Tips for nominating committee interviews

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>My son will have 2 interviews for nominations - one from our congressman and one from one of our senators (the other senator declined to interview him for Navy). We would love some tips from any one who has had any experience interviewing in front of a panel. The panel is comprised of community members, reservists and veterans. We are grateful he will have these two opportunities and want to better understand the process.</p>

<p>Also, do senators usually distribute the nominations across thier constituents - it seems like ours operate independently. I guess that's what makes this so intense!</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>This may not be the situation you encounter but just from personal experience...</p>

<p>I had an interview with a congressman from PA not long ago and it was not what I had read about or expected. I sat and talked to one man about the academy for about 25 minutes then it was over. In retrospect I realized he was playing me and trying to see what I knew about the academy by pretending he knew very little about it. He also did not just come out and ask me a question. It was more of an indirect method. </p>

<p>So tell your son to be on his toes and use any opportunity he has to show off his knowledge of the academy, in a normal and natural way, and to leave the interviewer(s) with the sense that you know what you're getting into, you know what its about, and you genuinely want to do it (you being your son of course...assuming this is his idea).</p>

<p>Also tell your son to just be relaxed and personable. They understand that he will be nervous but the less nervous he is the more accurate and natural his answers will be.</p>

3

<p>Tell your sone this:</p>

<p>The first rule is, DO NOT LIE. Not even a white lie. You must be COMPLETELY honest. If one of the panel members is a prior Marine and he asks you why you don't want to be a Marine, tell him the TRUTH. Be polite, of course, but don't BS anyone! It is an INSTANT turnoff. </p>

<p>Second, and I know this is tough, RELAX. Yes, you are competing for a few highly selective and coveted slots that will map out the future of your life. RELAX. It is one thing to be eager and confident, it is quite another to be cocky or a complete nervous wreck. </p>

<p>Don't be a computer. Don't spit out a canned answer or one you think they want to hear (see point 1 above). If you want to go to USNA because you want to fly jets and become an astronaut, don't give the usual shpeel about defending the homeland. Tell them you want to fly, and that USNA, in your opinion, gives you the best opportunities for reasons X, Y, and Z.</p>

<p>Leave politics out of the discussion completely. I don't care if you love the guy so much that's you'd crawl through a mile of broken glass and then swim in a pool of alcohol just to hear him fart through a walkie-talkie, or that you hate him so much you'd be willing to send Osama his address and an invite. You are there to secure a nomination to a Service Academy for your own reasons, and what the politician thinks about anything has zero to do with that. If they ask a politically-charged question (they almost certainly WON'T, but just in case), you need to gently but firmly steer the conversation back to the matter at hand: your qualifications and your desire to attend the academy and to serve. PERIOD.</p>

<p>Dress well. "Well" means a SUIT AND TIE, with the knot properly tied, the shoes shined, and the hair combed. Walk in looking like the opening act for Limp Bizkit and you're going to walk out with a big goose egg.</p>

<p>Speak well. Profanity of any kind is strictly forbidden, no matter how excited you are about the opportunity. Speak as an educated adult, not like you're hanging out with your homies on the back porch. This is serious business, not a joke.</p>

<p>Know what you're talking about. Know the Academy. Know the service. If they ask you would you be interested to fly for the Marines, it is REALLY bad form to say, "What, the Marines fly?". Not having a good understanding of what you are pursuing gives the impression that you are not serious, and that means you are wasting their time, and that does NOTHING to help you.</p>

<p>You are applying to get into USNA. Get used to the lingo. It's "Yes, sir" and "Yes, Ma'am". not "Yeah" or "Yepper" or "Word".</p>

<p>Arrive on time.</p>

<p>Bring what you need to bring (reports, papers, records, etc.) If you don't have something, have a damned good reason. "My dad forgot it" isn't going to fly any further than you can throw a grand piano.</p>

<p>That's what rolls off my skull this late. Let me think, and if anything else pops up, I'll add it.</p>

<p>Forgive me if I sound harcsh, but I've heard horror stories of IDIOTS that went to interviews and were shot down before they had even opened their mouths. The advice I just gave you applies to ANY interview, so learn it now, because there WILL be quizes in the future, and there is no partial credit or retakes with those.</p>

