Caregiver

Caregiver qualifications to look for

Caregivers provide essential care for ill, elderly or disabled patients in their homes or a care facility. No formal education is required as on the job training will be offered for this position.

 📌Don’t forget: Check local legislation as licensure requirements vary per location. 

Your top candidates will have emergency response skills and, for a more senior position, solid experience. It’s also important to check references and ask your candidates the type of care they are willing to provide. Some care is more demanding than others, but all candidates should be able to comfortably lift and move patients. 

Keep an eye out for candidates who have:

• Excellent social skills
• A calm, pleasant personality  
• A self-motivated attitude
• A compassionate disposition
• A reliable and patient bedside manner
  

Top tip: Hire candidates willing to grow by making sure their personal career goals align with your company's mission.

Role-specific interview questions

• What was it that initially attracted you to this line of work? 
• What is most rewarding about this job?
• What types of impairments/people have you previously worked with? Is there anything you are not comfortable handling? 
• What were your responsibilities with your latest client? What are you most comfortable doing on the job? 
• Are you able to perform light housekeeping duties? How about run errands? 
• Do you know how to cook according to special health requirements? If so, what is your experience with this? 
• Have you provided personal care/hygiene tasks for an elderly client? Are you comfortable doing them?
• Can you perform CPR? Do you have a certificate? 
• Are you available for work nights/weekends/etc.? If there is travel required, can you travel with your patient?

Behavioral interview questions

• Do you like to be in contact with your client’s family? If so, what is that relationship like for you? 
• Have you offered emotional support to your clients? What effect did it have?
• Tell me about a time when you had to provide first aid to a client. What happened?
• Tell me about a mistake you made while caring for a client. What was it and how did you resolve it? 
• Recall a time a client was irrational with you. How did you handle it?
  

Problem-solving interview questions

• This job requires you to [state tasks]. Are you comfortable with that?
• How would you handle a client with dementia who accuses you of something you didn’t do? 
• Are you comfortable working with a client who has Alzheimer’s? How would you ensure their well-being?