Next week, ds has skype interviews for business honors programs at 2 different schools. How should he prepare for the interviews? What kinds of questions should he be prepared to answer?
My son did a Skype interview, and we did a few practice runs at home. I recommend setting up 2 computers and Skyping your son to check the following:
–lighting in the room; sometimes it looks very different on screen than in person
–make sure the room is cool so he doesn’t start sweating
–dress conservatively so the clothing doesn’t distract on the small screen
–body language will be very important; he needs to practice being relaxed (not frozen in place yet only small movements or the picture may get blurry)
–adjust the sound during these practices
–make sure the background is clean; a blank wall is a good choice
–practice looking directly at the camera instead of the screen or the small picture of themselves
–make sure all other programs are closed so no notifications pop up during the interview
–we stuck some post-it notes on the computer with key points
–have a resume next to the computer but display it on a small easel or book stand so he can view it easily
For interview questions:
–Make sure he knows and can explain everything on his resume or application (in a concise manner).
–Research the program so he can make his answers tie in with their goals/mission.
–Have a question or 2 ready to ask if prompted (something basic like when will I be notified of your decision or what is your best advice for a college freshman)
–Remember to smile
–Be ready to answer if he’s visited campus and why he’s a good fit.
–If he’s asked a question that stumps him, it’s OK to say something like “That’s a very good question and one I hadn’t considered before. I may need a moment to think about it.”
–Be ready to answer about strengths/weaknesses
–Future plans
–The hardest may be “tell me about yourself.” This is sometimes the opening question, so he should have a short response ready
–Explain what he’s learned through volunteer work or other EC’s.
–Be ready to tell about a time when things didn’t work out as expected and how he handled it.
That’s all I can think of at the moment. You’ll find lots of examples online. Good luck!
READ THE NEWSPAPER. Your son needs to have at least a cursory understanding of what people are talking about and needs to provide context as to why he’s interested in a degree in business (and what that means in real terms; what he’ll be studying, why it interests him). I interview young grads frequently who have degrees in business and I am appalled at how little they know about what business is/does. You don’t have to be an expert as a HS kid, but you do need to understand what the curriculum involves and why it taps into subjects that interest you.
Your son should know what a tariff is and why they are on the front page of the newspapers these days; why the GM decision to shutter its plant in Ohio is newsworthy; why everyone is talking about climate change; why do we need to care about Venezuela (or should we?).
A couple of days worth of Wall Street Journals and Washington Posts will get him “in gear”.
Thank you, both! Great suggestions that I would not have thought of myself.