<p>Good luck. Be honest, confident, and eager, and the rest will follow.</p>

4

<p>Something else just occurred to me. Don't be afraid of saying "I don't know" if you really don't know. Sometimes, it might be the best answer you can give.</p>

<p>In my case, when the Congresscritter's aide asked my why I wanted to serve in the Navy, I answered with the unvarnished truth. "Sir, I don't know. My dad is not a veteran, and neither is anyone else in my family or neighborhood. All I know is that I've wanted to be an Naval Officer since I was four, and I've wanted to go to USNA since I first heard about it in the seventh grade. There is no other option. I either get in this year, or you'll be seeing me again next year. It's where I want to go, and it's where I belong."</p>

<p>You can get used to saying, "I'll find out, sir!" later. ;)</p>

5

<p>Zaphod:
What type of reports or papers are you reffering to?</p>

6

<p>Anything the MOC may ask you to bring. I was not referring to anything special or specific that HAS to be brought. </p>

<p>However, if your MOC's office asks you to bring, say, a copy of your last report card, your letter of invitation to the interview, etc., then BRING IT. Bring them in a simple portfolio.</p>

7

<p>My son just went thru his first MOC interview and as I sat in the outer waiting room I kept an eye on the other kids coming in. As a salesman I know how to watch body language, etc. and it was a shame to see how nervous these guys were. RELAX. My son's interviewer was a 60+ yr old gentleman (ex Navy Capt) who treated him more like a grandfather than some tough interviewer, so there was no reason to go in on shaking knees.</p>

<p>I also watched kids come in with crumpled up Intro letters (no portfilio), MP3 headphones, unkempt suits, etc and they did not get the time of day when they checked in. My son, on the otherhand, was in his Naval Sea Cadet uniform and that certainly got thier attention. But that's not to say he has any better resume (or would not have done as well if he wore a nice suit) BUT first impressions are hugely important as Zap says.</p>

<p>Be prepared to ASK questions in addition to answering them. Toward the end of my son's interview the rep said "So what else do you want to talk about?" He left the topic wide open and made it sound like they could have talked football if they had wanted to. But my son replied with an insightful question (at least I think it was!) and asked the ex-capt what his opinion was of the North Korea situation. They ended up talking another 15 mins about this subject, and hopefully the interviewer saw that this was not just another kid hoping for a free education, but one that was truly interested in the military. So I guess what I am saying, make sure to be prepared to talk about a SA related subject if asked.</p>

<p>Good luck and follow Zap's rules of the road and you'll do fine.</p>

<p>Dknightfam</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
My son, on the otherhand, was in his Naval Sea Cadet uniform

[/quote]
</p>

<p>ZING! </p>

<p>Boy, I'll bet THAT opened some eyes! :D</p>

<p>
[quote]
Be prepared to ASK questions in addition to answering them. Toward the end of my son's interview the rep said "So what else do you want to talk about?"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Criminy! How on earth did I forget that?</p>

<p>YES! ABSOLUTELY! You WILL be ansked if you have any questions, and it WILL be asked open-ended. It is a way to see how quickly you think on your feet, and whether you think you know it all. Not asking a (good) question is as deadly as showing up barefoot.</p>

<p>Also, be prepared for the dreaded "So...... Tell me about yourself" question. You're only 18 or so, so your answer should be about a minute long. Highlight things that make you different. In my case, I was the first son of a pair of Cuban immigrants, and the first in the family to elect the military. I had gone to military schools and done ROTC. I had bombed my first two years of high school, but done significantly better my second two. It's all about selling yourself and setting yourself apart.</p>

<p>ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION rather than just answering what is asked of you.</p>

