<p>Okay fellow CCers, I am in desperate need for some adivice, and something more than "be yourself." At our school, a position on the school board to represent the student body is opened up for all rising seniors, and is narrowed to the last choices, who will interview. These interviews will be this Tuesday with the principle, the superintendent, and someone else and is made up of two girls and myself. </p>
<p>One of these girls is top in the grade, DECA queen, and probably going to Princeton, due to legacy and amazing stats. She has been talking to the Principle, AKA sucking up, so she will be my major competition.</p>
<p>The other is active with school board activites-ish, but is not gonna me a real treat due to not so stellar communication skills and the fakeness that radiates from her.</p>
<p>So, I need some advice for the interview, for I am already starting off at a dissadvantage. I am not sure exactly what I need to hear, but any advice would be good. :)</p>
<p>Unfortunately you may be already beat by this girl. Do you best to come off as sincere and caring as possible. I hate to say it, but sometimes it’s who you know and not what you know. Also many times intelligent people don’t get positions because they come off as threatening and intimidating. </p>
<p>I’m a state student rep for 40,000 students (and it still scares me to death every time I say that). I briefly met with the head of education for my state, kept in contact and then ended up being the first student representative to a certain important state educational organization. (I just lucked-out here because I live in a very small area and most everyone with a state position lives in the state capital or surrounding areas.) I showed up and came off as intelligent and concerned for the well-being for the students and ended up being appointed by the state board of education as a full advisory board member. (They may regret it now because I keep them on their toes j/k)</p>
<p>So next it comes time for state board of education representatives to be appointed by the governor–an ongoing process this year. This certain educational agency? Well it was one of the governor’s major platforms for election and the only organization that was mentioned by the governor in the state of the state. So guess who one of my recommendations is from? The leader of this educational organization in question.</p>
<p>Again, sometimes it’s who you know and not what you know. I could have absolutely no idea about education or not care at all and probably no one would know the difference. Thankfully, I do really care and I know all educational policy and law in my state. Which bring me to another point. Serving on a local school board position is not like student government. You don’t do it for college applications and you don’t get the job because you are popular. You have to do it because you really care. Would you be willing to do the job if no one in the school system knew who you were and you researched and planned thanklessly into the night for countless hours to evoke only a small change?</p>
<p>Think of what issues are really important in your area and what the most important things you would do as the student rep would be. Oh, and good luck!</p>
<p>Google interviews. You will find a lot of techniques. I’ll list some here for quick reference:</p>
<p>-Don’t get tense. Relax.
-Take up space. (spread legs)
-Lean slightly back in your chair (but don’t slouch).
-Talk slowly and put emphasis on your key words.
-Make eye contact. (staring into the left (or right…can’t remember) eye is “supposed” to form a connection with the other person lol)
-Shake hands when you meet them.
-PRACTICE. Have a general outline of what you’re going to say. (If you know the questions that are going to be asked, prepare formal responses. If you don’t, then just make sure you have a lot of “worthy” things to talk about.)</p>
<p>^You might be able to gain an advantage if you are one of the later candidates being interviewed. Find out the questions from someone who went before you, and plan your responses accordingly. (Most interviews reuse the same questions from person to person; use this to your advantage.)</p>
<p>That’s all I could think of off the top of my head. Trust me, Google is your friend :).</p>
<p>I think aigiqinf has got me all wrong. Seriously. Currently, I have a friend telling the superintendent about me, so I will have my own sort of connection. Unlike other “intelligent” folk, which I never truly consider myself, I don’t come of proud or intimidating, yet I withhold articulation and a bit of confidence. I know what to say and when to say it, a point I emphasized in my original application. The first girl seems like an Ivy-robot, and her lack of true charisma I think will make enough of a gap in her interview for me to squeenze though to victory.</p>
<p>Thanks Swaggerer, I like the tips. While I don’t know the questions, I can kinda guess( Yay, improv club skills!) Most of these I know, but I need to make a mental note to ensure that I actually do them. :P</p>
<p>Hm, I understand. Well, I think being slightly intimidating is better than being a pushover. Not so much that it is obnoxious, but is necessary if I want to be a leader in anything.</p>
j/k)</p>
While I don’t know the questions, I can kinda guess( Yay, improv club skills!) Most of these I know, but I need to make a mental note to ensure that I actually do them. :P</p>