If you read my previous post, you’ll know that I was attending an interview to be a coordinator for the SLC. I’m not really sure how well I did relative to the other interviewees, but I can offer some insight on what one can do to make a better impression. Mind you, this is all based on my own experience so take everything with a grain of salt and a cherry on top what.
At the beginning of the interview session, the mass of interviewees was split into three groups. My group was the largest, consisting of eight girls.
How to dress
I emailed the exiting Human Resources Director, who was our contact during the process, and she said the general expectation was ‘business casual’. I don’t think there are any set rules about what that means.
In this scenario, I think it was okay to go a little bit trendier, especially if you were applying to a more creative position. There was a lot of variety in attire, ranging from plaid ‘n’ jeans to a more conservative blazer and skirt combo, with lots of artsy, stylish get-ups in between. While my outfit was a little boring, I’m glad I wore dressier pants because I think I would’ve felt a little uncomfortable in jeans.
The Individual Interview
A staff advisor—a staff member that works with and supports the SLC committee members, interviewed me. She was nice, but I couldn’t help feeling intimidated. I’m not particularly experience with interviews :S
Make sure you know your stuff before going in to your interview. You’ll leave a bad impression if you can’t describe what role you hope to fill in the organization. My interviewer asked me to elaborate on what I would do if I was an x coordinator, and I totally fumbled it and drew a blank. I felt really bad because I was just looking over the information on the website before the interview—but I didn’t have it committed to memory.
The Group Discussion
Basically, the interviewer threw out a possible scenario and we had to discuss possible solutions. The un-fun part was that people kept trying to edge each other out during the discussion, because everyone wanted to be heard and stand out. There wasn’t really any butting heads, so to speak, but there was definitely an air of competition. I was mostly struggling to come up with new ideas to add, because I didn’t want to repeat what other people were saying. So I focused on listening instead of trying to dominate the discussion.
The Problem-Solving Game
I’m not really sure if I should be talking about the specifics of the game, so I won’t. It’s kind of difficult to explain, anyways.
What I will comment on is that I’m glad that my group got this station last, as it was the least stressful situation, and we all had fun. The main thing the interviewer was looking for here was logic and cooperation skills. Tip for this section: if you have an idea, don’t be afraid to speak up!
Although I’m a bit doubtful that I’ll get offered a position, going through this interview process was definitely a good experience. One thing I regret is not asking more questions about the interviewers themselves and about their roles regarding the SLC. It would’ve helped me understand the organization more, even if I don’t get the job.
I hope you found this helpful! 🙂
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