By Tonya Warren
The interview.
Just hearing the name can make even the bubbliest personality clam up with nerves. In just about every audition process you go through, you will at some point go through an interview round. In most cases, there is a panel of judges there to ask you questions and put you on the spot. Do you tense up before an interview? Does your mind go blank and you start to panic? We’ve all been there! The best thing to do is take a deep breath and follow these 5 tips to passing that interview round with flying colors!
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
The variety of questions you could be asked during an interview ranges anywhere from facts about the organization to current events. Make sure you know at least the basic facts before you go into the room! The team website has all you need to know about team history, the front office and coaching staff, and the star players. Know the basics about the sport that your team plays. Don’t be the girl who doesn’t know the difference between offense and defense! Watch a game or two, ask questions, and learn the gist of the game.Need to stay up on current events, but don’t have time to watch the news? You’re not alone – we are busy girls with hectic schedules!
My favorite way to stay on top of what’s going on in the world is through The Skimm. This resource sends a quick, informative email to my phone every morning that I can read while making breakfast. It recaps the biggest headlines from the previous day so that you always know what’s happening – and it’s fun to read! Review the last few days of The Skimm before your interview day so you can ace any current event questions!
REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION
Obviously, the reason you are in the interview room is so the judges can figure out what kind of person you are. There only point of reference so far is the application you submitted. It likely had a few questions about your background, hobbies, and interests. Go over what you wrote! They will ask you questions straight from your application responses, and if it’s been awhile since you submitted it (because you got it in early, right?), re-read it before you walk in the room. Be prepared to go more in depth about your answers; don’t ramble on, but know exactly
how to tell your story in the way that is the best representation of you!
TAKE A BREATH
Okay! The time has come – your name has been called and you are going into the room for your interview. Before you walk through the door, pause for a second and take a deep breath. Remind yourself that this should be the easiest part of the process – you’ve reviewed everything you can and all they want is to see who you are. They want to meet a poised, charming, and eloquent young lady – which you are! So breathe deep, settle your nerves, and put a smile on your face. Believe that you are about to blow them away, because you can and you will!
TAKE YOUR TIME
How many times have you had to listen to someone speaking in public and cringed with how much they said “um…uh…like…ummmm”? Want a trick for the best way to avoid it? Take your time! We use those as silence-fillers when we can’t immediately think of what to say. It’s okay to take a second and pause after you are asked a question to think about exactly what you want to say and how you want to say it! Don’t let it stretch into a long 10-second awkward silence, but it’s okay if you have to think about it! They would much rather hear a thoughtful, intelligent
response than a mumbling, struggle answer. If your interview takes place right after you’ve danced, use that pause to catch your breath and think. Then straighten up, smile, make eye contact, and give them your best response!
HAVE FUN!
I know this sounds cliché, but the most important part of interview is to be yourself. No team wants a bunch of girls who sound like robots when they are asked to speak to the media, fans, or organization representatives. Show them your personality – this may be your only chance to talk to the decision-makers, so you want to make a good impression. That doesn’t mean that this has to be a high-pressure moment. Find something that you connect with the judges on and make it a conversation! They are people, just like you. They don’t want to have a tense, awkward conversation any more than you do. Enjoy this part of the process and let it be the thing that gives them confidence that you would be the perfect representative of their organization.
I hope that you find these tips helpful to get you through the interview at your next audition. Remember to smile, be yourself, and enjoy the moment. It’s one step in getting you closer to your dream team.
Good luck!
