Attending interviews can be a stressful time, particularly if you are not prepared for the questions you will be asked.
It helps to have an idea of what you will be asked and what the best answers are. Naturally you should tell the truth about experiences you have gone through and times you have worked, but some questions may leave you feeling inadequate if you do not have an idea of what the interviewer is looking for or a ready answer.
Let’s look at some of the more unusual and possibly unexpected questions you may be asked.
Tell me what type of work you think a live-in carer does and what kind of people you think you will work with.
Here the interviewer is trying to find out whether you understand the expectations of the job. You need to be aware of the job description and the role that you will play. This is a good test to see if you have done your homework and will be suitable for the position of live-in carer.
Tell me of one instance where you have worked effectively with a team.
Because live-in care involves several different team scenarios, the interviewer wants to see if you have only worked on your own or whether you are adaptable and can work as part of a team.
As a live-in carer you will be a part of the carer team, and when you are with your client you will be a part of the ‘family team’ who strive to take care of their loved one together. The interviewer wants to find out if you have positive skills which you bring to the table when living with a client.
Tell me about a stressful time you’ve been through and how you dealt with it.
This type of question may leave you struggling for an answer, but the interviewer is trying to find out whether you can identify stress and then handle it in a positive way. You may give an example from your own life such as moving away from your town and having to make new friends.
The answer that they do not want to hear is that you never get stressed out. Everyone feels stressed at some point or another and they need to know that you can recognise the signs. A reply that you never get stressed is the worst you can give because it shows that you may not recognise a situation that needs to be carefully handled.
While taking care of a client’s personal care, how would you maintain their dignity?
Your answer needs to show that you can perform the job empathetically. While encouraging your client to do as much as they can, you are there for support and to give them confidence. Giving a client a choice of bathing or showering is one way of maintaining their dignity.
Another way is to be discreet and tactful while administering personal care. You should explain to the interviewer that your role is to promote independence in a client while being at hand if needed.
Tell me what you would do if you went to a client’s home and were concerned for their safety.
You should know what to look for in a safe environment and how to spot signs that your client is threatened and feels unsafe. The interviewer is trying to find out whether you will assess the situation when you arrive to see if anything appears strange and out of order.
They also want to know what you would do if you became suspicious of anything. They want to know who you would talk to and what would you say. Unless you are physically threatened, your first point of contact should be your agency.
To sum up
The interviewer is not trying to trap you, or even confuse you, they are simply trying to find out whether you are a suitable person for a live-in care position.
While you can never predict the exact questions you will be asked at an interview, you can be sure that there will be some that are very similar to the above ones, so it is well worth it to have some answers ready. This will give you more confidence and only work to your advantage.
Tags:
© 2025 EJOBBOARD LTD. All Rights Reserved.