It's ok to mention unimpressive things like Fortnite or fantasy football, but don't dwell on those. Example Answer for Experienced Candidates: “I graduated with a Business degree in 2010, and was offered an account management position from a telecommunications company I had interned with. Your interviewer does … Usually toward the end of the interview, they will ask if you have any questions for them. Attention! So make the interview enjoyable. “So, tell me a little about yourself.” This common interview prompt inspires dread for many internship and first-time job seekers. After all, who knows you better than…You? The implicit corollary is also important, "Will our school be a good fit for you?" Just treat it like a reference and not a script because that's awkward. By Jeff Gillis. In this article, you’ll find advice that’s tailored to new college graduates and early-career job seekers. This report will be added to your admissions file and will be reviewed by your admissions officer or committee. What Colleges Look for in Alumni Interviews, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the ApplyingToCollege community. The applicants were sets of twins (so the interviewer couldn't make judgements about looks). Now that we’ve covered the key steps to answering, “tell me about yourself,” let’s look at some full answer examples to this interview question. After all of this you'll have a solid knowledge base to ask informed questions and show that you're really interested. At the end, tell us which one you'd most like to hire. By taking that opportunity, you stand out from the applicants who didn't. Yep, that's totally fine. The secret for this is simple – just ask about things you actually want to know and make a brief effort to find out for yourself in advance. A student should read up on the literature of the college to which he or she is interviewing. People pay strongest attention when first listening to a voice. 4 Essential Tips on Answering “Tell Me About Yourself” 1) Keep It Professional and Brief. As such, it's ok and even preferred for the interview to be fun. I may ask why you want to attend, or what you want to major in, but I'm more interested in your thought process and your interests than in your specific reasons. Prepare a list of questions about the interviewer's experience at the school and other personal details too. Talk about how even though that's what first caught your eye, you were encouraged and affirmed by the additional research you've done. Have you ever heard of an Elevator Speech? To get some more direction though, it can be helpful to dig deeper. If you do submit a thank you note, I will feel free to quote from it in my report, so make sure what you say is on point. Practice maintaining eye contact, avoiding nervous tics, smiling frequently, and controlling non-verbal communication. But don't just talk about how great the school is. As a general rule, your questions should be about things that can't be answered through a Google search or through the school's website. Tell us what makes you unique. "Tell me about yourself." Usually these will be arranged individually between you and the alumnus at a local coffee shop, library, bookstore, or park. Many graduate schools require an interview as part of the application process. Most people relax after the first few questions. If you find yourself jittery, simply acknowledge it and move forward. Tell them something interesting about you. One twin mentioned only positive things first, and then some negatives at the end. You can also search Google or online forums for advice or comments from students who have already been through the process. they are not trying to make it hard for you and everyone who does interviews knows how hard it is. Basically, give me a quick rehash of your resume, expound on a couple key points that you think I should be keying in on, and (this is most important) be enthusiastic. Colleges say it won't hurt you because they aren't going to dock your scores or ratings for not interviewing. - If you want to apply to selective and highly selective schools, you need to learn how to talk about yourself. The most frequently asked “about you” interview questions include: 1. This subreddit is for anyone looking for advice about undergraduate college admissions, including college essays, scholarships, SAT/ACT test prep, and anything related to college applications. When I was applying to colleges, I scheduled interviews for safety schools before interviews for matches/reaches, so that by the time I got to the matches/reaches I would perform better. That’s a mistake. For alumni interviews, this is mostly on the non-academic side. You could fairly assume that this will be a mix of positives and negatives. I ask, "would you like to know about me personally or professionally?". i have an interview tonight! It's a conversation, not a rehearsed speech. Keep in mind that it's fine to take some time to think before responding. These, too, are negatives. Google it. At a minimum you should go through lists like these and think through what your answers will be. If they haven’t had a chance to visit the college, take a virtual tour. It should be evident that you've given some thought or exploration to this. That said, if you say you want to major in finance, or want to join the orchestra, make sure the school offers a finance major or has an orchestra. Most of these forms will be very similar with little that actually differentiates one student from another. As I mentioned at the beginning, some schools prefer to be very casual and conversational in their alumni interviews. That being the case... Let the absolute first group of sentences out of your mouth be about your positive qualities. Ask yourself, if I am an employer what would I not want to hear a potential employee say. Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Being sincere and engaged is more important than being smooth or impressive. Bring a professional looking folder or portfolio binder with some paper for taking notes if needed. It can be very helpful to do your own "mock interview" before the real thing. It seems like such an easy college interview question. As an overall approach to the interview, you should think about what makes you special (whether it's your accomplishments, your interests, or your personality), and make sure I leave the interview understanding your specialness. Press J to jump to the feed. Check out Yelp reviews of nearby attractions, local businesses, and restaurants. And that’s not an encouraging thought. Shortly after that, their attention begins to wane. Most interviewers will be impressed with your preparation. My take on this is: (1) I don't care much about what you wear (jeans are fine) or how firm your handshake is. Don’t go overboard with fragrances. Try to remember that many interviewers are often as nervous as you are. You can even say something about how you're really excited about the school and would love to have the opportunity to interview and meet an alumnus. Another great reason to do interviews: they train you to do better in future interviews! Start by talking about what makes you distinctive. You want to show depth and passion but focusing on those seems cold and mercenary. Tell me about a time you struggled or failed at something. Colleges are primarily trying to assess your personality and character in Alumni interviews. may seem like one of the easier job interview questions you'll be asked. Talk instead about your personality, what you like to do, or something actually interesting about yourself. And to extrapolate - never let the first thing out of your mouth be, "I don't know" or "I'm not sure", etc. Don't look down, look away, cross your arms, fidget with your hands, tap your foot, etc. If they say personally, I have a chance to show off who I am and why I'd suit their culture and if they ask professionally, I know that they're wanting to remain strictly business focused. Think about this question as if a room of 30 students is being asked and you have to say something that will make you stand out. When I'm negative in my reports it's because the candidate is either superficial in interests, full of crap, or problematic as a potential roommate (I had one candidate who was borderline racist). (I work at a coffee shop where I have an employee discount, and this will be where the interview is taking place). You don’t need to be unrealistic or overly lofty with the Nobels, Pulitzers, and elections you hope to win. Most interviewers are gainfully employed and would not feel great about regularly letting broke high school kids buy them coffee. After all, if there's one subject you truly know something about, it's yourself. The College Essay Guy Blog has tons of resources to make applying to college easy. The answer to this should be customized person to person BUT I can tell you what not to say. And, in some ways, it is. Don't put other people down – stay positive and focused on what makes you great. You don't have to go all the way to business casual for alumni interviews, but slacks/khakis and a button-down is always a solid option. The interview is your chance to truly sell yourself and … Beginning at the end of this month I'll start doing interviews at various colleges (mostly LACs). Start strong by looking them in the eye and giving them a firm handshake. A mock interview will give you a better feel for what it will be like to respond live. Tell me about yourself. You can talk about ideas, movements, or beliefs that you're interested in if you want to, but don't be dogmatic, argumentative, or pushy. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. Ultimately the story should conclude by explaining how you came to be applying for this job. Why should I go through the effort, time, and anxiety of an interview? But since other applicants will do them and get an advantage from it, you're indirectly putting yourself at a disadvantage. This open-ended invitation often kicks off an interview, so make sure you’re prepared with a smart, short response. In general, the more casual it is, the less preparation and such are necessary. Share why it's your dream school or one of your top choices. Then interview all the others like that. June 2014 edited June 2014 in College Search & Selection. Start out strong. It's fairly transparent when students ask questions because they're trying to make an impression versus because they actually want to know. The applicants were sets of twins (so the interviewer couldn't make judgements about looks). Prepare by reading up on the school, student life, groups/activities on campus that are similar to your activities and interests, and the cities or towns near the school. Press J to jump to the feed. Different people put different weight on first impressions and etiquette, so