Learning to Interview:

This study examined social work studentsÆ opportunities to learn, practice, and sharpen interviewing skills. MasterÆs students identified opportunities to observe interviewing models and to receive feedback on their own real or practice interviews. Students reported few opportunities to observe or listen to real, videotape, or audiotape models or to receive feedback on their interviews. Students judged interview training that included opportunities to observe effective models and receive feedback as most satisfying. These results indicate that the training of social work students may not include critical components of effective skill development. Reasons for this and possible correctives are discussed.