Tips and Suggestions

 

1. Wear business professional attire—guys wear slacks, dress pants, dress shirt and tie, suit would be good;

girls wear dress, skirt, business attire, etc.

 

2. Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early—7 minutes is about perfect; timing is everything.

 

3. Make eye contact before, during, and after the interview.

 

4. Greet the judges with a smile and a handshake—introduce yourself and remember their names when they

shake your hand (e.g. Mr./Ms. ________, nice to meet you. Thank you for being here.).

 

5. Relax and be yourself, but be enthusiastic and excited. Imagine it as a conversation with the judges instead

of a performance or speech. Remember to smile.

 

6. Speak clearly and articulate. Show, don’t tell. But don’t embellish. 

 

7. It is ok to think before you speak, but don’t think too long (no more than 2 seconds) since it’s a

conversation. Ways to start—“Hmm…that’s a great question. I think…” or if you have a strong opinion

start off with a confirmation of the question, “Absolutely, I think ________ is very important. Blah blah

blah…”

 

8. Answer the questions with concise, detailed answers, but don’t make them too short or too long. 

 

9. Stand and thank them at the end with a handshake and personal thank you.

 

10. Remember to send a thank you note within 24-48 hours of the interview.

 

11. You should be done in about 10 minutes.

 

12. Practice in a mirror, with a webcam, or with someone else prior to interviewing.

 

13. Be ready to ask the interviewers any questions regarding the company, organization, or anything relevant.

 

Sample Questions

 

1.  If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

 

2.  Do you think that young people these days face a lot of pressure? If so, what are some of these pressures

and how might you relieve them?

 

3.  Imagine you are talking to an incoming freshman, what advice would you give them about high school?

 

4.  Tell us about your future goals. What are your short term goals? What are your long term goals?

 

5.  If you could meet any historical figure from the past, who would you want to meet and why?

 

6.  What do you consider to be your greatest success or achievement? Why?

 

7.  What is your favorite extracurricular activity? Why?

 

8.  What is a recent book you have read? Would you recommend it to others?

 

9.  Describe a time when you witnessed something that you consider to be unethical. How did you react and

deal with the situation?

 

10.  Reports have shown that youth today volunteer less in their communities than in the past. How can this

be addressed?

 

11.  Do you feel that today’s youth are politically apathetic and what are some possible solutions for creating

more political efficacy?

 

12.  What do you see as the greatest challenge for today’s youth in the next 25 years? How can it be

addressed?

 

13.  What is your definition of success? What is academic success? Do you feel like you have achieved it?