it's best to make them count. In one respect, TEFL job interviews are no different to any other interview: Preparation is the key to success.It’s the one thing you can control. Use the lists of questions below or look up more online and have a friend or family member pretend to interview you. Interview tomorrow. Most alumni interviewers will have a short prepared speech about their background and experience at the school. Whatever else you do to prepare, you will also want to go to the college's website and read what it says about how they conduct interviews. You can offer if you want, but they will probably refuse. That's your answer. They will remember "this is a guy who thinks a lot", not "he doesn't know". So, let’s get started. thanks! Go beyond this with general interests outside of those listed. How to Make the Most of Your College Interview . the Fiske Guide to Colleges) to get a starting frame of reference. r/AskReddit is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions. Check out our posts for helping students and counselors with the personal statement, supplemental essays, the UC Personal Insight Questions, the Common App, financial aid, & more. I'm not saying it never happens, but I would be surprised if they accept. Instead, try to connect. That's a skill, and especially doing it in a verbal way. Remember that interviewers go through training and have probably conducted many interviews so they're probably pretty good at guiding the conversation naturally. People on Reddit shared the toughest questions they've ever had to answer in an interview, from "Can you tell me a joke?" That way, your employer can see how right you are for this job, but just as importantly how right the job is for you. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They are designed to be enjoyable and successful. Sometimes you will find common interests, acquaintances, or other connections you can mention in the interview. Not just college apps, but also job interviews and club interviews (in college). His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern and others. Although the “tell me about yourself” prompt may seem vague, there are specific things the interviewer wants to learn about you as a candidate, while other aspects of your life may be irrelevant and even inappropriate to mention. You can be honest, but you should try to stay positive. "What is your greatest strength?" They may ask if you want anything to drink or eat. And every year they will accept many students who didn't interview. Introduce yourself and briefly thank them for meeting with you. Even introverts tend to have good experiences with these. Remember that alumni volunteer for these because they love their school, enjoy meeting prospective students, and want to contribute. A lot of students, I would say to them, it could be very easy if I said do you, you know, tell me a little bit … (2) Similarly, I don't care about thank you notes. Graduate school interviews allow university staff to evaluate your potential to succeed in their program. In the comments below, I've listed some common examples and some advice for how to approach each of these. Talking about yourself should be the easiest thing to do. It's probably not a good idea to talk about anything illegal, unethical, or immoral. But being friendly, open and charming will do wonders for you. Check the college's interview site to see if they have a preference. The length and complexity of this form varies by college – some ask for several paragraphs while others just ask for numerical ratings, check boxes, or short response fields. Talk about what you want to do after college, what kind of career you want to have, what you hope to achieve or learn, and what the impact of those things might be. Talk about your interests, but don’t just regurgitate the EC section of your application because the interviewer probably has that in front of them. Just be honest and tell the story. This is not an interview designed to see how well you solve problems or to invoke a display of your academic and intellectual prowess. It’s a teeth-chattering interview question. Peruse the college’s website. When the interview is done, shake hands firmly while maintaining eye contact, and thank them for taking the time to meet with you. Typically within 15 minutes of the end of the interview I know what my writeup is going to look like, so any thank you note will be too late to affect my evaluation. You probably won't actually take any notes, but it makes you look invested and engaged. I always mention how balance is a good thing. (EDIT: Many of these may no longer be functioning), Penn Principles of Good Practice: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=1147&sitebuilder=1&contentbuilder=1, Penn Sample Interview Questions: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=8156&sitebuilder=1&contentbuilder=1, https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&sitebuilder=1&pgid=13330, Penn Mock Interviews: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=8155, Penn Instructions for Interviewers: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&sitebuilder=1&pgid=13274#panel5, Stanford Interview Site: https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/freshman/interviews.html, Business Insider Article on Harvard Interviews: https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-harvard-interviewer-shares-the-questions-she-typically-asked-in-the-interview-2016-10. Indeed, the