job interview questions to impress your hiring manager–and ultimately, land the perfect new opportunity in pediatric therapy services.
The Top Five Job Interview Questions for Speech-Language Pathologists: ANSWERED
As you may have discovered, no two job interviews are the same. Nevertheless, it would help if you already have rehearsed responses to these top five job interview questions when preparing for a Speech-Language Pathologist job interview.
1. Tell Me About Yourself.
Interviewers ask this standard (and often dreaded question) for three reasons. First, they’re hoping to break the ice and help you feel more relaxed. Second, they want to find out more about your professional background and previous work experiences. Lastly, they’re determining whether or not you can articulate your thoughts in a precise, reasonable, and understandable way. When answering this frequently asked question, be sure to address any of these critical points:
- Why did you choose to enter the field of Speech-Language Pathology?
- How have your past work or practicum experiences made you the most qualified candidate for this role?
- With which population types or disorders have you previously worked?
- In which kind of work environments have you previously worked?
- Why did you apply for this particular Speech-Language Pathologist position?
- How will this role advance your career and achieve your professional goals?
While candidates can answer this seemingly open-ended question generally, prepare a focused answer tailored explicitly to the applied role. Avoid the temptation to ramble or overshare personal details, as the interviewer will not find your quirky personal habits, family anecdotes, or fifth-grade talent show performance impressive.
Instead, offer a compelling but concise explanation for why you’re passionate about the role/industry, as well as why you’re the best fit for the position. Discuss the communication disorders and populations you’ve worked with throughout your career. Emphasize the most marketable skills that distinguish you as an excellent job candidate, such as leadership, creativity, or critical thinking.
Here’s a definitive answer: “I chose to enter the field of Speech-Language Pathology because of my lifelong passion for working with children and love for helping others develop important life skills. My professional background includes working in inner-city charter schools with low-income middle and high school students with dysarthria, aphasia, and fluency disorders. I applied for this role because I hope to continually develop my professional skills as a culturally responsive, service-oriented Speech-Language Pathologist to work with a vulnerable student population in an urban secondary school setting that values social justice, diversity, and inclusion.”
2. Why Did You Apply for This Position?
While it might seem counterintuitive, this question isn’t about you, so don’t focus too much on yourself. Instead, as once suggested by John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what… [can be done] for you — ask what you can do.” With this same mentality, emphasize what you can offer the company, not solely what the company can provide for you.
In a few sentences, get ready to pitch yourself to the employer and convey the value that you can provide the employer and the contributions you’ll make if hired. Realistically explain how you can benefit your colleagues, managers, and customers, and always consider what the hiring manager is seeking in a perfect candidate.
When preparing a response, ask yourself why the company is hiring now and what the company currently needs. Your answer should demonstrate that you’ve taken the time to thoroughly research the company, identify the company’s needs, and determine how your candidacy will address these deficiencies.
Lastly, discuss what inspired you to pursue a career in Speech-Language Pathology and why you’re interested in getting hired. If you’re particularly zealous about working with bilingual elementary students, share how your passion compelled you to apply to this specific role or school. If possible, connect your love for the field of Speech-Language Pathology to the position’s responsibilities, purpose, and work environment.
Here’s an excellent response: “As a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist who is passionate about working with Arabic-speaking students and their families, I seek the opportunity to work with multicultural learners in a high-needs, urban elementary Title 1 school setting. Throughout my professional work experiences as a Speech-Language Pathologist fluent in Arabic, I’ve developed a conviction to contribute my professional skills, credentials, and expertise to work with a culturally diverse student population, which is a long-established area of personal and professional interest.”
3. What Are Your Greatest Strengths?
How you respond to this popular job interview question can persuade your interviewer that you are (or aren’t) the perfect candidate for the role. So, when preparing your response, identify the most marketable and unique strengths that will distinguish you from every other candidate and demonstrate that you’re capable of meeting–and exceeding–the role’s expectations.
Ideally, your top professional strengths should correspond directly with the employer’s hiring needs and job description. Remember to specify your relevant skills and competencies, credentials, and previous work experiences corresponding with the applied position.
If you’re a humble person who is generally uncomfortable showing off or speaking about your achievements, try not to approach this question with too much modesty. Instead, get used to candidly discussing the attributes that distinguish you as the perfect candidate.
Try not to come across as excessively self-confident or even arrogant, which can be a red flag to some employers. By acting too self-reliant, you may inadvertently send the message that instead of being a team player who works well with others, you’d instead work solo and stand in the spotlight–alone.
Finally, thoughtfully select two or three character traits representing your unique strengths–not those of a friend or family member. Instead of creating a laundry list of universal qualities that you can apply to essentially anyone, pinpoint which personalized attributes set you apart as a distinct (and the best) candidate for the position.
