The interview incorporated a number of communication skills necessary for

practical social work environments, which were made use of by the

interviewer. The skills utilised by the interviewer consisted of diverse
techniques ranging from questioning skills and nom-verbal skills. This essay
seeks to explore the extent of how the skills and techniques were utilised,
analyse the skills that were not applied which would have enhanced the
standard of the interview and discuss how the interviewing process could have
been better formulated for a degree of excellence.

During the introductory phase of the interview, the approach of exploring

purpose was emphasised as a technique through verbal communication to
display the most uncomplicated and straightforward way to start the process
of an interview (Sheafor and Horessi 2003: 146). The essence of this technique
is to strategize context and the purpose stated for the meeting; which was,
‘discussing the client’s thoughts and hopes regarding their placements in
regard to type of placement, location and etc’. However, although, the
interview was able to utilise this skill proficiently, the interviewer disregarded
the importance of commendation through feedback after exploring purpose
which may have resulted in an adept and substandard interview rather than a
compelling one. The interviewer should have initiated motivational feedback in
reason for advanced communication (Shulman 1981 in Sheafor and Horessi
2003: 146), involving stimulating words which constructs responses as client’s
are enabled to express their disagreements and desires or ask questions
(Sheafor and Horessi 2003: 146). For example, after the introductory exploring
phase, the interviewer should have taken the initiative to question the client is
she agrees or has anything to say about it, building an environment where the
interviewer and the client are on the same page.

Moreover, similarly, the interviewer also exercised the use of techniques in

asking questions methodically, created from the sourced information from the
client. These questions are symbolised as open-ended questions, they are the
root of elaborated responses as the questions request the client to think and
provide more information on the topic in question which are essential and
significant (Hepworth, H. Rooney, D.Rooney, Strom-Gotttfried 2017: 143). For
example, ‘Would you like to tell me about your interests in-regard to choosing
your placements? Where would you like to work and the distance appropriate
for you?’’. All of the questions stated above were utilised and show the
evidence of stimulating an extended response from the client. In addition, the
interviewer integrated this skill and made fair use of this technique in
formulating well thought and structured responses and allowed the client to
express their desires, however, the interviewer was incompetent in utilising
open-minded questions to their full ability. This can be seen in the interviewers
repetitive and colourless use of, ‘what’, at the beginning of his questions,
creating a featureless aspect in communication skills which could be seen as
the atmosphere between the client and interviewer was very tense. The
interviewer should have reconditioned the way he commenced his questions
through more creative words and styles by making use of words such as, ‘could
you’ and ‘how’, for instance.

Moreover, another skill that the interviewer utilised was the application of
close ended questions; these questions are employed to bring about specific
responses for particular information and often produce responses of a few
words, ‘yes’ and ‘no’ (Hepworth et al. 2017: 143). For example,’ How do you
feel like coming in today for the interview? Are you nervous for your
placements?’. The interviewer made proficient use of this skill at the
introductory phase of the interview as it allows the interviewer to analyse the
client’s responses promptly due to one-word answers so that stimulating open-
ended questions may be articulated.

Furthermore, the interviewer also implemented another question technique,

focussing questions, which involve the role of exploring specific and significant
themes or topics seeking in-depth information from the client (Hepworth at al.
2017: 155). The interviewer competently incorporated this still during the
introductory phase of the interview by stating the detailed themes and
discussions and then further exploring them throughout the interview. For
instance, the interview commenced by stating focused statements on type of
placements, the interviewer asked the client, ‘What type of placements would
she be interested in’, and then asked, ‘If that was her first priority over all the
other placements there are.’ The questions allow the interviewer to discover
and further explore the attitudes and understandings of the client on the
subject matter as true feeling of the client are reciprocated through their
answers. In addition, then the interviewer, followed by investigating the
client’s thoughts on the placements location and the distance they were willing
to travel. On the other hand, although the interviewer was gradually exploring
the notion of placements, the interviewer however, was not completely able to
grasp the client’s full intentions on location due to lacking questions being
asked. When the interviewer chose to explore specific significant themes or
topics, the interviewer tended to ask extra extended questions due to
questions not allowing the client to completely express the desires, affecting
the course of the interview. The interview could have been better constructed
if the interviewer was methodically able to create more effective focusing
questions in order to filter the client’s perceptions and attitudes more clearly
so that the interview was worth the time and the client needs were explicitly
met.

Correspondingly, within the same criticism, the interview concluded with sub-
par summarising; this method consists of recollecting previous significant
information said throughout the interview and acts as an element which allows
the client to understand the course of the interview (Sheafor and Horessi 2003:
150). Although the interviewer did use this technique at the end, he did not
conclude the interview professionally as he neglected key and major elements
as he did not focus on reinforming the client about their placement choice,
location, time and etc. Moreover, the interview would have been better
conducted if the interviewer was able to briefly summarise the client’s
responses to create the basis for future interviews as in professional
environments there is also more than one interview. In addition, the aspect of
condensing information and asking the client if the information stated was
correct, also allowing them to rethink their answers or explain their desires or
information further would have produced a quality interview.