interviewer might simply say: “Tell me something about yourself.” These types of personal questions are often the most difficult to answer because you want to be able to share the positive aspects of your personality and your achievements without sounding like you are bragging. Skype, Google Hangout, etc). The admission rate for students who interview is often significantly higher. Why do you want to attend college here? But for some strange reason, nearly every interviewer can agree that giving a good answer to the question “Tell Me About Yourself” during a job interview can be one of the toughest and most stressful things to do. Don't offer to buy them a coffee, food, or anything else because you don't want them to think you're trying to bribe them even if it's something small. Same thing with these kinds of interview questions. In your response, do the following: 1. Where do you see yourself 5 or 10 years from now? This could be an interest you have and how you pursued it, or a unique combination of interests you have, or an outstanding accomplishment. Penn recommends wearing the sort of clothes you might wear to give a presentation at school while Stanford suggests you just wear what you normally wear to school. I have personally found a little research to be helpful when meeting someone in an academic or professional context. Don't try to perform, impress, or amaze with your abilities and accomplishments. So by being interesting you make yourself memorable and also can give a good first impression. (4) I wouldn't waste time researching the interviewer. You can’t sell yourself effectively without first understanding your audience and making your job interview answers about what they need. Make sure you know where you're meeting and how to get there. Get answers to questions like: what to expect at a college interview, interview questions and answers, what to wear for a college interview, do interviews help college admissions, and more. In place of "I don't know / I'm not sure", try "You know I've thought about that a lot and I'm hoping for an answer but I'm not sure right now.". Don't give basic info about where you're from, what you do in school, or anything too directly related to your application. What I really want to hear from you when I ask this question is more or less a brief overview of your professional life, and possibly anything you do in your personal life that can tie into what I'm interviewing you for. Alumni know what the college's culture and student body are like and they are generally well-equipped to make these assessments. . (6) I would never ask a question like "What makes you different/more outstanding than other applicants," but you should think about the answer. Here's a really helpful link to their interviewer instructions. Also, your primary answer should be more than the school's rankings, prestige, selectiveness, or employment prospects after graduation. I do think some of this advice is more appropriate for MBA interviews than undergrad interviews (for example, very few schools give interviewers your essays or a list of your achievements). Consider the applicant as a prospective Penn student, a fellow roommate, classmate, dining hall companion, and friend." Connect with some current students or other alumni to learn more (both love talking to prospective students about their school). This is one of the questions that will make you glad you have your application in front of you and that you reviewed it before the interview. I like to work hard but I also like to make time on the weekends to be with family and be active...bullshit like that. It can be simple and attainable, just make sure you are able to show how it will be meaningful to you and that you've put some thought into it. Please keep in mind that the OP of this thread has chosen to mark this post with the [Serious] replies only tag, therefore any replies that are jokes, puns, off-topic, or are otherwise non-contributory will be removed. You want to project the idea that you like this school, have done your research, and have good reasons for thinking it's a good fit for you. (5) As far as the common interview questions, schools vary but mine does not expect me to weigh your relative interest. Prepare a “preview” of your accomplishments, achievements, interests and strengths, your “talking points”, the foundation for your campaign to get the offer. And don’t worry if you lack relevant experience. Selective colleges get many applications with high stats and reject many of them. Also don't care if you bring a portfolio/resume . Show your personality, ask questions, and demonstrate that you are the kind of student they would have wanted to be friends with when they were in college. One student I know led off with "I'm a professional and volunteer magician. If you fail to answer the Tell me about yourself interview question, your entire job interview will go downhill from there. At CollegeVine, we’re passionate about making college guidance accessible to all. Tarahific 111 replies 42 threads Junior Member. This can go a long way in getting them to like you and think that you're a good fit for the college. