I’ve written quite a bit about what you, as a student or new graduate, should do when applying for counseling positions. But, how do you know a good agency from a bad one? In this post, I will outline some things to look out for when you are interviewing.
Ask Questions
Don’t just ask the usual; the questions you think employers expect you to ask. In addition, try asking some questions that will help you determine whether the agency is right for you.
Examples:
“What is your turnover rate?”
“How long has this position been open?”
“Why do you like working here?”
“Can I talk to one of your counselors about what it is like to work here?”
Then, watch out for evasive answers. If the interviewer gets defensive, or cannot address your concerns in a straightforward manner, that is a red flag.
Pay Attention to the Environment
When you enter the agency, do counselors appear harried and rushing about? Are people smiling and friendly, or do they look tense and preoccupied?
If it’s a team interview, pay attention as to how the counselor or other team members interact with the supervisor. Does there seem to be a good dynamic? A warm relationship? Open communication?
Look for Job Creep
If on the interview the supervisor starts to mention tasks that seem outside the scope of the position, take caution. A good question would be to ask about not only client load, but what the typical number of hours counselors work per week.
Inconsistency and Disorganization
If the supervisor seems excessively disorganized, take heed. Warning signs include: an unprepared interviewer, conflicting information about the position, and making you wait for more than a few minutes past the scheduled start time.
I once interviewed at an agency that made me wait over 30 minutes for my interview. Then, when the supervisor came in, she seemed almost surprised to see me sitting there, and did not really apologize for keeping me waiting. In my case, I ignored my perceptions only to find out the hard way that these signs of unprofessionalism were very accurate indicators of how the organization was run. The day I was told I had to clean up vomit I quit. I wish I was making this up.
Although there is a lot of competition for open counselor positions, please don’t ignore your gut like I did. If the place doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Remember, the training you received in your graduate program on being attuned to subtleties in clients demeanor can be very helpful in weeding out bad placements!
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barbara LoFrisco
