ALO Interview
- Thread starter DyllanA
- Start date
Sorry about the unfinished post, I accidentally hit send on my phone. Anyway, my post is regarding the ALO interview. I have one in September and I had a few questions that you might answer. What type of questions are going to be asked? What would be considered acceptable clothing? What can I do to prepare myself, and anything else that might be relevant to the topic. Again sorry for the unfinished post and any help would be great. Thanks!
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Juvat
5-Year Member
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Consider this a job interview! You will be asked questions that really stretch you. You need to have specific examples of your leadership, integity, teamwork, academic prowess, etc. I am a retired USAF officer and just had my daughter go through this. It took nearly two grueling hours. Toughest part of the process for her, and she is now complete.
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Hello!
You will find good information above in the stickies and I strongly recommend you read through them!
Wear at least what's known as "business casual" (a minimum). So, for a young man: khakis, collared shirt or polo, no sneakers, hair combed neatly, no body art showing, no earrings. Women: similar, skirt ok of modest length, dress shoes. In short: dress conservatively and make sure your clothing is clean and pressed. No need for a suit to meet your ALO but you do want to make a good impression.
There are plenty of threads here about meeting the ALO - do a quick search and you'll find answers to almost all of your questions.
You will find good information above in the stickies and I strongly recommend you read through them!
Wear at least what's known as "business casual" (a minimum). So, for a young man: khakis, collared shirt or polo, no sneakers, hair combed neatly, no body art showing, no earrings. Women: similar, skirt ok of modest length, dress shoes. In short: dress conservatively and make sure your clothing is clean and pressed. No need for a suit to meet your ALO but you do want to make a good impression.
There are plenty of threads here about meeting the ALO - do a quick search and you'll find answers to almost all of your questions.
Dad
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- Apr 25, 2010
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The job interview of your life!
Christcorp
15-Year Member
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- May 21, 2008
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- 5,380
Excellent advise being given. If your ALO didn't tell you how to dress, then definitely dress up. Nice pants, shirt, shoes, haircut, shaved, etc. Some ALO's tell their candidates to come to the interview casual. I did 5 interviews this past weekend. I've got more to do in the next couple of weeks. I tell my candidates to come casual. No shorts and flip flops, but they don't need a shirt and tie either. But I use my interview to really get to know the individual. I want them relaxed. I also use it as a mentoring moment to help them prepare for their other interviews. e.g. congressional, other colleges, job interview, etc... I definitely instruct them to dress appropriately, how to speak, how to sit, eye contact, etc... I can't say that other ALO's do it similarly. Some ALO's think their interview is the most important and they want their candidates interviewing at 100%. Again; I do it differently because the purpose of my interview is to get to truly know the individual. I don't want to hear a bunch of canned answers. I don't want them telling me what they think I want to hear. My interviews are more informal but very methodical.
As for questions, there's no way to say what questions the ALO will ask. Some will use can questions from a sample pool. Others, make up their own questions. I do a little of both. Not saying my method is normal, better, worse, etc... it's just mine. Again, my motive is not to interview to get answers or information. I can get all the information I need from the candidate's resume and if I have other questions I can get that from their school or them. I interview to see who they really are. Their motives. Their skills. I ask a question, let them answer, interject my own thoughts, get them off topic, see how quickly they can regain their thoughts, see if the academy is truly something they really want, are they a good match for the air force, make them question themselves, see if they have conviction or if they'll change their mind or what they said, see if they'll contradict a previous answer, etc... But like I said, my motives aren't to see how well they dress, how they sit, how well they practiced answering expected questions.
But I do realize that they do have more FORMAL interview coming. Such as their senators and congressman/woman. After my interview, I'll spend another half hour or so with them making sure they know how to sit, speak, use hand gestures, dress, appearance, eye contact, etc...
So to answer your question..... if your ALO didn't tell you how to dress, then do as has been advised here. Dress professionally. Interview professionally. If your ALO has a more Laissez Faire like I do, they will tell you. If they don't, then dress professionally. As for questions, no one knows. It could be anything from current events to explaining your resume to asking about your involvements. Bottom line is: They want to know about your leadership, Extra Curricular, Academics, relations with others, team working experience, and how you will benefit the academy and air force. So the questions asked will be designed to answer these questions to your ALO. Best of luck. Mike....
As for questions, there's no way to say what questions the ALO will ask. Some will use can questions from a sample pool. Others, make up their own questions. I do a little of both. Not saying my method is normal, better, worse, etc... it's just mine. Again, my motive is not to interview to get answers or information. I can get all the information I need from the candidate's resume and if I have other questions I can get that from their school or them. I interview to see who they really are. Their motives. Their skills. I ask a question, let them answer, interject my own thoughts, get them off topic, see how quickly they can regain their thoughts, see if the academy is truly something they really want, are they a good match for the air force, make them question themselves, see if they have conviction or if they'll change their mind or what they said, see if they'll contradict a previous answer, etc... But like I said, my motives aren't to see how well they dress, how they sit, how well they practiced answering expected questions.
But I do realize that they do have more FORMAL interview coming. Such as their senators and congressman/woman. After my interview, I'll spend another half hour or so with them making sure they know how to sit, speak, use hand gestures, dress, appearance, eye contact, etc...
So to answer your question..... if your ALO didn't tell you how to dress, then do as has been advised here. Dress professionally. Interview professionally. If your ALO has a more Laissez Faire like I do, they will tell you. If they don't, then dress professionally. As for questions, no one knows. It could be anything from current events to explaining your resume to asking about your involvements. Bottom line is: They want to know about your leadership, Extra Curricular, Academics, relations with others, team working experience, and how you will benefit the academy and air force. So the questions asked will be designed to answer these questions to your ALO. Best of luck. Mike....
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