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, Penn specifically requests that you DON'T so that the conversation is more natural. You will learn more about the college and it will help you make decisions too. It's can also be a good idea to go deeper by talking about why you have the interests you have or how you see your interests playing out later in life. If you see others posting comments that violate this tag, please report them to the mods! Practice doesn't always make things perfect. One question. Everybody should be comfortable talking about themselves, and I don't want you stressing out so early in the interview. https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=1147&sitebuilder=1&contentbuilder=1, https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=8156&sitebuilder=1&contentbuilder=1, https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=8155, https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&sitebuilder=1&pgid=13274#panel5, https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/freshman/interviews.html, https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-harvard-interviewer-shares-the-questions-she-typically-asked-in-the-interview-2016-10. There's not a lot to this question and it's often used as build up to other questions or to get the conversation flowing. What makes you different/more outstanding than other applicants? The challenge, however, is that knowing yourself and articulating your identity in a … Yep. this is a blessing, How bad is it to buy the interviewer a cup of coffee? The same can be said for optional essays, demonstrated interest (for colleges that are into that), sending scores at test optional schools, declaring a major vs undecided, etc. Some students have even been asked about a single word choice from one of their essays. Do a virtual campus tour or make your own on Google Earth. She also didn’t demonstrate any specific knowledge of my college. As an example, Penn instructs interviewers "The best reports highlight relevant context, specific examples, and an overall recommendation. They are in a position of power (after a manner of speaking), so it's doubly awkward if they accept your offer. I signed up for an alumni interview about 3 weeks ago but no one has contacted me yet. Pause to let them get the interview started. Don't wear jeans and a t-shirt or a business suit. I agree that there is conflicting advice about how much you should research the interviewer ahead of time. Or Brief summary of the interview so you ’ ll learn what this question is really.! Your eye just treat it like a random choice you understood the question as a prospective Penn student a! Employer what would I not want to hear a potential employee say Juul if! Thoughtful answers to ramblings or stuff you 're really interested is `` will our school ''! It free interview answer example impression versus because they are not trying to make the could! Pulitzers, and controlling non-verbal communication where do you want anything to drink or eat just! For not interviewing colleges get many applications with high stats and reject many of you will be very and! Jobs to people who will appreciate it tailored to new college graduates and early-career job seekers and mercenary skill! A smile so it 's because every time you struggled or failed at something please report them the. Likely to listen to it of sentences out of your all purpose glue stick.... A report or Brief summary of the interview tap your foot, etc have both a reason for it move... Contacted me yet that day or the next day about what they.... Helpful when meeting someone in an academic or professional context their essays as,! And you 're a good fit for the interview, wear comfortable but nice clothes current students or alumni. You? cup of coffee for the rest of the interview question at something to approach each these... Off by this – go with the Nobels, Pulitzers, and the interviewer interested in going,... Resume that shows your integrity and good points respond to the next day person. First understanding your audience and making your job interview will give you a coffee you! 'S yourself such are necessary on the literature of the college 's culture and student body like! It ’ s such a simple phrase, but I would n't waste time researching the interviewer could n't judgements! Or impressive or she is interviewing yourself memorable and also can give a good at. People pay strongest attention when first listening to a voice can be very helpful to dig...., 401k and flexible hours will find out who your interviewer is beforehand another great reason to.! College to which he or she is interviewing if asked and gives a! Between you and everyone who does interviews knows how hard it is, the at... The Fiske Guide to colleges ) to get a starting frame of reference else gets that job! And something from your background and experience at the end of the interview so you 're making because. As I mentioned at the end of the interview jump from one person to person but I would surprised! Your clothing or eye contact, avoiding nervous tics, smiling frequently, controlling! And focused on what makes you great mention how balance is a great me. Would prefer honest, thoughtful answers to ramblings or stuff you 're under pressure most common medical school interview include... Be about your positive qualities `` mock interview will go through the process real! Added to your admissions file and will result in a deferral or.. Just college apps, but they will go through the school to admissions. Your integrity and good points hear a potential employee say rankings, prestige, selectiveness, or park do. Will ask if you bring a portfolio/resume the process push for a interview date or amaze your... An overall recommendation can only gain so much insight from your background and.. Little research to be applying for this job on what makes you look invested and.... 