This question gives you insight into the candidate's motivation for pursuing a career in occupational therapy. The candidate should be passionate about helping others and have a clear career path. What to look for in an answer:

• A valid reason for a career in occupational therapy
• Passion and honesty
• Clear career path

The aim of this question is to let the candidate demonstrate their understanding of the role and the research they've put into the job. They should be able to link their understanding of the role to the job description and your organisation. What to look for in an answer:

• Outline of the main duties of an Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Linking the general outline to the job
• Clear and articulate answer

Sometimes, a patient can be difficult because they are experience pain or discomfort. An Occupational Therapy Assistant needs to be able to calm patients and support them through the occupational therapy process without taking their mood personally. What to look for in an answer:

• Empathy
• Interpersonal skills
• Calm demeanour

This question lets you explore the candidate's experience with a specific patient population. You can adjust the question based on the type of patients that you regularly care for. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience with the types of patients you deal with
• Willingness to further education on specialised patient care
• Additional qualifications

Sometimes, an Occupational Therapy Assistant may disagree with their Occupational Therapist's assessment of a patient. In this case, they should be able to express their opinion politely and respectfully. What to look for in an answer:

• Confidence to raise concerns
• Polite and respectful answer
• Patient-focused concerns

Occupational Therapy Assistants need a strong combination of hard and soft skills to perform their role. They must be familiar with occupational therapy techniques and equipment. They must also have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. What to look for in an answer:

• Self-awareness
• Good mixture of hard and soft skills
• Willingness to learn more

This question helps you to learn more about a candidate's motivations. You may use the opposite of this question if your organisation is private, rather than with the NHS. What to look for in an answer:

• Thoughtful reason for wanting to work in your sector
• Articulate and passionate answer
• Passion for occupational therapy, regardless of sector

This is an open-ended question that gives the candidate the opportunity to sell themselves. The ideal answer is one that shows off the candidates best skills without being excessive. What to look for in an answer: 

• Self-awareness of strengths
• Relevant strength
• Positive but modest answer

Some patients may be confused or upset as a result of the health difficulties they're experiencing. This can make it challenging to provide therapy. A good Occupational Therapy Assistant is able to overcome these difficulties and work with the patient to help them. What to look for in an answer:

• Empathy
• Listening
• Patience

An Occupational Therapy Assistant should be familiar with a variety of occupational therapy techniques and equipment. Even if this is their first occupational therapy job, they should have a theoretical understanding of these techniques. What to look for in an answer:

• Knowledge of occupational therapy techniques
• Familiarity with occupational therapy equipment
• Willingness to learn more