Here are some helpful tips on how to be successful in an interview setting.
“I want the hungry one that will be flexible and able to find solutions in a tough competitive environment.”
Process
First Round - Screening mechanism with softball questions
Skill sets and accomplishments handled here
Second Round - More in-depth questions specific to role and company
Fit with organization and knowledge of industry
The Basics
Dress nice
Arrive 10-15 minutes early
Bring a padfolio and a pen
Have questions prepared but also be real not scripted
What is the greatest growth opportunity if I was offered and accepted this role?
What are the commonalities you have found among people who have sustained excellence over an extended period of time in this role?
What does the ideal candidate look like at “company x”?
How does the company evaluate feedback and performance?
What opportunities exist for learning new skills and professional development?
Have a PowerPoint or Portfolio (if needed)
Make sure you know your material and not reading straight from it
People will come to a conclusion with your presentation by slide two
Make sure you spent at least an hour researching this company
Practice a firm handshake with direct eye contact and say the interviewer’s name
Humble and kind
Be a good listener
Smile and speak with passion
Communicate clearly and succinctly
Be yourself and be sincere
Take notes and have a sense of humor
Show your energy and ability to be a great teammate
Remain curious and thoughtful
Try to display empathy, ability to be self-aware and integrity
Don’t be a know it all
Be willing to admit you’ve been wrong and made mistakes
You should be interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you
ALWAYS SEND A FOLLOW-UP - Handwritten note OR a personalized email with specific details in meeting them
What hiring personnel are thinking of…
Are you competent to do the job that we are filling?
Do your core values match-up with the company?
What experiences formed your character early in life?
What irritates you the most?
Can you listen intently?
Do you credit others for helping you where you are today?
Can you successfully work with others?
How can you help others?
What adversity or failure have you overcome in your personal or professional life?
Have you learned from your mistakes?
Do you embrace new ideas?
Can they pivot and be athletic?
Do they have a creative mindset and are tech savvy?
How do you treat service workers and interact with those at the front desk?
Can you keep up walking fast and think on your feet?
I am currently having a problem with “x”, what are your ideas to help fix this situation?
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Would you be someone thinking they are above taking out the garbage and cleaning the bathroom?
Does your car or outside of your house look like a mess?
Are you able to hold a relationship?
The Softballs - Standard
Tell me about your life from birth until now.
What did your parents do for work?
What are the qualities you like least and most like in your parents?
How do you stay connected to people in your life outside of your immediate family?
What are your hobbies?
What is the motivating factor in applying for this?
What do you enjoy about your current role and dislike about your current role?
What are your unique gifts in the world?
What are three adjectives that your friends would use to describe you?
How would a former boss describe you if I saw them on the street?
What are your biggest opportunities for growth?
When was the last time you thought “outside the box” and how did you do it?
Tell me about a time when you had to work with others who were ineffective.
Tell me about a time you didn’t have all the answers but found ways to be resourceful.
Can you share an example of when you made a big mistake and how did you respond?
Tell me a time you failed at something important and what you learned from it.
Who do you call on a bad day?
How do you handle unexpected changes to a process?
How do you handle your schedule when it’s interrupted?
Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
What's the hardest piece of feedback you've received?
Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback.
What makes you stressed and how do you handle it?
Are you better working on your own or within a team?
Would you consider yourself big picture or detail oriented?
What does being ethical mean to you?
Describe top three priorities in life and rank them?
Who is your greatest role model or influence in your life?
Describe your favorite boss and least favorite boss.
Are you the type of person to strike-up a conversation to a stranger?
Why did you join “company x” originally and why did you leave?
What is your greatest accomplishment professionally?
What comes naturally to you?
What do you do to get better outside of work that no one will see?
What separates you from other candidates for this position?
What are you currently curious about?
What are your pet peeves?
What is your greatest fear?
What is your biggest regret and why?
What is one question we should have asked you?
The Curveballs - Deeper Thinking
If you had millions of dollars, what would you do every day?
What four guests (dead or alive) would you invite to dinner with you?
What are the commonalities of the greatest professionals you’ve worked with?
What are the common traits of leaders you know who have sustained excellence?
If there's one thing you could change about yourself, what would it be?
What is your process to learn something new?
What new experiences have opened you to new worlds of possibilities?
What is the largest project you were a part of?
Tell me about the last argument that you can recall being in?
What event nearly happened that would have fundamentally changed your life, for better or worse, had it occurred?
If I was to arrange the furniture in your house, how would that make you feel?
What app do you have on your phone that very few likely have?
Can you share the process for the last big purchase you made?
What do you need to do more of and what do you need to do less of in your life?
What inspirational quote do you live by?
The Fastballs - Quick Hitting
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Favorite childhood memory?
How would your best friends describe you?
How did you make money in high school?
What did you do for your last vacation?
Who is your favorite musician or band? Favorite movie? Favorite superhero?
What animal would you be best described as?
What podcast is your favorite to listen to?
What book has had the most influence on you?
Outside of friends, family and work, are there any groups, clubs or organizations you are part of?
Sport Specific
If you were named head coach today, what would your first 24 hours look like for you?
How long would your first team meeting last and what would the message be?
What’s your coaching philosophy?
How will you build a great culture?
Do you believe in culture fit or culture add?
What do you want the mentality of your team to be?
If you had your choice, what would your offensive and defensive system be?
How do you communicate with your athletes?
What type of guidelines and rules are important to you within your program?
How do you deal with players that don’t communicate well or show up late to practice?
What does handling disciplinary actions look like in your program?
How are you going to monitor academics?
What’s your process for choosing the leaders of your team?
How do you deal with parents?
How will you assemble your coaching staff?
How do you plan on delegating to your staff?
What’s your belief on player development?
How do you handle an off-season program for your athletes and staff?
What’s your background and philosophy with strength and conditioning?
How do you scout and prepare for opponents?
What does a typical practice look like in your season?
How do you keep practice plans and thoughts organized?
What’s your demeanor like on the sidelines and how do you interact with officials?
How do you measure success?
How do you plan on retaining your players?
What’s your experience with fundraising at previous programs?
How will you go about marketing your program?
What types of camps, leagues or clinics will you run?
What has been your role in community engagement?
How do you create value within an athletic department?
How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
How would you feel about working for someone with less experience than you?
What will student-athletes remember after they are done playing for you?
What’s your WHY for coaching?
What’s your philosophy on recruiting a student-athlete?
What are your initial steps in recruiting?
Talk me through your process of recruiting a student-athlete.
What do you feel is the parent's role in the recruiting process?
Is character or ability more important to you?
How do you budget your recruiting activities?