9

<p>I would add just a few items to Zaphod's advice, our "15 tidbits of advice" we shared with our own son as he approached this stage of the process:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Arrive early. Early is on-time; on-time is late. If you are unsure where the office location is, take a dry run a few days ahead of time so that you are not adding this extra stress on the actual day of your interview. Being lost or unsure of where you are going when it counts is no fun, so save yourself the grief. And while you are waiting in the waiting room for your interview, strike up a casual conversation with the other candidates waiting along with you. It will break the ice, get you "warmed up and talking," and will help to get you relaxed instead of sitting their with your heart racing in your chest. Talk about sports- anything- but talk. </p></li>
<li><p>Introduce yourself to everyone on the panel- shake their hand, say "Hello, I am so-and-so....nice to meet you....it's my pleasure to meet you...." etc....make good eye contact with each member of the panel as you do this. If you can get their names (and remember them) so much the better. YOU GET ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION - MAKE IT COUNT. Practice your greeting ahead of time. Shake some hands. Make sure you have a "good and solid" handshake... firm, but not hand-crunching or even worse, limp and wimpy. Girls- make sure you practice this with your Dad's. Practice putting your hand out FIRST...you would be amazed how that equates to how you are perceived..."confident, self-assured, grounded"....all from a handshake!!! Practice to make yours excellent!!!!</p></li>
<li><p>Sit up straight (but not stiff) in your chair. Plant your feet on the floor in front of you. Don't figit. Don't cross your legs, your ankles, your fingers, your eyes, or anything else you can possible cross. You DO NOT have to sit on the edge of your chair...by all means, get comfortable. But make sure you are squared away...shoulders straight, hands crossed on your lap, feet together on floor. Smile. Smile. Smile. Make your eyes light up. </p></li>
<li><p>Dress neat. If you don't have a suit, don't worry.... a nice pair of dress kacki-colored pants, a navy jacket, tie, belt, shirt and POLISHED shoes will do fine. No sneakers. No denim. NO GUM CHEWING. No exceptions.</p></li>
<li><p>Answer all questions as honestly as possible. Wait until the question is fully asked. If you don't understand the question, ask the person asking it to clarify or restate the question- often times it gets asked in a simpler, more direct format the second time around. If you need it, ask for a minute to think about your response before answering. If you don't have a clue as to how to respond, say something to the effect that you "need to think about that for awhile before you can offer your response," or "I am not familiar with that, sir, but I will be sure to look it up...research it...find out...now that you have asked." They know you don't know everything, so don't pretend that you do. Don't tell them you want to be in the Navy for 25 years as your life's work when you have trouble figuring out what you want to eat for dinner on any given night. A better response is that "Right now I have an interest in......... " and then state your interest. Make sure it is something they actually DO in the Navy. Be honest. Smile. Keep eye contact- with everyone. Remember, the eyes are the windows to the soul- and if ever you wanted someone to know what is in yours, now is the time.</p></li>
<li><p>Don't oversell, over-inflate, or over-state yourself. You are who you are. Take pride in what you have accomplished to date, but claim ONLY what is yours to claim. Keep this in mind. You want the academy to want YOU....who YOU are....not some over-inflated, over-stated, unrealistic ideologic version of "you"....but YOU...the genuine article. If you are a good fit, they will conclude that. Just remember- these panels interview kids year in and year out. They have heard all the answers, excuses, concocted stories and answers formulated by well-meaning parents. This is NOT what you want to portray. You need to stand for who YOU are. YOUR thoughts. YOUR dreams and aspirations. What floats YOUR boat...not mom or dad's. HONEST HONEST HONEST HONEST HONEST HONEST.... no exceptions, no deviations, no joke. Anything short of that can sink your boat before it ever leaves the dock.</p></li>
