School Psychologist Interview Questions

The goal for a successful interview for School Psychologist is to showcase their expertise in administering and interpreting psychological assessments, demonstrate their ability to understand and meet the diverse needs of students, and exhibit strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with students, teachers, and parents.

Situational interview questions

• You suspect that one of your students is experiencing academic anxiety. How would you assess their situation, and what interventions would you suggest to help them perform better academically?
• A teacher complains that a student in their class is frequently disruptive and inattentive. How would you evaluate their behavior and create a plan to help them improve their behavior in the classroom?
• A student approaches you and reports that they are experiencing loneliness and social isolation. How would you help them identify and develop social skills that could increase their self-confidence and lead to more positive interactions with others?
• A parent contacts you about their child’s ongoing difficulties in social settings and with making friends. How would you evaluate their child’s social skills, and what steps would you recommend to help them improve their social interactions and relationships?
• You are asked to provide assistance in developing an intervention plan for a student who is struggling with poor study habits. How would you evaluate their current study habits, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and develop an individualized plan to help them build better study habits and achieve better academic results?

Soft skills interview questions

• Can you describe a time when you had to use your communication skills to de-escalate a situation with a student or parent?
• How do you demonstrate empathy and compassion when working with children and families who may be going through difficult times?
• Tell me about a time when you had to collaborate with other professionals, such as teachers, counselors, or administrators. How did you ensure that everyone communicated effectively and achieved common goals?
• Can you provide an example of how you adapt your communication style to effectively communicate with students and parents with diverse backgrounds or communication needs?
• Describe a time when you had to use your problem-solving skills to develop creative solutions to help a student overcome a challenging behavior or academic issue.

Role-specific interview questions

• Can you explain the role of the school psychologist in the development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for students with disabilities?
• How do you assess and evaluate the mental health needs of students?
• Can you describe your understanding of trauma-informed practices in schools and how you incorporate them into your work as a school psychologist?
• How do you collaborate with teachers and school administrators to develop interventions and support systems for students who may be struggling with mental health or behavioral challenges?
• Can you provide an example of how you have used data-driven decision-making in your work as a school psychologist to improve student outcomes?

STAR interview questions

1. Can you describe a situation where you had to work with a student who had learning difficulties? What were your tasks in this situation? What actions did you take to address these difficulties, and what was the result of your efforts?

2. Have you ever had to navigate a difficult conversation with a parent or guardian of a student? Could you describe the situation, your tasks in that situation, the actions you took to manage the conversation, and the results of your efforts?

3. Can you tell us about a time when you had to develop and implement a behavior intervention plan for a student? What was the situation, what were your tasks in that situation, what actions did you take to develop the plan and what were the results of your efforts?

4. Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with other professionals, such as teachers or counselors, to support a student. What were your tasks in this situation, what actions did you take to collaborate effectively, and what was the result of your collaboration?

5. Can you give an example of a time when you had to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of a student who was struggling academically or behaviorally? What was the situation, what were your tasks in that situation, what actions did you take to conduct the evaluation, and what were the results of your efforts?