The applicant’s answer should relate their expertise and specialization areas. Potential specializations within the field of psychology include assessment, child development, cognitive psychology, group therapy and psychoanalysis. While the applicant should exhibit skill and experience in all areas of psychology and therapy, they should convey their specific strengths and specialty in this response. They should enumerate relevant prior experience.

What to look for in an answer:

• Enumeration of strengths relevant to the position
• Description of special skills or interests in the field
• Evidence of a motivation that is in line with the kind of psychology

The applicant should exhibit an experience-based knowledge of the specific duties a school psychologist performs. Their response should include psychological analysis, developing and implementing programs to help students meet educational needs and achieve their educational and personal goals, including making vocational program referrals. They should also exhibit an understanding of the paperwork required and confidentiality needs.

What to look for in an answer:

• Understanding of psychological analysis
• Knowledge of program planning and management
• Experience with records keeping and report writing per district requirements

The applicant’s answer to this should reveal an inherent understanding of the skills used by psychologists on a daily basis and why they are important. The appropriate answer reflects both hard and soft skills. It includes decision making, collaboration, learning, instruction, research, crisis intervention, mental health counseling, policy development, technology standards and developing student diversity.

What to look for in an answer:

• Data analysis and decision making skills
• Crisis prevention and intervention experience
• Psychology practicing skills

This question provides you insight into the applicant’s personal experiences and motivations. Some people enter the field of clinical psychology due to their own experience with a psychologist or other mental health professional as a child or youth. Some have an inherent yearn to help to others. Some exhibit a curiosity about how the mind works and wish to better understand human behavior. Their response give you a window into their background, personality and work ethic.

What to look for in an answer:

• Personal experience with psychology
• Motivation and passion for the field
• Communication of work ethic and habits

The applicant should mention both the scientist model and the scientist-practitioner model although they will have to have chosen only one while in graduate school. Their answer determines whether their training was in a program that emphasized research or clinical practice. A Ph.D. from a scientist model program prepares them for a career in research. They aren’t trained in the practice of psychology and cannot obtain employment as therapists. Those trained in the scientist-practitioner model, aka the Boulder Model, trains the graduate student in both clinical practice and research methods. These Ph.D.s may forge a career in academia, teaching and researching or in clinical practice or both.

What to look for in an answer:

• Graduate studies training model knowledge
• Educational specifics
• Application of graduate studies to career development

Psychologists may work with patients who have undergone significant amounts of trauma in their past that make them hesitant to express themselves. A great psychologist should have a set plan for how to encourage a patient to feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts. Look for a candidate who displays compassion, patience and understanding when working with individuals during sessions and who has experience getting patients to trust them.

The candidate's answer should emphasize:

• Patience, compassion and understanding
• Interpersonal and listening skills
• Strategy for making patients feel comfortable to express emotions