AContestof AcademicStrength

Providingacademiccompetitiontoencourage, acknowledgeandrewardacademicexcellence throughteamworkamongstudentsofall achievementlevels.

CALIFORNIA ACADEMIC DECATHLON

INTERVIEW

PreparingA SelfIntroduction

ForMoreInformation: CaliforniaAcademicDecathlon 4522AbernathyRoad Fairfield,CA94534 Phone:(707)6467603 Fax:(707)4382667 kscarberry@solanocoe.net www.academicdecathlon.org

Since1968,theAcademicDecathlonhasgrownintothepremierscholasticcompetitioninAmerica.TheAcademicDecathlonwascreated to provide opportunities for high school students to experience the challengesof rigorous team and individual competition. Designed to provideaforumforcelebratingandacknowledgingscholasticachievementandacademicexcellenceinthecontextofateamenvironment, theAcademicDecathlonprovideshighschoolstudentstheopportunitytoparticipateinaneducationalforumthatfostersadeeprespectfor knowledge,cooperation,andselfesteem.
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ThefollowinginformationisofferedtoassistyouprepareforyourAcademicDecathloninterview. Preparedwell,yourselfintroductionisyourkeytointerviewsuccessbecauseithelpstocreatethatall importantfirstimpression,andhelpsyoutobuildtherapportwiththejudgesconductingyour interview. FIRSTIMPRESSIONSAREIMPORTANT Inaninterview,firstimpressionsareveryimportant.Thefirstthingtheinterviewerlearnsaboutyou, youteachhimorherbyhowyouintroduceyourself.Theinterviewisyourchancetocommunicateyour abilityandskillsdirectlytothejudges.Becauseinterviewingisaskill,anyonecanlearntointerview effectively.Thekeytoasuccessfulinterviewispreparationandcarefullistening. Thefirstopinionaninterviewmakesisgoingtobebasedonhowyoulook.Makesureyourhairisneat getahaircutifpossible.Dressinconservativebusinessattire.Allclothesshouldbeneat,cleanand pressed.Avoidexcessivejewelry,makeup,cologneorperfume.Itsimportanttodressprofessionally foryourinterview.Youllwantthatfirstimpressiontobenotjustagoodone,but,agreatone.A decathletedressedprofessionallyisgoingtomakeabetterimpressionthanthedecathletedressedin scruffyjeansandatshirt. Beveryassuredandselfconfidentwhenenteringtheroom.Bewillingorreadytoofferahandshake andbesurethatitisfirmanddemonstratesconfidence.Besuretorememberthenamesofthejudges interviewingyou.Theinterviewwillprogressonbettertermsifyouareabletorespondusingthename ofthepersonyouarespeakingwith.Donotassumethatthereisaparticularplaceforyou;waituntil thejudgemotionstowhereyouaretosit.Onceseatedandintroductionsareover,theinterviewis readytobegin. DURINGTHEINTERVIEW Duringtheinterview,situpstraightinthechairorleanforwardslightlyandDONOTslouch!Establish yourselfasaselfconfidentandassertivepersonwithoutbeingconfrontational,cockyoraggressive. Remembertobeyourselfbuttoalsopresentaprofessional,polishedversionofyourself. Answerinterviewquestionsdirectly.Beconfidentwithoutbeingarrogant.Atthesametime,admitto yourweaknessesiftheyarebroughtup,butdonotbringthemup.Instead,concentrateonyour strengths.Demonstrateenergy,determination,enthusiasm,motivationandpassionforyourwork. PREPARINGASELFINTRODUCTION Inpreparingyourselfintroduction,askyourselfthisquestion:'WhatdoIwantthejudgestoknowabout me?Whatmakesmeunique? Thewaytocreateafavorablefirstimpressionistobesureyouappearconfidentandopen.Whenyou meetyourinterviewerforthefirsttime,makeeyecontactattheintroductionandrepeatthe interviewer'snameasyoushakehandsandthankthemforinvitingyoutotheinterview.

