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We're putting together our list of interview questions for the 2015 season, and I wanted to briefly offer some advice to prospective job seekers. If you're planning on applying to camp this summer as a brand new employee then this information might be especially helpful.
Before the interview
1) Get some information about us from our website, blog, and your friends. You should expect to field questions about what you think the summer camp experience is all about.
2) Fill out an application. We don't require an application when we're interviewing on college campuses in the winter, but otherwise you are required to complete the application before interviewing for a position.
During the interview
1) Be on time.
We usually schedule interviews in blocks of time. Being late may push your interview time into the next scheduled appointment.
2) Avoid swearing.
<Insert explanation?>
3) Avoid comments that communicate your state-of-mind. Such as:
I'm very nervous right now;
I feel sick;
I'm scared.
We don't want to pepper someone with questions when they tell us that their feeling bad. If you're not feeling well please feel free to reschedule your interview for when you're feeling better. If you're nervous, that's perfectly normal for this type of situation.
When you tell the interviewer how you feel, you're priming them to accept any shortcomings in your responses as 'not the real' you. However, we already know about the stress that comes with an in-person interview and we account for that when we measure responses.
4) Be careful not to be long-winded or too brief when answering a question.
Naturally, during an interview conversation it can be easy to get sidetracked. However, sometimes people make the mistake of talking at great length and forgetting the original question. Watch out. We've also had applicants who answer a question with a single word, noise, or shrug. These types of verbal shorthand have a place in the world, but a job interview is still a proving ground for potential employees.
5) Ask questions after the interview is over.
We allow every applicant to ask questions after each interview. By asking the right questions you can show your interest in the job and/or highlight some things about yourself that we didn't ask you about in the interview.
After the interview
1) Feel free to follow up with us after your interview and check on your employment status. We have a three-tiered process and we often don't extended employment offers without references for new workers. We are able to tell you with just one phone call who has or hasn't submitted references on your behalf.
2) If you're over 18, don't get your parents, pastor, or family member who works for the denomination involved in the employment process. It could be perceived as unprofessional by the hiring team.
I feel like most (if not all) of our most appealing applicants follow these tips by instinct, practice, or because they've learned how to interview for a job from someone else (or via the internet).
Blessings,