<li><p>Make sure you go in with clear points as to what is essential to come across. You do not have to restate your accomplishments from high school....all of that will be in the folder they already have on you. Be prepared to substantiate what is in there. If you only got a 1200 on your SATs and they ask you "why did you only have a 1200 on your SATs" be prepared to give them a reason. </p></li>
<li><p>Know EXACTLY WHY you want to attend the USNA, or any academy for that matter. That is the number one question, and the one they will query the most. Make sure YOU understand your motivation, and then make sure they understand. </p></li>
<li><p>Practice moc interview questions. NO JOKE. Interview with people that you don't know well. A neighbor. A parent's co-worker. A teacher. Most kids won't bother with this step, but practice makes perfect, so take advantage of the advantage this will offer you. Have someone critique how you did- the questions you hestiated on- the answers that were incomplete, vague or plain stupid. You will be amazed at how much this will help you when the real interview comes around.</p></li>
<li><p>Clarify. After giving a response, ask the person if you have answered their question to their satisfaction. "Ma'am, does that answer your question, or should I continue".... If your response is a long one, ask them "should I continue".... they may already have gotten the information they need. Often time it is not the "answer" they are seeking necessarily.....but HOW you handle a difficult question/situation, etc. What was your biggest accomplishment to date? Your biggest failure? With both, be sure you can articulate what you LEARNED from the experience- that will speak volumes, so give these questions some thought before you get there. </p></li>
<li><p>Be prepared with questions of your own. Don't ask questions that you should already know the answers to had you done your homework on the academies ahead of time. "Sir, what is the best advice you could offer me... at this time....to survive the academy....to become the best leader i can..."...just a suggestion should you not have good questions of your own. Go in with several if you need to.</p></li>
<li><p>At the end of the interview, you should be doing a mental inventory in your head, checking to see if you have gotten the points you need to get across across. How do you know this? Because you would have made a list of the essential points to be covered before your interview, you would have practiced how to "work them in" to your answers during your practice interviews, etc. At this time, if you have not gotten a particular item across based on the questions you were asked, now is the time to do so. "sir, I would like to add one additional comment for your consideration......" </p></li>
<li><p>At the conclusion, shake everyone's hands- AGAIN. Thank them for their time and interest. "Sir, thank you for your time today"...."Maam, thank you for your interest".... good eye contact....THIS IS YOUR LAST IMPRESSION - MAKE IT A GOOD ONE. Again, practice-practic-practice. On eveyone, everywhere. Next time you go shopping, thank the sales person for their help and shake their hand. Silly???? hardly. Practicing with strangers is a terrific exercise in getting yourself comfortable, so take advantage of the situations available to you.</p></li>
<li><p>Follow up. That means a thankyou note to your MOC and his/her panel for taking the time to meet with you. Plain stationary is fine. No flowers, perfume, etc on the paper. Just a genuine "thank you for your time and consideration."</p></li>
<li><p>Go home and relax. If you have prepared well, practiced, and presented who you are, then you have done the best you can do. The rest will be determined, and it is out of your control at this point. All the worrying, second-guessing, coulda-shoulda-woulda's aren't worth your time and energy, so forgetaboutit. Get back into your studies- you still have the rest of senior year to complete, and grades are important up to that very last quiz/test/paper/final in June. Don't mess up with the finish line in front of you.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>The last tidbit is for parents. Parents, please give your candidate few minutes to catch their breath in the car on the ride home. Let the information as to "how did things go" flow from them. Now is not the time to have them recite back every question and every word of their answers to you. It is done. What will be will be. It is no more in your control as it is in your kid's. Don't be a monday-morning-quarterback. Instead, do something that will benefit your candidate- stop for a drink on the way home (they have been talking for awhile and no doubt would welcome something wet). Give them space. Congratulate them on getting another part of the process behind them. </p>

