Georgia Academic Decathlon
PREPARING FOR INTERVIEW
About me…
JODI MURPHY
4 TH
8 TH Y E A R G A D V O L U N T E E R
YEAR GAD INTERVIEW COORDINATOR
17 YEARS WITH ABBOTT LABORATORIES
QUALITY ASSURANCE SUPERVISOR
WIFE
MOTHER OF 2 COLLEGE STUDENTS
 What is an Interview?
 Interview Rules
 Basic Interview Process
Session
Agenda
 Judging Criteria / USAD Scantron
 Video Time! & Discussion
 Areas to Practice
 Questions /Concerns?
 Preparing for Interview Activity
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!
What is an Interview?
Closed-Ended Questions
Examples:
 Typically involve a
 Where do you live?
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
 Do you like school?
 What is your sister’s
name?
 How old were you
when you got your first
job?
What is an Interview?
Open-Ended Questions
Examples:
 Call for non-specific
 What was your town
answers & possibly
follow up questions
 Start the flow of a
conversation to get
someone talking
 Useful in eliciting
stories & putting
interviewee at ease
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?
 Participate in a 7 minute interview
judged by adult volunteers
 Dress is business dress, just like any
real life interview
Interview
Rules
 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
Basic Interview Process
DECATHLETE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
ROOM SET UP
INTRODUCTIONS & RESUME REVIEW
INTERVIEW CONDUCTED
INTERVIEW CONCLUDES
JUDGES SCORE DECATHLETE
JUDGES PREPARE FOR NEXT DECATHLETE
Judging Criteria
USAD SCANTRON
Video Time!
&
Discussion
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!
Questions/Concerns?
Preparing for Interview Activity
 Yes/No (Closed-Ended) Question = Character Gets 1 Point
 Open-Ended Question = Interviewer Gets 1 Point
 Follow Up Question = Interviewer Gets 1 Additional Point
Preparing for Interview Activity
Character Reaches 5 Points = Automatically Wins Game!
Interviewer Reaches 5 Points = Gets 1 Guess
Winner Declared
When Character Reaches 5 Points
-ORWhen Interviewer Guesses Correct Character
Good Luck, Have Fun, &
Practice, Practice, Practice!
YOU CAN DO IT!