Working as a caregiver is a great way to begin your career in healthcare while gaining experience working around seniors and providing care.
Caregiver roles, also called non-certified nursing assistants, is a career path that leads many to later become certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and eventually registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
The job outlook for caregivers is strong, as a growing population of Americans will depend on the care and support of caregivers to help them complete their daily tasks.
In this article, we’ll cover the interview process and common caregiver interview questions to help you prepare, so you can begin your career as a professional caregiver.
The Kensington Falls Church is currently hiring caregivers and other healthcare roles.
If you’re interested in applying, view our careers page to learn more and follow our events page to learn about upcoming events and gatherings.
What made you want to become a caregiver?
Caregivers are usually drawn to the job because of their caring and nurturing nature. This question is asked to help the interviewer open up about themselves and show their character.
Because caregiving can be a demanding job at times, the interviewer asks this question to learn what your core values are.
Do you have the willingness to serve others? Are you motivated by doing good and helping others? If so, now is the time to let the interviewer know.
Many people are drawn to caregiving because they have previous experience taking care of a family member with memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease, for example, and found it deeply rewarding.
If you can, use this question as an opportunity to share a personal story or anecdotes that illustrate your caregiving background and the reasons why you’re interested in a caregiver role.
What previous experiences or skills do you have as a caretaker?
If you have experience working as a caregiver before, please share these experiences with the interviewer to help them gauge your levels of experience.
For example, talk about past jobs at senior living communities you have worked at and what your responsibilities were at that organization.
However, if you don’t have professional caregiving experience working in the role, share examples of other times when you have acted as a caretaker for another person.
If you have experience taking care of a family member or were the community babysitter when you were younger, let them know.
Employers are looking for stories that show you have experience being responsible for and providing care over another person to show your dedication and drive in helping other people.
Additionally, use this question to ask your potential employer if they provide on-the-job employee training. For example, The Kensington Falls Church is hosting its direct care training for 1 week so that team members can become Non-Certified Nursing Assistants!
When was a time you went above and beyond to help a patient or loved one?
As a potential caregiver, you will be placed in a dynamic role where no two days are exactly the same.
There may be times when you are called upon to go above and beyond to provide exceptional care for a patient who needs extra assistance or to problem-solve in stressful situations.
Before heading into your interview, think about a story you can tell that illustrates your ability to provide outstanding care in the face of challenge.
Was there a moment when you went out of your way to help a senior who needed more help? What did you do at that moment that was considered “extraordinary” that perhaps another person in your situation wouldn’t have done?
By answering this question you’ll show that you understand what makes a good caregiver and that you’re able to exceed those expectations during extraordinary times.
Why are you interested in working for our senior living community?
When applying for jobs it’s normal to submit your application to several companies.
However, if you get a call back to come in for an interview, do a bit of research ahead of time to understand the company’s values.
For example, The Kensington Falls Church provides a Promise to care for our residents as we would our own family.
Do you share the same values? When interviewing at a senior living community, the job interviewers want to make sure the caregiver candidate shares the same drive, values, and personality traits to become a part of the culture and family.
By researching the company’s values ahead of time, you can better anticipate their values so you can prepare relevant work stories that show you share the same values.
Do you have experience helping patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or memory loss?
Many assisted living communities will also have memory care communities on-site where residents with memory loss, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia reside.
Depending on the position you’re applying for, you may become a caregiver to a person in the early to late stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, which will require closer supervision and sometimes delicate personal care needs.
If you do have experience working with memory loss patients, please share related work stories that show your abilities and resolve in helping patients who have complex healthcare needs.
It’s okay if you don’t have previous experience, you may still be able to show the important skills it takes to fill a caregiver role. Showing a willingness and eagerness to take on new situations and learn goes a long way in a successful interview.
How would you describe the perfect caretaker? Imagine you were the patient. What qualities would you look for in a potential caregiver?
A great caregiver shows exemplary values and conducts themselves professionally and compassionately.
You may be asked this question to understand what values the employer is looking for in potential candidates for the position.
To be a caregiver, including a non-certified nurses assistant, you’ll need these values:
- Patience
- Compassion
- Responsibility
- Attentiveness
- Strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills
- Strong communication skills
- Energy
- Enthusiasm
- Positive attitude
- Ability to work in challenging situations
Apply for a caregiver job at The Kensington Falls Church and become a part of a team that feels like family
The Kensington Falls Church is an assisted living and memory care community located in Falls Church, Virginia.
Our community was designed to be a home for seniors that can provide a full spectrum of clinical support, including memory care, and end-of-life care so that every resident can “age in place” in just one community.
Are you looking to join an organization with a heart and strong family values?
Please visit our careers page to see open job positions, including caregiving roles, CNAs, activities coordinators, and more. Contact us to learn more about The Kensington community.