1. Georgia Academic Decathlon
Preparing for Interview

2. About me… Jodi Murphy 11th Year GAD Volunteer
6th Year GAD Interview Coordinator
20 YEARS With ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Quality Assurance Project Manager
WIFE
MOTHER OF 2 Adult Children

3. Not until I say “GO!”… Find a partner from another school.
Do not pair up with a coach.
The partner you choose must be someone you do NOT know.
Once you find your partner, take a seat next to each other.
You have 3 minutes.

4. Session Agenda Today’s General Session Format A Word about Resumes
What is an Interview?
Interview Rules
Basic Interview Process
Preparing for Interview ~ Activity
Judging Criteria & Scoring Process
Areas to Practice
Questions / Concerns?
Session Agenda

5. Today’s General Session Format
You asked, we listened
All Decathletes Get to practice
Simulates State Competition Event
Extremely important life skill

6. A Word about Resumes A resume:
Summarizes who you are.
Gives the judges a baseline for discussion.
Helps put your best foot forward.
Improves your overall interview score.
Only paper resumes will be permitted during competition.
You have 6 months to prepare your resume. Start now!

7. What is an Interview? Involves two-way exchange of conversation
Includes the transfer of information through the use of closed-ended and open-ended questions
Determines something about the person being interviewed
Establishes an impression off of verbal & non-verbal cues given
Provides an opportunity to sell oneself—especially by starting with an excellent resume!

8. What is an Interview?
Closed-Ended Questions
Examples:
Typically involve a specific answer such as “Yes,” “No,” or “I live in Georgia”
Help to jump start an interview
Useful in stopping stories that go on for too long
Where do you live?
Do you like school?
What is your sister’s name?
How old were you when you got your first job?

9. What is an Interview?
Open-Ended Questions
Examples:
Call for non-specific answers & possibly follow up questions
Start the flow of a conversation to get someone talking
Useful in eliciting stories & putting interviewee at ease
What was your town like where you grew up?
What are some things you like about school?
What do you think it will be like for you to go off to college?

10. Interview Rules
Participate in a 7 minute interview judged by adult volunteers
Dress is business dress, just like any real life interview
Resume should be provided and should be typed and neat in appearance
Sit, relax, and engage but be polished and professional
NO profanity & NO off topics

11. Basic Interview Process
Decathlete Enters The Arena Introductions
Resume Review
Interview Conducted
Interview Concludes
Judges Score Decathlete
Judges Prepare For Next Decathlete

12. Gymnasium Layout for Interview
Doors
Bleachers
Doors * 1 3 5 10 12 14 11 13 15 16 17 18 2 4 6 7 8 9
Gymnasium Layout for Interview
Stage
Bleachers

13. Preparing for Interview ~ Activity
Let’s pretend that it is state competition weekend!
Complete the interview process twice.
Take turns being the judge or the decathlete.
Participate in the full 10 minute interview process.
Use the handouts provided ~ sample questions & Apperson forms.
Score each other when the interview concludes.
Repeat the process a second time.
Be mindful of the stopwatch up on the screen!

14. Judging Criteria
USAD APPERSON FORM

15. Scoring Process Top part of the Apperson forms are pre-slugged.
BUBBLE in ONE bubble in EACH scoring section of the form using a scale of 0-10 (with 0 being the worst and 10 being the best).
Assume your fellow decathlete starts with a score of 6 in each category.

16. Areas to Practice Perfect Listening skills Eliminate Slang Talk
Control nervous habits
Study own body language
Give open-ended responses
Being Polite/Well-Mannered
Know your resume!

17. Questions/Concerns?

18. Good Luck, Have Fun, & Practice, Practice, Practice!
You can do it!