How to prepare for an interview at a senior living community

You’ve put lots of time and effort into completing and submitting an application, nervously waited to hear back, then you find out you’ve landed an interview. Great news! Now it’s time to prepare. When you take the time to prepare for an interview, your dedication and interest in the position and company shows.

At SRG we’ve got 35 years of experience creating great places for seniors to live, so we know what it takes to deliver innovative community design, excellent service, and exceptional care. And we know that people make all the difference. Whether you’re a caregiver, medication aide, housekeeper, cook, server, activities assistant, and beyond, you play an important role in contributing to the well-being of the residents who choose to call one of our communities their home. 

Remember, if you’ve made it this far the hiring manager has already spotted you have potential. An interview is your chance to shine. Here are tips to help you succeed at any interview for senior living community careers:

Learn about the community

It’s important you understand what matters most in the community. Do you know what services they offer, their values, their history? Consider your skills and how they make you a good fit. 

Research the organization or community ahead of the interview. Learn about their mission and philosophy, number of communities and whether they are local or national. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the type of senior care they offer and the number of residents that they care for.

Research questions

It might seem obvious but don’t forget to research commonly asked questions. Even if you’re a seasoned interview pro, it doesn’t hurt to refresh your memory or improve your answers, building on your experience from training or past roles.

The interview might include situational, behavioral or competency-based questions, so it’s worth preparing answers for these different styles. Make sure to explore relevant interview questions for the role you’ve applied to. If you have applied to senior assisted living jobs for example, make sure to research relevant interview questions for those job titles.

Think about your answers

When preparing your answers, think about how you’ll frame them. Consider techniques such as STAR (situation, task, action, and result of the situation you’re describing) to help keep your answers meaningful and relevant. Think about your past experience and what you can draw on to show how you’re qualified for the job.

Interviews for senior living jobs aim to uncover your skills, personality, drive, and ability to fit in. Interviewers want to know that it’s not only the job that you’re after but also that you want to make a real difference by working in the community. If you’re starting out a caregiving career, why not read 5 essential qualities of a great caregiver? 

Prepare questions to ask

Think about what you want to learn about the community or role and write these questions down for the day. Preparing questions and showing an interest in the organization shows that you're serious about the opportunity and want to make sure the company's values align with your own.

Get ready

Ahead of the interview, make sure you know how to get to the community, who you’re meeting and if there are any clearance criteria to complete. Check travel disruptions to avoid being late, so you don’t give your interviewer a reason to rule you out before you’ve even met. If it’s virtual, ensure you plan accordingly. If you live with others, remind them when you’ll be interviewing to avoid interruptions.

Searching for an SRG community where you belong?

At SRG we love movers, shakers, and smile-makers. We’re passionate and care deeply about delivering exceptional experiences for our senior living communities. If you've got a positive attitude and a desire to work with and for great people, you’ve come to the right place. 

Whether you’re looking for your first job or a more fulfilling career path, we have benefits you’ll love and a range of exciting roles you can dive into. 

If you’re ready to join a Great Place to Work where we create great places for seniors to live, explore our senior living community careers.