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SLPA Interview Guide

Interview guide for SLPA’s

Interviews are always stressful especially if it is your first time interviewing for a position.

I am here to help you have a more successful SLPA interview.

 

What are employers looking for?

For SLPA’s, this really depends on the setting they are applying to work for. For example, schools are looking for different attributes and skills than hospitals and private clinics. However, something that all the employers are looking for is passion for Speech therapy. If you have the passion, you are already ahead of many people who applied for that same position.

Another common skill all employers are looking for is time management. In the field of Speech Pathology, time management is critical no matter what setting you are working for. You need to demonstrate that you can handle group and individual cases in a timely manner and be able to get therapy done in a limited time all while targeting the correct goals.

Third obvious skills that all employers are looking for is communication skills. You need to be able to clearly communicate with coworkers, supervisors, SLP’s and SLPA’s who are working with you, as well as the kids and their families.

What are schools looking for?

Since therapy at the schools are done in groups, you need to demonstrate that you are able to work with many kids at the same time. Keep in mind that you have limited time, a group of kids all with different goals to target. As you see, time management skills (mentioned above), multitasking, ability to work under pressure, and ability to work with a group of kids with different goals is very critical.

Since many people are working at schools, a quality they are looking for is someone who is able to follow directions and be open to working both individually as well as part of a team.

slpa interview

 

What are clinics looking for?

Clinics are mostly one-on-one therapy sessions. If you are applying to work at a clinic, you need to demonstrate that you are independent and creative. You need to be able to come up with different strategies and therapy plans for each client to be able to keep them engaged as well as provide effective therapy.

Clinics also include parent education, so a quality they are looking for is the willingness and the confidence to talk to family members about the patient and their progress.

Also, since a few people are working at a clinic, the environment is more friendly, so clinics are looking for someone who would be a good fit and would get along with everyone else in the clinic.

 

Clinical questions:

If you are interviewing for a SLPA position, there will be some clinical questions. It is a good idea to review some common clinical questions and know the general concepts of Speech Pathology. It is also ok to admit that you don’t have the answer to the question as well. As long as you demonstrate the ability to be able to find answers to the questions you don’t know and have passion for learning, you will be fine.

 

General Questions:

I’m sure you already know this, but just to remind you to prepare for the interview, expect to get similar questions:

  • Tell me about yourself
  • How did you get into the field?
  • What inspired you to apply for the position?
  • What are you looking for in this position?
  • Where do you want to take your career in the future?

 

Keep in mind,

  • Always be honest about who you are and what you love. If you are unsure of anything, it’s always best to give the honest answer. There are so many options open for SLPA’s to get employment, so if a place is not the right fit for you, it is best to not move forward until you find the place that is right for you.
  • Ask all the questions. It is a good thing to ask questions because you will find out the answers you are looking for, as well as show your passion for the position!
  • Take notes, this way you will remember what was talked about during the interview and you can use to compare different offers.

Remember,

First interviews are very important. Be sure to find out the answer to all the questions you have on the first interview. If there is something you have hesitations about, make sure to resolve it before moving on to the other stages of the interview process.

 

Ready to Apply for a SLPA job?

If you are a SLPA interested in working at a private Clinic setting, good news! We are hiring now.

You can see all our job openings: Careers – Speech Improvement Center

If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to contact us: Contact Us – Speech Improvement Center

Not sure if you should get your SLPA license or go straight to Grad  school, read: Should I Get my SLPA License or Go Straight to Grad School? – Speech Improvement Center



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