Search CLIMB...

INTERVIEW

14 Caregiver Interview Questions

and Answers
Learn what skills and qualities interviewers are
looking for from a caregiver, what questions you
can expect, and how you should go about
answering them.

Interview Insights

Published Jul 5, 2022

Caring for others is a demanding but ultimately

rewarding job. If you’re looking for a career
where you can make a difference in the lives of
others, becoming a caregiver may be the
perfect fit for you. Caregivers provide a wide
range of services to elderly, ill, or disabled
individuals in their homes or in care facilities.

Before you can start providing care, you’ll need

to go through an interview process. During your
interview, you may be asked a range of
questions about your experience, your
qualifications, and your ability to provide care.
In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of caregiver
interview questions and answers to help you
prepare for your interview.

COMMON CAREGIVER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

What made you want to be a caregiver?

What are some of the most challenging aspec…
How do you deal with difficult behaviors from …
What is your experience
EXPAND with
+ providing medic…

···

What made you want to be a

caregiver?

This question can help the interviewer get to

know you better and understand why you are
passionate about this career. It also helps them
see if your personality is a good fit for their
organization. When answering, try to be honest
and show that you have genuine interest in
helping others.

Example: “I wanted to become a caregiver

because I love being around people who need
my support. I find it rewarding to make
someone’s life easier by providing care. In my
last role, I had a client who was struggling with
mobility issues. I helped her learn how to use
her walker so she could go outside again. She
was so happy when she saw how much
progress she made after just a few weeks of
working together.”

What are some of the most

challenging aspects of being a
caregiver?

This question can help the interviewer get a

better idea of what your role as a caregiver
entails. It also helps them understand how you
might handle these challenges in the future.
When answering this question, it can be helpful
to mention some specific aspects that are
challenging but also explain how you would
overcome them.

···

Example: “The most challenging aspect of

being a caregiver is when I have to tell my client
or their family members that there isn’t anything
more we can do for them. While I always try to
make sure they’re comfortable and happy,
sometimes there’s nothing else I can do to
improve their situation. However, I find that by
remaining positive and encouraging others, I
can help ease their minds.”

How do you deal with difficult

behaviors from clients?

This question can help the interviewer

understand how you handle challenging
situations. It’s important to show that you have
strategies for dealing with difficult behaviors
and that you’re willing to learn new techniques.

···

Example: “I find it helpful to remember that

these behaviors are a result of their illness or
injury, not because they want to be difficult. I try
to remain calm when handling these behaviors
so I don’t escalate the situation. If I’m able to get
through the behavior without incident, I’ll give
them positive reinforcement to reinforce good
behavior.”

What is your experience with

providing medication to clients?

This question can help the interviewer

determine your experience with administering
medication to clients. If you have previous
experience, describe what types of medications
you administered and how often you did so. If
you do not have any experience, you can talk
about your willingness to learn this skill if
necessary.

···

Example: “In my last role as a caregiver, I was

responsible for giving my client their daily dose
of insulin. I would administer it in the morning
before breakfast and again at night after dinner.
My client had specific instructions on when to
take her medicine, so I always made sure she
followed those guidelines.”

Can you describe a time when you had

to provide emotional support to a
client?

This question can help the interviewer

understand how you interact with clients and
provide emotional support. Describe a specific
situation in which you helped your client
through an emotionally challenging time, such
as a loss or illness.

Example: “When I first started working as a

caregiver, I was assigned to work with a woman
who had recently lost her husband. She would
often cry when we were together, but she
always told me that it made her feel better to
talk about her feelings. We would spend our
sessions talking about her late husband and
what they enjoyed doing together. After a few
weeks, she began to smile more and even
laugh occasionally. She said that talking about
him helped her cope with his death.”

···

Do you have any experience working

with clients who have dementia or
Alzheimer’s disease?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you

have experience working with clients who are
experiencing memory loss. They want to know
that you can handle challenging situations and
provide compassionate care for these
individuals. In your answer, share a specific
example of how you helped someone with
dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Example: “I worked as a caregiver at an assisted

living facility where I cared for several residents
with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. One
resident in particular had advanced Alzheimer’s
disease, so she would often forget what we
were doing when I was helping her. To help her
remember, I would repeat instructions back to
her and use visual cues like pictures or objects
to help her understand. She also enjoyed
listening to music, so I would play it while I was
caring for her.”

···

Describe a time when you had to deal

with a difficult family member or
situation.

Interviewers ask this question to see how you

handle conflict. They want to know that you can
remain calm and professional in challenging
situations, even if the family member is not. In
your answer, try to focus on what steps you took
to resolve the situation or diffuse the tension.

Example: “I once worked with a family where

the mother was very demanding. She would call
me at all hours of the night to change her
daughter’s diaper or bring her water. I learned
that she had been an only child who never
learned to share. Instead of getting frustrated, I
talked to her about why it was important for her
to let me do my job and care for her daughter.
After our conversation, she started letting me
do my work without interruptions.”

···

Do you have experience with

providing personal care (bathing,
dressing, etc)?

This question is a great way for the interviewer

to assess your experience level and determine
if you have any gaps in your skills. If you don’t
have personal care experience, it’s important to
highlight other relevant skills that can be used
in place of this one.

Example: “I’ve never had direct experience with

providing personal care, but I am very
comfortable assisting others with these tasks. In
my previous role as a caregiver, I was
responsible for helping clients get dressed,
bathe and perform other daily activities. I also
assisted them with meal preparation and
transportation.”

···

What do you think are the biggest

challenges caregivers face today?

This question can help an interviewer get to

know you as a caregiver and understand your
thoughts on the challenges of the job. Use this
opportunity to share your unique perspective
with the interviewer by describing what you’ve
seen in your experience as a caregiver.

Example: “I think one of the biggest challenges

caregivers face is burnout. It’s important for us
to take care of ourselves so we can continue to
provide excellent care for our patients, but it
can be difficult to find time to do that when
we’re working long hours. I try to make sure I’m
getting enough sleep and taking breaks
throughout my day to avoid burnout.”

···

What are your thoughts on the

importance of work-life balance for
caregivers?

This question can help an interviewer

determine how you feel about the work-life
balance of a caregiver. It can also show them
your thoughts on how to achieve it and what
you would do if you were hired for the position.
Use examples from your own experience in
answering this question, as they can be more
effective than general statements.

Example: “I believe that caregivers should have

a healthy work-life balance because it’s
important to take care of yourself so you can
provide quality care for others. I try to make
sure I get enough sleep each night, exercise
regularly and spend time with friends and
family when I’m not working. This helps me stay
energized throughout my day and provides me
with the mental clarity needed to perform my
job well.”

···

What do you think is the most

rewarding aspect of being a
caregiver?

This question can help the interviewer get to

know you as a person and understand what
motivates you. It also helps them determine if
your values align with those of their
organization. When answering this question, it