Liaison Officer Interview/Evaluation Tips

T

tjennings

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Joined
Mar 27, 2020
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10
Hi all,
I have my interview scheduled for this Thursday; I am excited and a bit nervous.
To those who have already done their interview, and maybe some current liaison officers, what would be some advice on this interview?
Thanks,
-T
 
Our son did his last year. He chose a quiet well lit room and did a trial run on video/chat set up. If phone interview, make sure your phone is charged and you are in a quiet place to talk. Be dressed, for an interview, even if they can't see you, you will be more confident dressed for an interview.
Have your resume in front of you.
No gum.
Make sure you review the career paths your academy has and are prepared to answer questions related to that.
Be professional, this isn't a chat with a friend, be poised and if you have to ask for a moment to think about your response, do so.
 
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I did a practice interview with my ALO and here was the feedback.
1). Have an answer ready. Doesn't have to be a fully practice speech but have a topic ready to talk about. Example: what is a time that you had diverse people in a group and how did that affect the situation and goals ( not word for word) Answer: on my document that I wrote for this interview I wrote "track and field, African Americans experiences vs my own and poor families vs families with more money. This allows me to have an idea to talk about but not sound like I'm reading off a card.

2) if you don't have an answer. Pause and take a moment. Don't be scared to say "Excuse me may I take a moment to think?"Or "I need more time for this question" Don't answer with a half baked question it's just not worth it.

3). Calm down. They aren't here to ruin you. They're here to see your character. Be your self, you're probably an awesome person so show them that.
 
I just sent an email to my evaluator. My ALO said to let him know when the interview is and he will go over some things with me.
 
hopeful25 said:
Sorry if this is a stupid question but at what point in the application process were you able to contact your evaluator to schedule an interview? Also good luck to everyone interviewing!
Click to expand...
hopeful25 said:
Sorry if this is a stupid question but at what point in the application process were you able to contact your evaluator to schedule an interview? Also good luck to everyone interviewing!
Click to expand...
My ALO informed he he could no longer see my application which meant it had been passed on to the Evaluator. I noticed last week a new contact person had been added to my application. Next to his name it says “Evaluator”. Also, if you read the fine print it says to contact your Liaison Officer about the status of your interview. I did just that.
 
hopeful25 said:
Sorry if this is a stupid question but at what point in the application process were you able to contact your evaluator to schedule an interview? Also good luck to everyone interviewing!
Click to expand...
In the letter you get after being promoted to candidate status it says, "Once you have completed all of your required application forms, an evaluator will contact you to coordinate your personal interview/evaluation. The evaluator will not be the ALO mentor who you have been working with during the Air Force Academy application process."
 
hopeful25 said:
So I should be contacted/contact my ALO once I complete all of the rest of my application?
Click to expand...
Each applicant may have a different answer. I contacted my ALO officer and he suggested I be proactive and contact the Evaluator. I followed his recommendation but reached out to my ALO first.
 
Here's what I learned from my evaluation last year:

  • Take your time, breathe, and treat it like a job interview. Because at the heart of it, that's what it is.
  • Be respectful, say your sir's/ma'am's and thank you's. Manners show a lot about character, and that's a big part of what they're judging in the interview.
  • Don't rush into an answer. Your evaluator will fully understand if you need some time to flesh out the whole answer. In fact, sometimes it's expected.
  • Don't be afraid to ask for clarification.
  • Dress nice, even if it's on the phone. It's a confidence booster (look good, feel good).
  • Have your resume in front of you.
  • Know the Honor Code and what it means to you, to the Academy, and to the Air Force. Core values are good to know as well.
  • Come up with a short but detailed final statement about why the Academy wants you. Find a way to slip that in at the end if you can.
  • Be honest. Don't embellish your stories and statements.
  • Be enthusiastic about your desire to attend USAFA.
  • Relax. Take the evaluation seriously, but don't be too uptight that you start to make little mistakes. Put yourself in a comfortable situation.
  • Be ready for the interview five minutes before it actually takes place.
  • Write yourself a sticky note of encouragement. Something small, like "you got this!". It really does help.
You're gonna do great.
 
From my DS experience, these vary widely based on the individual ALO. My DS was geared up, prepared etc, and his experience was super casual. Is was a video chat. There was no Honor Code discussion or knowledge test.

The best part was hearing about the ALO's path, choices and advice.

I could be totally off, but my sense is that the ALO interview is a pass/fail type event. A great ALO interview is not going to make up for poor grades/scores, but a bad ALO interview could damage your chances. And if you bomb, I don't know but, the ALO might even be able to give you a kiss of death.

