First Interview

[laurathistle]

Hi everyone

I am applying through campleaders.com for a general councelor position next summer (2007). This is the first time for me!!! i am very ecxited and quite nervous. I have completed the first part of the application process and have an interview this Saurday!!!

I was wondering if people could tell me what the interview is going to be like and any tips and pointers people might have on a good interview.

Thanks!:)

Ps anyone gone through campleaders.com before?

[speedx5xracer]

honestly each director interviews differently. The directors at my camp are more informal but try to get a good read on your personality.... Just be honest with your answers since the truth is shown during the summer any way... Good luck and if you want specifics ill try to add more later now im off to a meeting

[ArtisticEric]

I would say to relax an be honest. Although interviews vary from person to person they generaly ask questions about how you would handle differant situations. This could be you an other staff or mostly you and the kids, like what to do if a child is bullying other kids for example. In my experience the will ask : about you , what you do,experience with children, basically to get an idea how you would fit in with their camp an your strengths. Above all being honest an trying to have fun with it helps you come across as a fun responcible role model for the campers. Good luck and hope that helps. :)
Eric

[CAMPFRIEND]

I think it's also a good idea to have a list of questions that you might want to ask. I know when I do interviews for staff it drives me crazy when they don't ask me questions when I give them a chance. You think you would want to know as much as you can about the job you want!

[camper]

welcome and good luck at your interview...most camp directors are pretty friendly and will try to make you feel comfortable at an interview as will most agencies, so i don't know how you're interviewing but either way just relax and be yourself, talk about your previous experience with kids if you have any, and how you like to have fun!

[rockinsmiles]

Some other questions that might be asked: Why do you want work at camp/be a counselor? Why do you think you would be good for this position? What are ways you release stress?

My experience was that the interview questions are typical things an interviewer would ask, with of course a camp twist. I'm not sure how the process for campleaders goes, but I know that the internationals we get through CCUSA do not ever actually have an interview with our director. So if this is the way campleaders is as well, when you are hired by a camp you probably want to contact the director as soon as possible with your questions.

[laurathistle]

Thanks everyone! the Interview went really well and I have been excepted on to the programe.

The person who Interviewed me was a regional manager for campleaders and a programe director for a camp in America as well. He was really nice and put me at ease.

One question he did ask me that almost had me stuck for an answer:
"If there is only one thing that you teach even one single camper during the whole summer, what would it be?"

good question! can anyone guess what my reply was?
What would your reply have been?

[Marzz]

The only thing I ever wish any of my camper's to leave with is a belief in themselves. If I can help even one child discover that, then I have done my job.

[KiwiCRB]

This post just made me have a really bad "I miss camp" feeling.

[Flukie]

If there is only one thing I hope my campers take away from what we try to instill in them during the summer, it would be to believe in themselves and how much they have to offer the world. Sometimes, we all get so wrapped up that we forget to see that.

So, it goes right along with what Marzz said.

[CAMPFRIEND]

Good job on the interview. That is a great question that he asked and I have to agree with the others on their answers!

[laurathistle]

Wanna know what i said?

"Since one of the reasons (apart from working with children and the usual camp reasons) i want to go to America and work at summer camp [remember I am from Scotland] is to learn more about the American people and children that live there, their beliefs, religions and cultures. i would like to tell children about me, my country and the people that live there, about my culture and history and that of the people of scotland."

it now sounds quite cheesy but i am still glad i said it. he seemd to like it anyway..............

[Marzz]

Great answer! :) I'm so glad you'll be coming to America. I desperately want to visit Scotland someday. My ancestry is from there.

[laurathistle]

Great answer! :) I'm so glad you'll be coming to America. I desperately want to visit Scotland someday. My ancestry is from there.

i am really interested in geneology and my surname is McKay. i have traced my family back to 1684!

[Marzz]

Cool! I'm a Johnstone. It's not a common surname in the US, but there's tons of Johnstone's in Scotland! My mom has done a lot of geneology, but I'm not sure how far back she's gone.


(sorry to stray off topic)

[SWTexan]

This post made me realize that its almost time to begin recruiting for 2007!! I actually ask that question as well to all my prospective staff as it provides a great insight into their personality and interests that may not always come across on paper or in other questions. Sometimes, an applicant thinks that they want to teach one type of activity, but their answer to this question causes me to start going in a different direction in that thinking to fit them in the best place in my program.

Here's another interesting one I use if I don't think I have a great feel for the candidate: I ask them to describe the letter 'j', and try to get them to tell me that it is the 10th letter of the alphabet, what it reminds them of, and what it looks like. If they tell me that it is the 10th letter, I ask them how they came up with that so that I can see how their thought process works. It helps me gear staff training to how they think.