On the other hand, the interviewer employed the use of minimal prompts, that
use used creatively during communication to indicate that the social worker or
interviewer is actively listening to their client (Hepworth et al. 2017: 140). This
technique also further allows clients to feel welcome and comfortable in the
space, motivating them to indulge more deeper into the conversation. In
addition, the interviewer, uniformly implements the use of non-verbal minimal
prompts throughout the interview; this skill showcases the creative use of
facial expressions to channel warmth and interest for further communication.
Accordingly, verbal minimal prompts were utilised to highlight that the
interviewer is actively listening to the client and mostly consist of shorts words
such as, ‘I see’ and ‘mm-mmm’, (Hepworth et al. 2017:140). Repeating certain
words that the client has disclosed is also another technique of verbal minimal
prompts which exhibit the nature of active listening (Sheafor and Horessi 2003:
149). The interview, progressively used this skill throughout the interview by
continually displaying the interest of counselling as the client showed more
importance to this concept, highlighting the importance of repeating words
having a significant impact on the client’s indulgence throughout the interview.
The interviewer also applied the expressive skill of, ‘nodding’, to again, show
the client that whatever they are communication is being payed attention to
and is being shown interest. However, the interviewer, was not able to
completely harness the characteristics of a professional social worker as the
technique of, ‘nodding’, was used minimally rather than explicitly, resulting in
quite tense atmospheres at certain points throughout the interview. This may
cause an unfavourable outcome to arise throughout the interview as
communication between the client and the interviewer is considered to be the
utmost important factor in practical social work environments. Considering this
impact, information can be hindered from being sourced out of the client and
the client may feel uncomfortable resulting in shortened and reduced answers,
which was shown in the interview. Accordingly, the interview could have been
enhanced if the interviewer increased the use of minimal prompts and
creatively utilised different types such as, ‘go on’ and ‘tell me more’, to
strengthen the calibre of the interview (Hepworth 2017: 140). Contrastingly,
the interviewer effectively made the use of eye contact which is a skill under
non-verbal skills. Eye contact is a creative way of breaking boarders in all sorts
of verbal communication as eyes are a symbol in evoking emotions (Sheafor
and Horessi 2003: 143). This is shown through western society as relevant use
of eye contact in communication is socially influenced and practiced by society
and often reciprocated if an individual is open or willing to indulge with
another individual. On the contrary, lack of eye contact in communication
normally suggests the anxiousness and unwillingness of ones nature in
participating in the conversation and the detrimental atmosphere around the
conversation. However, in certain cultures (Asians and Native Americans) the
presumption of eye contact may be understood to be disrespectful and
intimidating (Sheafor and Horessi 2003: 144). Although the interviewer
showcased the use of eye contact throughout the interview, he neglected the
factor of culture as the client of Asian background and affected the course of
the interview. This can be seen throughout the interview as the client withheld
a great deal of information and consistently replied with short answers;
increased eye contact may have created an oppressive environment where the
client felt uncomfortable and intimidated. The overall quality of the interview
would have been better if the interviewer casually used eye contact rather
than impulsively and displayed an interest in asking the client if she would
have been okay with confronting direct eye contact to make the client feel safe
and comfortable.

Furthermore, the interviewer also utilised the non-verbal technique of

personal space. This skill allows clients to protect themselves from potential
aggression and allows them to feel comfortable within their space. Generally,
the closer the distance is between a social worker and the client, the more the
client and social worker exhibit involvement and trust (Sheafor and Horessi
2003: 144). Theoretically, practitioners have expressed that the technique of
personal space is constructed around the perception of cultural awareness as
many state that individuals from Asian backgrounds feel more comfortable and
accepting at the distance of an arm’s length (Sheafor and Horessi 2003: 144).
The interviewer used this skill well in-regard to making the client from an Asian
background feel less intimidated and more comfortable throughout the
interview.

However, on the other hand, the interview was unable to completely grasp the
technique of body positioning throughout the interview. Proficient use of body
positioning by interviewers or practical social workers mainly consists of
appropriate posture maintained at 90 degrees or so and the gesture of leaning
forward suggest the idea of acceptance and interest (Sheafor and Horessi
2003: 144). However, the interviewer did not maintain this body positioning
through the interview as his body language was inconsistent, fidgeting and
swaying. This may act as an indicator for the client to determine that the
interviewer is not slightly interested in the meeting or the information she is
about to share. Correspondingly, another criticism that arises from the
interview is the inferior use of arm and hand movements as the interviewer
kept his hands closed at all times throughout the whole interview, showcasing
anxiety (Sheafor and Horessi 2003: 144). The interview could have been better
if the interviewer understood the notion of patience, implementing it into his
practice would have made him less fidgety and anxious (Sheafor and Horessi
2003: 144). In addition, similarly, the skill of paraphrasing was neglected
completely throughout the interview as the interviewer did not reword any
statements voiced by the client (Sheafor and Horessi 2003: 144), suggesting
the interviewers disinterest in the clients expressed comments.

Conversely, the interviewer implemented the use of seeking concreteness. This

skill allows social workers to ask and create magnified questions for clients
after choosing a theme o main topic; it allows clients to express their explicit
and specific experiences (Hepworth et al. 2017: 147). Although, most of the
clients answers were below common standards, this was the result of creating
an intimidating environment where the client as not able to completely
express themselves as seeking concreteness is a way of achieving perception
and transparency (Hepworth et al. 2017: 147).

Therefore, although the interviewer was able to exhibit the use of many social
work interviewing techniques such as questioning skills and non-verbal skills,
these skills were executed to the extent of an amateur social worker. In
addition, the techniques of interviewing could have been executed better if the
interviewer patiently thought out the process and plan for the interview
resulting in effective use of techniques and implement skills missing from the
interview: paraphrasing, summarising and body positioning.