Interview Paper

Interview Paper
Practice Methods 1 3010
Wayne State University School of Social Work
October 1, 2013
Ec5994
Chelsey Pasha

Interview Paper

We often think about what it is we are called to do. When choosing a profession we look
for one that will not only benefit us in the end, but one that will also leave us feeling satisfied
once our workday is complete. It is said that choosing a job should be like finding a hobby that
you love. You should never wake up and regret going having gone to work that day. Finding a
career as a young adult that you are truly with satisfied may be a difficult task. Going into Social
Work was an easy choice for myself, and conducting an interview Ms. Alshire Davis confirmed
that Social Work is the right choice for me.
The search to find someone to interview started on September 10, 2013. Conducting a
search of Google revealed three different agencies that were relatively close to my home. The
first two were Homes For Black Children and the third was an agency called Crossroads.
Telephone calls all three were made right away. I began to feel excited thinking that someone
from one of the three agencies would volunteer right away. Calls to the agencies went
unanswered or I was forwarded to someones voicemail. At that point I begin worry if anyone
would respond to my request for an interview. I waited patiently, carrying my phone with me
everywhere I went while at work that day, ready to answer the phone. Unfortunately, that day my
phone calls werent returned. The next day with panic setting in I decided to call my aunt who is
a Forensics Social Worker. The moment I started to talk to her a tear began to stream down my
face. I was so overwhelmed at that point and she could hear it in my voice. My aunt told me grab
a pen and a piece of paper and thats exactly what I did. She began naming different facilities for
me to call as well as naming people that she knew personally who could help me locate a Social
Worker with a BSW. Most of the stress was started to disappear. My aunt gave me six different
places to call. I started with Positive Images and ended with the Childrens Center. Again I was

Interview Paper

feeling excited, thinking that this time for sure someone would call. Once again each place I
called automatically went to voicemail. In my mind I was thinking they cant all be that busy.
Once again it was back to playing the waiting game and the end result was disappointing.
Starting to feel stressed all again I decided to try and call one more person. I called my
cousin Tondee Mosley who is a Medical Social Worker at St. Johns Macomb Hospital. I
explained to my cousin that I needed to find someone to interview by midnight the next day. She
was at work at the time, she would think about it and give me a call back. Every time my phone
rang, my heart began to race thinking it was she with bad news. A light bulb went off in my
head; I remembered that I worked at a nursing home with Social Workers. I went to the office to
ask the head of the Social Work department if she would let me interview one of her Social
Workers who had a BSW. I explained what is was for and that I was an employee at the nursing
home. She told me that they were swamped with tons of work and that it would not be possible.
The only hope left was my cousin. Tondee called me back later that night and said that she knew
someone who worked at Detroit East with a BSW and that she would put me in contact with her.
I nearly collapsed! I was so happy that I called right away. Not only was Ms. Davis willing to do
the interview, she said I could come to Detroit East that following Monday to sit with her.
Looking back to when I first started calling the different agencies I now realize that some
of the people were extremely rude. One woman actually hung the phone up after I explained why
I was calling. As the consumer I felt slighted. I kept saying to my mother these very have
forgotten what it was like when they first started to work in their profession.
I started the interview by making small talk with Ms. Davis. We talked about how her day
was going and what time she was going to get off. Ms. Davis made a comment to me about my
apparel. Ms. Davis stated You look like a Social Worker, from the way you are dressed to the

Interview Paper

way your talking. (Davis 2013). I began asking Ms. Davis about her educational background.
Initially I thought she was from the south judging from her dialect. Ms. Davis stated that she
graduated from one of the public high schools here in Detroit and that she attended Talladega
Alabama College, in Talladega, Alabama. She went to school on a basketball scholarship and
graduated in 2000 with her Bachelors Degree in Social Work. After graduation she returned to
Michigan and put her BSW to work right away. She began working with juveniles for a short
period of time, before she started at Detroit East. Ms. Davis is currently a case manager. She
handles six clients a day. She has to see each client for one hour a day, totaling 65 a month. Ms.
Davis mentioned that she deals with clients who suffer from mental illness, specifically ones who
are found not guilty due by the court system due to reasons of insanity. Her clients are ones
placed in Adult Foster Care homes. Ms. Davis stated that Detroit East is a controlled
environment. All of her clients can see a doctor, therapist, and case manager in one setting. I
asked Ms. Davis how she feel about dealing with clients who are proven innocent by reasons of
insanity (Pasha 2013). Her response was One day I was told I was going to have a client who
stabbed his mother to death and I couldnt be angry. I work with the mentally ill, so in my head I
began thinking how can I assist this man get the help he needs (Davis 2013). Ms. Davis
mentioned that when it comes to her own social/personal problems they must be left at the door
and any social issues are addressed right away. She did however say that they work as a team and
building resources with her team is a major part of her workday. The main concern is finding
resources that both she and clients can benefit from.
Ms. Davis considers her self to be very effective within her agency. She stated that she
makes sure that all her clients come to see her as scheduled. She stated I dont want to hear you
dont have a ride or you cant make it to doctor because your lights are shut off. I am going to

Interview Paper

come pick you up myself. I am often calling DTE to make sure that they have lights. I dont
want to hear excuses from anyone, if I keep my word so should you (Davis 2013). Ms. Davis is
the definition of a leader. She mentioned that she would go to great lengths to make sure that her
clients expectations are met across the board. I keep up with all my clients information,
checking each binder, making sure that each binder is up to date so if the State comes in for an
audit I wont be the reason behind my team getting in trouble (Davis, 2013). I could tell Ms.
Davis was passionate about the work that she does. I asked her about the overall effectiveness of
the agency. Ms. Davis mentioned that they have at least five buses that will pick up the clients
who dont have transportation. She said that they have fifteen case managers who make sure the
clients are served to the best of their abilities. She said they all work 12 hour days and often
dont get a chance to eat lunch. Its hard for me some days said Ms. Davis. I have a six-year-old
son who I cant pick up from school most days because I am here. I leave around 9 P.M., and
then I have to go home and spend time with him (Davis 2013). Lastly I asked her about if she
considered her environment to be on a micro, mezzo, or macro level. Ms. Davis said she believes
that it is micro. She said it is on a micro level, because she deals with her clients individually.
The conclusion of the interview ended with Ms. Davis showing me her binders of
information, which contained her IPOS or Individual Plan of Service of a treatment plan. She
showed me around the office introducing me to all of her coworkers, therapist, doctors,
counselors, and allowin me meet some of her clients. Ms. Davis mentioned that I should try and
intern there next fall stating I would become a great asset to the team. She said she would
mention it to her boss and when the time comes ask that I be placed there. I enjoyed the
interview and the environment in which it was conducted. Ms. Alshire Davis was relaxed and
welcoming the whole time, making me feel very comfortable. Ms. Davis is the definition of a

Interview Paper
leader, not only did she light up when talking about her job, she never said anything negative
about the facility. I look at Social Work as exciting and I am eager to learn all that I can. I knew
that Social Work can be challenging but after talking to Ms. Davis I think its a challenge Im
ready to take on.
Having to do this interview has humbled me. I always looked at Social Work as a
challenging field. I have a greater respect for all Social Workers. I always believed that life is
about opportunities. If you dont like doing something the first time you can always do it again
until you get it right. Something tells me with Social Work I will only need one chance.

Interview Paper

References

Davis A. (2013). An Interview Paper. Unpublished Manuscript,

Wayne State University.
Pasha C. (2013). An Interview Paper. Unpublished Manuscript,
Wayne State Univeristy