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Asyougetseated,smiletoindicateyouarereadytogetdowntobusiness.Whatoftenfollowsisthe invitationtoyouto'tellthemaboutyourself',whichallowsyoutocommenceyourselfintroduction.To avoidpossiblebias(positiveandnegative)fromajudgetryyourbestnottodisclosewhereyouliveor whatschoolyouattend. Prepareexactlywhatyouaregoingtosay.Thisisnotsomelengthystoryaboutyourlife,butashort focusedstatementthatsoundsinterestingtothelistener.Youmakeitinterestingbykeepingitshort (30seconds)andbyshowingthatyouareinterestedinsharingandlistening. Inyourselfintroductionconsiderincludingsomeexamplesofyourstrengthsandachievements.The wayyououtlineyourselfintroduction,inparticularthewayyouspeak,tellstheinterviewerwhether youareconfidentinyourabilitiessodon'ttrytobewhatyouareclearlynot. Practiceyourselfintroductionwithsomeonewithacriticalear,becauseifitsoundsfalseitwillsetthe alarmbellsringingwiththeinterviewers.Theywilldetectthatitisnottherealyouanditwilldestroy therapportyouaretryingtobuildup.Practicespeakingfasterormoreslowly,louderorquietlyandtry tovaryitthroughout. Thekeyquestionforasuccessfulandeffectiveselfintroductionis:howmuchandwhatinformationdo youwanttheinterviewerstoknowaboutyou?Donotwriteanawardwinningautobiography;consider developinganintroductionaroundanaspectofyourlife.Thataspectshouldfeaturewhoyouareand whatyouareabout. FORPRACTICE Practiceinterviewing.Haveafriendaskyouquestionsthatyoumayencounterduringaninterview. Videotapeyourinterviewandidentifyyourpositiveandnegativefactors,traits,habitsandactions. Lookatthesampleselfintroductiontopicsbelowandpickouttheaspectsofyourpersonallifeyou wanttosharewiththejudges.ApproachthelistbelowwiththeWho,What,Where,Why,Howand Whenquestions.Itisaneffectivewaytooutlineyourfirstthoughtsforintroducingyourself. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Whatactivityhasplayedorplaysanimportantpartinyourlife? Whatisyourmainpersonalgoal? Whatdoyoulikeverymuch? Haveyoudevelopedaveryspecialskill? Canyoucomeupwithaturningpointormilestoneinyourlife? Whatisyourhobbyorinterestinyoursparetime? Whatdistinguishesyourfromotherindividuals? WhatbroughtyoutoAcademicDecathlon? HowhasAcademicDecathlonchangedyourgoalsforcollege?

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ANSWERINGINTERVIEWQUESTIONS QuestionsaskedoftheDecathletescanbebasedonyourselfintroductionortopicssimilartothose listedintheInterviewOrientationPackettitled,SampleTopicsForOralInterviewQuestions. Answerinterviewquestionshonestlyandcompletelybutbewary.Donotdwellonnegativesandavoid mentioningthemwhenpossible.Sellyourselfonyourtruecapabilitiesandexperienceswithout exaggeratingyourabilities.Ifyouareaskedatechnicalquestionandyoudonotknowtheanswer,dont bluff.Ifyourblufffails,yourcharacterwillbeseriouslythreatened.Instead,say"Idonotknowthe answer,butifIweretoventureaneducatedguessIwouldsay...".Neverspeaknegativelyaboutanother personorgroup. IMPORTANTDO'SANDDON'TS DO Arriveontime. Greettheinterviewerwithawarm,confident"Hello"andafirmhandshake. Bewellrested. Dressandgroomyourselfwithperfection(Appropriatebusinessattire,makeup,deodorant). Maintaingoodposture. Emphasizepositivethingsaboutyourself.

DONOT Bringyourcoachwithyou! Arrivelate. Speaknegativelyaboutanotherpersonorgroup. Answerwithasimple"yes"or"no."Explainwheneverpossible.Describethosethingsabout yourselfthatrelatetothesituation.

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