Here’s a winning response: “My greatest strength is the fifteen years of professional experience I’ve accumulated throughout my career as a Speech-Language Pathologist. I have countless experiences teaching students from various ethnographic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds at a total of six public, private, virtual, and charter schools. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with many types of students, from children who are emotionally disturbed and consistently misbehave to those who flourish academically and socially without adult supervision. While completing my graduate coursework as a doctoral student at Premier University, I’ve received a formal education to utilize culturally responsive teaching methods to create an inclusive, welcoming learning environment for all of my students. By consistently participating in annual training and development programs as a board member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, I’ve undergone professional training to strategically utilize creativity, unorthodox methods, and experimental practices when planning lessons and classroom activities for my students.”
4. What Are Your Most Significant Weaknesses?
Interviewees often answer this classic question by indicating a strength disguised as a weakness, such as perfectionism or overworking. However, job applicants frequently overuse these clichéd responses. By utilizing this strategy, you face the risk of sounding canned–or worse, even dishonest.
Despite what you may have heard before, tactful and well-planned transparency about actual professional deficiencies can help, rather than hurt, your chances of dazzling the interviewer–and eventually, landing the job.
While keeping your response positive and growth-oriented, honestly relay a few of your professional (not personal) weaknesses in a work environment. Describe a past professional situation where you have acknowledged your shortcomings and taken the necessary steps to improve, which indicates both self-awareness and the ability to take self-initiative.
For example, suppose you lack the skills or knowledge to work with severely autistic students. In that case, you can discuss how you’ve recently enrolled in university courses or completed professional training programs for special education teachers of autistic students. After explaining and rationalizing your weaknesses, positively conclude your response by reminding the interviewer of your major strengths.
Here’s an ideal answer: “As a self-sufficient worker, I tend to be extremely self-reliant, so when I’m working on a team and must depend on my colleagues to complete an assignment, I admittedly find it difficult to stay patient at times. Because I would like to practice cultivating patience and collaborating more effectively with my colleagues, I’ve taken the self-initiative to attend team-building training sessions and professional collaboration workshops beyond my regularly scheduled work hours. While previous employers have praised my ability to work well independently with little supervision, I also understand that it’s important to trust my colleagues to complete tasks. That’s why at work, I’ve been practicing being more collaborative and reaching out to others for assistance as needed.”
5. Do You Have Any Questions for Me?
Always answer this question in the affirmative. At this point in the interview, we understand that you may want to respond with “no” to conclude the conversation and leave a stressful situation quickly.
However, arriving without having any job interview questions prepared for the interviewer would be a significant lapse of foresight. So, as a golden rule of interviewing, always come prepared with at least three questions for your interviewer.
Interviewers usually ask this seemingly optional but pivotal question before the interview closes, providing the valuable chance to demonstrate that you’ve taken the initiative to research the school or organization and are eager to learn more. The intent is to present yourself as a caring professional by sincerely conveying your enthusiasm for the school or organization, the job, the students, the faculty and staff, and the learning community.
Aside from convincing your interviewer that you are the perfect candidate for the job, remember that interviews are also a way to learn about the employer and determine if you can envision yourself working at that particular organization. If not, you can more effectively spend your time and energy interviewing for other roles.
We highly suggest preparing a list of questions for the interviewer before the big day. If you’re unsure where to start, consider asking any of these interview questions recommended by our staffing experts:
- “Can you describe the culture at your school or organization?”
- “Can you describe the typical workload for Speech-Language Pathologists employed at your school or organization, and how are workloads determined?”
- “Does your school or organization emphasize individual or group work more?”
- “Can you describe the workspace provided for Speech-Language Pathologists at your school or organization?”
- “How does your school or organization evaluate Speech-Language Pathologists’ job performance?”
- “What are the top qualities that you seek in an ideal candidate for this role?”
Preparation Is the Key To Interview Success
A final word of advice to keep in mind is that it’s not about you during the hiring process. Instead, recall that it’s about the prospective employer and the company’s hiring needs. Interviewers are looking for a specific persona to fill a role, so highlight your unique strengths and show the interviewer who you are.
Remember that the hiring decision is ultimately up to the interviewer, so accept that your qualifications and performance alone might not necessarily determine the outcome. Hopefully, acknowledging your lack of control over the decision should alleviate some pressure rather than cause despair.
However, suppose you still find it impossible to calm your nerves. In that case, one foolproof method to overcome job interview stress is through ample preparation, so remember the adage: practice makes perfect. Repetition by practicing your responses to job interview questions can help you feel more comfortable and prepared to ace your upcoming Speech-Language Pathology job interview, so remember to practice, practice, practice!
So, you’ve spent hours researching the company, practiced your interview answers in front of the mirror, and recited your elevator pitch by heart. Now, you’re ready. Get in there, smile, and take a deep breath–it’s your time to shine.
Therapy Source: Your Premier Speech-Language Pathologist Staffing Solution
As seasoned therapy staffing experts with over twenty years of professional experience, our award-winning organization has earned an esteemed reputation as a leading provider of Speech-Language Pathologists and school-based professionals to hundreds of public, charter, and virtual schools nationwide. If you’re searching for Speech-Language Pathologist jobs, partner with us today, and you can access our two decades of professional industry experience.
Which interview tips have you found most helpful during your job search? Please share them in the comments below!
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