Mental Health Support Counselor 

How did you get your current job?
referral

What was the application process?
I submitted a resume and was called for an interview. I completed the application after i was hired.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
My current job did not require a formal interview because i had known my director due to my previous position which was also in the human services field. Generally, my director chooses to conduct a formal interview prior to hiring anyone.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
My employer explained to me that most of my work is done with little to no supervision however i was told that my supervisor would be available if i needed to ask a question. I have found it difficult to get assistance from my supervisor when needed.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Everyone at my organization is required to complete 40 training hours per year regardless of how long a person has been employed. Many of our training are online and we are able to choose which topics are relevant. We are also required to be certified in cpr and first aid which is provided by my agency.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
My bachelor’s degree is in social work and I feel that the course material prepared me to work with a diverse population. my course work did not provide me with any counseling theories or skills which would have been benefical.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
Yes, my internship helped prepare me for my work with this specific population because i did my internship in the same small community in which i am now employed.

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
My job requires a minimum of Bachelor’s degree in any human services field plus a year of experience within the human services field. Most programs require internships for graduation requirements which is counted toward the one year of experience.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
social skills, organization skills, the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, ability to respect differences in people, ability to empower clients to promote change. the ability to use community resources wisely.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Bachelor’s degree in a human services field.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Self-awareness is extremely important. Its a very stressful and high demanding work field. Its extremely important to make time for themselves.