Senior Direct Support Professional 

How did you get your current job?
Family referral

What was the application process?
open interviews with paper application

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
One interview with a recruiter, then a site visit to tour and meet my potential supervisor.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
Many, many questions about personal integrity, opinions on standards of care, compliance with agency policies, etc. Past examples of good and bad experiences in human services field.

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes, very well. Besides the official required trainings, I often worked side-by-side with a coworker or supervisor at first to “shadow” and learn the details that are so important to providing quality services.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Yes, there was a general orientation, training in human development, standards and abuse reporting, crisis intervention, first aid/cpr, medical administration, and a course through the college of direct support.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
While my degree was not directly related or even required, I feel that my organization and literacy skills have made me more competent.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
N/A

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Get to know someone who works for the agency. There may be open interviews, but personal referrals are taken much more seriously, and are highly sought after by recruiters.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
A strong sense of personal responsibility and an appreciation for providing quality services.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Training is provided onsite and through the agency. Programs are made available through the College of Direct Support.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Ask around to know in advance if your potential agency has a good reputation for quality services and job satisfaction. I switched agencies to do the same job somewhere else, where I knew I’d be happier with the standards.