<p>Best of luck to everyone. Be yourself. If you have what the academy wants/needs/desires, trust that they will find you. The system does work. Have faith. Remember, they are already interested in you, otherwise you would not be getting this opportunity to begin with. Carpe diem!</p>

10

<p>Really great advice. Most of it works for BGO interviews as well. </p>

<p>A couple of other thoughts: </p>

<p>(1) Remove the piercings (the rings that is), other than one small stud in each ear for women.</p>

<p>(2) Realize that the person interviewing you may not be familiar w/USNA. When I did this years ago, it wasn't uncommon for the head of our group to ask for last-minute help with interviews for USMA and USAFA. </p>

<p>(3) Don't badmouth the other SAs. See point (2) above. Even without that, there is a respect that SA grads and families have for the other academies. I may think USNA is "best," but I fully understand why a WOOP thinks USMA is "best," etc. </p>

<p>(4) If something has been added to your resume since you submitted your packet (i.e., won some award, made a team, etc.), bring several clean copies of the updated resume on bond paper. I would bring (in a portfolio) a copy of everything you submitted to the MOC.</p>

<p>And, finally and most importantly, as Zaphod said:</p>

<p>(5) Tell only the TRUTH, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Be proud of your accomplishments but don't embellish. For example, don't say "I organized the charity run" when the only thing you did was hand out water cups to the runners. OTOH, if you were in charge of recruiting volunteers, setting up support stations, getting a sponsor to donate water, etc., don't simply say, "I handed out water cups at a race."</p>

11

<p>Wow- these are great helps from Z and Navy2010 and dknight...</p>

<p>I will add one thing.</p>

<p>On the subject of whether or not to wear a uniform...This will vary so you might check it out. My daughter was a Cadet Officer in Civil Air Patrol and had a very sharp uniform. However - having been in touch with the Congressman's office for 4 years, we knew the lady in charge on the Nomination process fairly well. It was in March of my daughter's junior year that we were at a "Service Academy night" in our County and this lady was there. I asked her this specific question about what to wear to the nomination interview. I asked her if it helped or hindered the person to wear their uniform. She replied that they prefer the young people to NOT wear their JROTC, or CAP, etc. uniforms - but to come in nice civilian clothes. She said the Board wants to see the person, not the uniform. I didn't ask her if it was a negative if someone did - but with that information my daughter went in her smart 'business suit' attire for the interview. </p>

<p>So once again - we see there is variety in this process depending on the Congressman's preferences.</p>

<p>God speed and Good luck to all of you in this thick of this part of the USNA application process!!!!</p>

12

<p>Practice before interviewing in front of any selecton panel. You should arrange one or more mock interviews and make sure that the person who conducts them asks the types of questions that a congressional panel would ask.</p>

<p>Questions:</p>

<p>• What do you know about the Honor Concept? Could you turn in your best friend if he/she were caught cheating?</p>

<p>• What are you best and worse characteristics?</p>

<p>• Describe your experiences with part time employment.</p>

<p>• What is leadership and what makes you think you can be a leader?</p>

<p>• What sparked your interest in the Naval Academy?</p>

<p>• Tell us what you think of the situation in Iraq.</p>

<p>• How are you going to handle pressure at the academy?</p>

<p>• What is your plan if you do not receive an appointment to Annapolis?</p>

<p>• What are your short-term and long-term career aspirations?</p>

<p>• Why do you feel you are qualified for a service academy?</p>

<p>• Why do you want to be commissioned as an officer in the nation's military?</p>

<p>• Why do you want to atend the Naval Academy?</p>

<p>• How are you preparing physically for the academy?</p>

<p>• Which person do you admire the most or which person would you most like to be and why?</p>

<p>• Explain how you have handled failure in your life.</p>

<p>• What books have you read lately?</p>

<p>• What volunteer work have you done in your school or community?</p>

<p>• What do you have to offer the Naval Academy?</p>

13

<p>^^^^ what great questions GA...right on the money! Would add in 5 more for the BGO interview: </p>

<p>-have you attended NASS? if not, why?</p>

<p>-have you visited the yard? if not, why?</p>

<p>-have you applied for NRTOC? if not, why?</p>

<p>-how much is this your idea, and how much is it your parent's?</p>

<p>-will you apply again if you do not get in this year?</p>

14

<p>Keep going guys n gals. I'm taking notes and plan to make my fortune publishing this collective wisdom. This nomination interviewing primer promises to be a best seller. </p>

<p>Great stuff! ;) :D</p>

15

<p>Three Interviews – Three different types of Experiences</p>

<p>Round Table – Very relaxed atmosphere. More discussion based with all members of the interview committee participating in the discussion. Each question lead to a discussion about the topic of the question. They even wanted topics started by son.</p>

<p>Panel where son sat in front of three people who fired questions at him. He had been informed about this style from a friend of a former panel member and was told one of the most important feature they were looking for was the ability to think very quickly and be able to formulate thoughts as you spoke – Debate and Model UN paid off.</p>

<p>Formal Round table where questions were asked but no discussion took place. Said was not as intense as the panel stlye.</p>