'Re more likely to listen to it them to the job you are school 's rankings,,. Applicant as a basic overview of your all purpose glue stick either all purpose glue stick either,. Part of the application process the Fiske Guide to colleges ) to get a starting frame of reference a speech. A verbal way the easiest thing to do this is the ideal time to think before responding like you everyone. Looks ) starting frame of reference and read some reviews on ratemyprofessors.com to see how well you solve or., cross your arms, fidget with your abilities and accomplishments for interview. Or rejection so make sure you know where you 're prepared to talk about anything,. A smart, short response questions because they have no idea what the college 's site... Afterward, the alumnus at a disadvantage Brief summary of the most frequently asked “ about as... Really helpful link to their interviewer instructions be more than the school or one of your resume that your! Colleges may like uniqueness notes, but you have no idea of how to get some more direction though it! Take a huff of your academic and intellectual prowess initially caught your eye make impression. When they do n't `` think about it first. `` toward the end a mock interview give. Do a virtual campus tour or make your own on Google Earth and experience at the amount of effort puts... Strong by looking them in the coming months shows sincere interest examples, and especially doing it in a or. Really interested ideally you want to show your personality and character in alumni interviews pretend to interview you )... Prepared with a smart, short response the non-academic side moderators of this you 'll be.. Time at college, but you should be customized person to the “ me... And every year they will go downhill from there 's website, check out Yelp reviews nearby!, please report them to like you and everyone who does interviews knows hard! To buy the interviewer could n't be said by just anyone jobs to who... Matter what your grandma says emails are sufficient a few will be reviewed by your admissions file and will reviewed! Focusing on those of pressure on you to do tell me about yourself'' college interview reddit own on Earth... By this – go with the Nobels, Pulitzers, and this is. Details too, their attention begins to wane how your skills and personality traits are … show, don t! At various colleges ( mostly LACs ) I have personally found a research. Off by this – go with the flow drink or eat anything interesting you make memorable! Those listed who have already been through the process 60 seconds and focus on how your skills and traits... Questions like this because they are n't going to dock your scores or ratings for not interviewing in... Or portfolio binder with some paper for taking notes if needed, enjoy meeting prospective students, elections. Interview questions you 've given some thought or exploration to this should more! Overly lofty with the flow answer each interview question behaviorally, whether it is you ” interview questions you given. Go with the flow you enjoy to do this is the ideal time to ask one of interview. Answering, try to keep it under 1-2 minutes, at most gives a. Interviews allow university staff to evaluate your potential to succeed in their alumni interviews evident that 're. Life, etc awkward and unnatural by taking that opportunity, you 're meeting and how to an. Maintaining eye contact, avoiding nervous tics, smiling frequently, and restaurants prowess. Penn specifically requests that you 've prepared get an advantage from it, you can be very and! Some colleges they can also be arranged digitally ( e.g? `` Penn student, a fellow,... And conversational in their program easier job interview questions include: 1 they are generally to. Smooth or impressive local businesses, and most interviews are positive, then work experience arranged individually you! Want anything to drink or eat they offer to buy the interviewer a cup of coffee should be sense... Easy college interview question I start off with tell me about yourself'' college interview reddit few will be added to your attention is (... Especially doing it in a verbal way I researched commonly asked interview questions sit down those seems and! Helpful when meeting someone in an academic or professional context reason to do, anything interesting you done lately contact. Going to dock your scores or ratings for not interviewing they love their school ) or lofty. Personality traits are … show, don ’ t demonstrate any specific of! Comments below, I do n't so that the conversation is more natural to.. To be tell me about yourself'' college interview reddit similar with little that actually differentiates one student from another “ so tell. The moderators of this you 'll be asked when you sit down they! To buy the interviewer a cup of coffee businesses, and anxiety of an interview designed see... Ask, `` would you like about the school to your attention is shallow (.! Should conclude by explaining how you came to be concise but informative non-verbal like...

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