I have an imminent interview with an alumni volunteer at a local Starbucks tomorrow. While I have seen many tips online, I am curious whether it is advisable to bring a notepad or a folder with some blank paper, write my questions on it, and take notes when I ask my questions at the very end. Of course, I am aware that I should not be reading off of it or taking excessive notes, but is notes to a moderate extent advisable? I only plan to refer to it during the end when I ask the questions, as I fear I might not be able to remember them well.
Also, would it be advisable for me to offer the interviewer a drink or some courtesy? Thanks for any insight.
Make sure you have eye contact but if you write a few things down, it’s not an issue. Most of these interviews are really discussions. I’d certainly have the first couple questions I plan to ask in my mind - but that may change as the flow of the discussion may got.
You can check your schools website - often these interviews are informative, not evaluative - so don’t feel pressure.
It’s a conversation, but it’s your chance to learn more about the school and show how you might fit.
If notetaking helps you, as long as you’ve got solid eye contact as you answer, etc, I think it’s fine.
As for buying a drink, I’m guessing 9 times out of 10 the interviewer will buy you the drink. I wouldn’t offer. If he asks what you’d like, feel free to order. If he doesn’t, order and pay for yourself.
Thank them for their purchase (assuming they do) and thank them for their time. Then follow up with a thank you email - you can read on line how to write that.
Thank you for your insight. A quick follow-up: would you recommend writing few important points down to refer to when needed? Obviously I would not read from a script but just the important ideas to remind myself.
Also, if I arrive early, which I will, should I buy the drink before or after they arrive? I hesitate to let them pay for my drink, given that they already volunteered their time. In that case would it be better if I politely say no (or imply so by purchasing it in advance)? I do think my interview is evaluative though. Thank you.
It’s perfectly reasonable for you to bring a note pad and to write things down both in advance and during the interview, it just shows that you’re organized.
There’s no reason for you to buy a drink for the interviewer. You’re a high school student.
If it helps you stay organized and focused, it’s not an issue. Do what makes you feel best. Do it because that quick glance helps keep you on point. You don’t need to do it for - if you think it’s impressing someone. I personally like it - it shows organization - but not all will care.
The most important thing is to answer the questions asked. Often times it’s good to repeat back a question. Q: Tell me about a time you struggled in a class and what did you do to overcome the struggle? A: A time I overcame a struggle in class was when……
If you are there early (like 20 mins), go ahead and buy your drink so your nerves will calm.. If you are there 2 minutes early, wait for the interviewer to arrive and buy together. I’m sure they will be buying your drink. And you needn’t offer to buy theirs as I noted above. If they order their own and pay, that’s your cue to then order your own. But I’m sure they’ll ask you - what would you like - and they’ll be paying.
The drink purchase is a nothing burger. You are 17. They know.
Relax - it’s honestly a conversation. They want to heap praise on their college - and want to know why you’d fit.
I have a different view I guess. I would not rely too much on notes. You could jot down a few questions on a scrap of paper. Chances are most of what you want to discuss will be covered more naturally and organically. I would just be yourself and engage in a conversation as you normally would, then check the scrap of paper near the end to see if everything had been covered. You will remember more than you think once there.
If you get there first, you could get yourself a beverage. If the interviewer offers something that’s fine too. Don’t worry! And maybe stop reading tips online!
P.S. Might be different if interviewing for a position as a court stenographer. But, otherwise, NO ! (The PS portion is intended to be humorous. So, inappropriate even if interviewing with a court stenographer’s program.)
If you cannot be prepared for a 30 or 60 minute interaction with a school representative, I would question that person’s ability to do college level work. But, more importantly, it is just rude to do so in a two person exchange.
My D brought a folder with her resume as a potential jumping off spot for conversation. She had some notes/potential questions on a separate sheet in the folder – she looked them over while waiting for the interview but did not take them out during the interview. After the interview (back in the car) she jotted down a few notes.
I would not offer to buy the interviewer a drink as it could come off like a bribe. FWIW when my D had an interview at Starbucks, the interviewer had a few meetings lined up and already had a drink in hand.
Professionals take notes during a wide variety of interactions all the time. It has nothing to do with not being prepared.p or impolite. In fact, just the opposite. Jotting down key words or phrases during a meeting or interview so that you don’t interrupt but can still retain a key point to respond is common and ultimately respectful. I’m frankly shocked to hear anyone object to it. And arriving with notes and questions actually shows preparation rather than the lack of it.
I agree with the advice to maintain eye contact, which can easily be done other than the occasional glance down.
While it’s clear that we differ on what is proper etiquette in this situation, the OP is the one who raised it as a question and seemed to feel that doing so would be helpful. I think that the OP should do whatever enables him to function at his best in the interview situation.
OP, I’m of the opinion that taking notes is fine and having a few questions jotted down and prepared is also fine. And I’d also be ok with your looking at those questions to make sure you remember what you want to ask. You can even do so during the interview. I don’t see anything wrong with being prepared.
I sit in the middle somewhere on this, but I generally do not think taking a note or two is bad and neither is looking down for a second to remember the topic of a question at the end.
Since taking notes and looking at notes might be considered a skill in itself, and it is mostly a crutch, do you really need the awkwardness?
Do your research and have some pointed questions to ask that are not easily found on the website. It demonstrates that you have a true interest in the school and you have taken the time to explore what it offers that makes it a good fit for you. You want them to want you not the other way around. Most alumni interviewers don’t have any say in recommendations for admissions, but a negative review can certainly work against you. When I was doing alumni interviews, it became very clear to me which students really were not interested in the school and it had not read much about it.
Keep in mind that alumni interviews are typically not *make or break” to an application but more of a chance to demonstrate interest and learn a bit more about the college. Admissions officers understand that volunteer interviewers will be varied in terms of age, background, experience interviewing, etc. You always want to put your best foot forward – but try to relax, learn, and enjoy.
I was an alumni interviewer for more than two decades for my alma mater. I agree with the other posters that this should be a very easy, naturally flowing, conversation. That said, I certainly had students come with notes of questions they wanted to ask and I would never hold that against someone. I totally appreciate that talking to a stranger can be tough. My advice is to do what makes you the most comfortable.
Thanks for all the insights. The interview went quite well, lasted for an hour without me noticing the passage of time. Did not end up need to consult my notes at all, and frankly, most things we talked about isn’t remotely relevant to my preparations. Only at the end when I asked my questions did I jot down several brief bullet points on a course title and a professor’s name. It was, indeed, more of a natural conversation than I anticipated. The interviewer did asked me a lot of very pointy and specific follow-ups and loop back to previous subject matters, and I can see that she was intentionally testing my ability to stay calm and making certain that my words were not fabricated. Overall, it went well, much better than I anticipated. Thanks again for all suggestions.