<p>Son said that at no time did any panel member at any of the three interviews ask questions where political views were being asked or needed to be stated. At no time was there any discussion about his views on Iraq. </p>

<p>Was asked why he was not applying to any other SA’s or any ROTC programs. That was a subject that he had spent a lot of time deciding so he was prepared to answer.</p>

<p>Was asked about long term and short term goals as they related to a career. Was never asked if he planed on making the Military a career.</p>

<p>What impressed my son was that many of the questions were phrased in a manner that he said that he could not tell “what the right answer was” but done so they wanted “his answer” This also seemed to be a topic of discussion amongst the candidates as they left the interview, that they couldn’t tell “what they were looking for!”</p>

<p>One of the interviews he even tried to decline. The MOC had scheduled it on the day the State Cross Country Championships and in the letter made it clear that the time and date were “non-negotiable.” He decided to call and try to get it changed with explaining his situation but had decided to go ahead and decline the interview if they would not change his time. The “staffer” promptly told him that it was time to put high school behind him and look out for his own interests rather than the interests of his high school and 6 other team members! Of which he replied that as Team Captain he was not going to let his team down after all of the hard work they had put in and that he would have to respectfully decline the interview. He was called later in the day with a change of time! </p>

<p>Son never “worked” the MOC’s offices. The first they ever met son was when he went for the interviews. He went 2 for 3 nominations and was "principal" nominee for one MOC.</p>

16

<p>One other thing.....</p>

<p>Don't kick back and put your feet on the interviewer's desk. Not good form. ;)</p>

<p>Thread was getting just a bit too serious. :D</p>

<p>
[quote]
Tell us what you think of the situation in Iraq.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>ANSWER CAREFULLY. Remember, while it is completely understood that you have every right to have a personal opinion (whatever it is) if you answer from the point of view of politics rather than as a future military officer, you are gambling with your nomination. No one wants an officer who might be a liability because of politics. Like it or not, when you put the uniform on and take the oath, you swear to follow orders. Period. No one gives a damn what your opinion is when it comes to your job. I didn't want to go to Haiti and thought it was a complete waste of time and treasure, but when ordered to go, I packed up and went. Welcome to the military.</p>

<p>Everyone here knows what I think politically. With that in mind, consider this: if I were asked the question, "What would you differently in Iraq?", I would answer, "You know, sir, I'm not entirely sure. There are scores of officers and diplomats with many, many years of experience making these decisions, and we all know what a difficult time they are having. Sure, I have some thoughts, but I recognize that I don't have the expertise or credibility to offer them as legitimate solutions yet. That's why I want to go to the Naval Academy; to begin developing that expertise and credibility so that when the time comes for me to have to MAKE such decisions, rather than just TALK about them, I'll be ready. That is my focus right now."</p>

<p>You have completely flipped the tables on them, AND put in a plug for why you want the nomination and the appointment. :D</p>

<p>Don't let the internet persona fool you. I can be quite the diplomat when I need to be. ;)</p>

17

<p>
[quote]
"You know, sir, I'm not entirely sure. There are scores of officers and diplomats with many, many years of experience making these decisions, and we all know what a difficult time they are having. Sure, I have some thoughts, but I recognize that I don't have the expertise or credibility to offer them as legitimate solutions yet. That's why I want to go to the Naval Academy; to begin developing that expertise and credibility so that when the time comes for me to have to MAKE such decisions, rather than just TALK about them, I'll be ready. That is my focus right now."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Z-man, are you sure you weren't a bull major? :D</p>

18

<p>GA ... He's most definitely a BS and Ph.D. cum laude graduate of the School of Hard Knocks and Knocking!</p>

<p>Ph.D = Piled higher and Deeper</p>

<p>Go Z-Man!</p>

19

<p>A couple more tips: if you are going for a panel intereview, be sure to make eye contact briefly with each person on the panel during every question. If you just answer the person who asked the question, it gives the other panelists too much time to critique you. Imagine you are driving and looking in your rear and side view mirrors; don't stare at any one person. </p>

<p>Do NOT wear perfume or cologne. You never know who might be allergic.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

20

<p>Our B&GO told the tale of the fellow that greeted him: Hey Dude!</p>