MSW Student Guide
Section 3.09.03: Interviewing for Field Placement
To respect the time commitment of the field instructors and the resources at the field site, students interview one place at a time. All interviews must be approved by an OFE field faculty or placement coordinator. Given the requirements to be an affiliated field site with the University of Michigan School of Social Work, students are prohibited from initiating their own field placement interviews.
The interview is meant for the student to evaluate the field site as much as the field site is evaluating the student. If the field site offers the student the placement, the student then decides whether they want to accept the placement. If both agree, the field instructor and the student will inform the OFE field faculty or placement coordinator and the placement is finalized. If the student is not granted an interview or is not accepted after the interview, the OFE field faculty or placement coordinator will work with the student to understand and discuss the circumstances and next steps for moving the student on to another placement option.
The interview is an opportunity for the student to learn about the field placement and for the prospective field instructor(s) to learn about the student. If a field site/field instructor decides to interview the student, the OFE field faculty or placement coordinator will put the student in contact with the field instructor to set up a time for the interview. The student should immediately contact the field instructor to coordinate a date/time/location for the interview. Please note placements are never guaranteed and students may not receive their preferred setting(s) as the interview and placing processes are dynamic and shifting throughout the placing cycle.
All approved field sites have agreed to the following non discrimination terms: Each party shall accept, assign, supervise, and evaluate qualified students regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, disability, veteran status, height, or weight, in accordance with applicable federal and state law. In addition, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation (including gender identity and gender expression) in accordance with the policies of the University of Michigan.
Please note we have suggested the following inclusive/equity based strategies to prospective field instructors specific to the interviewing process:
• Providing directions including parking, accessible entrances and where to go inside of the building
• Using inclusive virtual interview practices such as testing your computer’s audio/visual compatibility with the software used, turning captions on, and placing interview questions in the chat during the interview.
• Providing a description of the learning objectives of the field placement
• Providing a list of interview topics to each candidate
• Sharing the demographics of the client system and staff
Students are encouraged to do the following during interviews:
• Wear appropriate professional attire
• The student can share their interests, their previous experiences, and discuss the skills they would like to acquire.
• Be prepared to discuss their learning goals and objectives, skill development interests, and how they utilize supervision and feedback.
• Ask questions to get an idea of the activities they will participate in to ensure they can meet their learning goals.
• Discuss any unique needs that would be necessary in order for them to successfully complete their placement
For additional information, see the Interview section of the Incoming Field Student page under MySSW on the School of Social Work website.
The interview is meant for the student to evaluate the field site as much as the field site is evaluating the student. If the field site offers the student the placement, the student then decides whether they want to accept the placement. If both agree, the field instructor and the student will inform the OFE field faculty or placement coordinator and the placement is finalized. If the student is not granted an interview or is not accepted after the interview, the OFE field faculty or placement coordinator will work with the student to understand and discuss the circumstances and next steps for moving the student on to another placement option.
The interview is an opportunity for the student to learn about the field placement and for the prospective field instructor(s) to learn about the student. If a field site/field instructor decides to interview the student, the OFE field faculty or placement coordinator will put the student in contact with the field instructor to set up a time for the interview. The student should immediately contact the field instructor to coordinate a date/time/location for the interview. Please note placements are never guaranteed and students may not receive their preferred setting(s) as the interview and placing processes are dynamic and shifting throughout the placing cycle.
All approved field sites have agreed to the following non discrimination terms: Each party shall accept, assign, supervise, and evaluate qualified students regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, disability, veteran status, height, or weight, in accordance with applicable federal and state law. In addition, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation (including gender identity and gender expression) in accordance with the policies of the University of Michigan.
Please note we have suggested the following inclusive/equity based strategies to prospective field instructors specific to the interviewing process:
• Providing directions including parking, accessible entrances and where to go inside of the building
• Using inclusive virtual interview practices such as testing your computer’s audio/visual compatibility with the software used, turning captions on, and placing interview questions in the chat during the interview.
• Providing a description of the learning objectives of the field placement
• Providing a list of interview topics to each candidate
• Sharing the demographics of the client system and staff
Students are encouraged to do the following during interviews:
• Wear appropriate professional attire
• The student can share their interests, their previous experiences, and discuss the skills they would like to acquire.
• Be prepared to discuss their learning goals and objectives, skill development interests, and how they utilize supervision and feedback.
• Ask questions to get an idea of the activities they will participate in to ensure they can meet their learning goals.
• Discuss any unique needs that would be necessary in order for them to successfully complete their placement
For additional information, see the Interview section of the Incoming Field Student page under MySSW on the School of Social Work website.