Passing the Resident Assistant Group Interview
How to Stand Out as a Student Leader
After completing the paper screening of the Resident Assistant selection process, the next major obstacle is usually some form of group interview. For many college students, an interest in becoming a Resident Assistant (RA) often yields the first, and possibly only, group interview experience. Unlike a personal interview, evaluators are directly looking at a student’s ability to maintain a genuine personality while working with others to solve a timed problem scenario.
Non-Verbal Communication
Just like a regular interview, a candidate’s appearance, body language, and eye contact, all have a direct influence on the meeting’s outcome. Many times within the group interview experience, one overzealous candidate may take control of the scenario, limiting that amount of time and opportunity other candidates have to chime in. In the event that such a group member exists, these non-verbal factors will be doing all the speaking for the candidate, so it should be a priority to ensure they are saying something positive!
Share the Attention
As previously mentioned, group interviews often have that one overzealous participant that demands the spotlight. More often than not, this person isn’t the kind of leader most Student Life departments are looking for. The ideal candidate is someone who can both steer the group’s energy in a positive direction, yet also yield to another student voice when necessary. A healthy balance of listening, contributing, and praise, are the techniques which will allow for a successful group interview experience.
Communicating Clearly
When the chance to contribute does present itself, it is very important that clear and concise communication be exhibited by the candidate. Make yourself heard and understood, but also make sure that your tone and inflection are not taking away from another candidate's opinion. Additionally, positioning oneself in the direct view of the evaluators will allow for more clarity and accurate ability assessment.
Including Others
The last step in successfully mastering the RA group interview process is making it a point to include others. The outcome of the interview is going to largely depend on how well the group solves the given problem, as well as what role everyone played. If a candidate were able to positively contribute, as well as get the more quiet participants to be involved, they are guaranteed to receive high scores across the board.
Successfully moving past the RA group interview process is a step all student applicants must take. By paying attention to such factors as non-verbals, clear communication skills, and fostering an inclusive environment, candidates will certainly be given the chance to flourish during the final interview stage.
Group Interview
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Education & Career
Latest Articles