Prepare yourself just like you should for any interview USAFA related or otherwise. You know what kind of questions to expect and he/she may ask one, all or none of them. Between your ALO and Blue/Gold interviews plus congressional nomination interviews and other college admissions interviews, you will help yourself immensely if you hammer out interview question responses to the 5 to 10 questions every person would ask a young man/woman who wants to got to USAFA, USNA, ROTC scholarship, MIT, Georgia Tech, or any other top school. Practice those to the point, that they are second nature so you can relay those answers conversationally and not just have them memorized. And, always, be authentic.
 
Greetings from one of those dreaded Evaluator ALO's!

Yes, I am one.

Some advice from the old guy...although what I've seen so far in this thread is VERY good!!

Relax. My role is NOT to "weed out the non-hackers that do not pack the gear to serve..." (did I just quote/paraphrase a movie?) 🤔

I'm there to meet with you, to get to know you, and to really ask one major question with a whole lot of discussion: WHY do you want to go through this incredibly difficult process that will frustrate you to near-death and that, in the end, only 1 in 6 or so succeed in? I'll have a lot of follow-up questions about why you did this, why didn't you do that, how did you get picked for this position, this award, and such things. I'll also ask you some philosophical questions. And do not be surprised if I ask you a question that you can't answer; that you have no clue how to answer, and just don't know. I do that all the time. Now, why would I do that? If you think hard enough, you'll figure it out.

Here's the short version...and it mirrors a lot of what's already been said. Come in ready to have a job interview. Try to relax. BE YOURSELF. Please don't put on "airs" that you "think" the ALO wants to see. Don't give answers that you "think" we want to hear. We want to hear YOU! Just be YOU.

Do that and we'll have a good time, the time will fly by and before you know it I, or another ALO, will say "so...what questions do you have for me?"

Finally...because it was mentioned. Can the evaluator give you "the kiss of death?" 😗 ☠ The answer is...sorta but not guaranteed. Let's face it, to get to the interview you're viewed pretty well and have accomplished some pretty excellent things. We're there to "fill in the blanks" for USAFA/RRS. If I were to really rate a candidate badly, that's going to set off some alerts and I can expect to be contacted to explain why I rated the way I did. I had better have some convincing reasons why. If I have the "evidence" to back up my rating, then it'll be accepted and the system will proceed. I've done that, in 25+ years, perhaps...twice? And both times were very justifiable. Here's a hint...don't lie to me; and especially more than once.

Hey...if you're getting ready for an ALO Evaluator Interview...do some reading, be up on what's happening in the news, and try to relax. Be open and honest...and it'll go fine!!

Come on, trust me...🤣 (Yes, that's from a movie too)

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
flieger83 said:
Greetings from one of those dreaded Evaluator ALO's!

Yes, I am one.

Some advice from the old guy...although what I've seen so far in this thread is VERY good!!

Relax. My role is NOT to "weed out the non-hackers that do not pack the gear to serve..." (did I just quote/paraphrase a movie?) 🤔

I'm there to meet with you, to get to know you, and to really ask one major question with a whole lot of discussion: WHY do you want to go through this incredibly difficult process that will frustrate you to near-death and that, in the end, only 1 in 6 or so succeed in? I'll have a lot of follow-up questions about why you did this, why didn't you do that, how did you get picked for this position, this award, and such things. I'll also ask you some philosophical questions. And do not be surprised if I ask you a question that you can't answer; that you have no clue how to answer, and just don't know. I do that all the time. Now, why would I do that? If you think hard enough, you'll figure it out.

Here's the short version...and it mirrors a lot of what's already been said. Come in ready to have a job interview. Try to relax. BE YOURSELF. Please don't put on "airs" that you "think" the ALO wants to see. Don't give answers that you "think" we want to hear. We want to hear YOU! Just be YOU.

Do that and we'll have a good time, the time will fly by and before you know it I, or another ALO, will say "so...what questions do you have for me?"

Finally...because it was mentioned. Can the evaluator give you "the kiss of death?" 😗 ☠ The answer is...sorta but not guaranteed. Let's face it, to get to the interview you're viewed pretty well and have accomplished some pretty excellent things. We're there to "fill in the blanks" for USAFA/RRS. If I were to really rate a candidate badly, that's going to set off some alerts and I can expect to be contacted to explain why I rated the way I did. I had better have some convincing reasons why. If I have the "evidence" to back up my rating, then it'll be accepted and the system will proceed. I've done that, in 25+ years, perhaps...twice? And both times were very justifiable. Here's a hint...don't lie to me; and especially more than once.

Hey...if you're getting ready for an ALO Evaluator Interview...do some reading, be up on what's happening in the news, and try to relax. Be open and honest...and it'll go fine!!

Come on, trust me...🤣 (Yes, that's from a movie too)

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Click to expand...
Yep, you summed it up pretty well.

ProTip - Be ready talk about why you want to SERVE, not how the Academy is going to be so wonderful for you personally.

eg: "I want to Participate and LEAD in the Worlds Greatest Air Support to defend our country" as opposed to "I want
to get the best Education that I can get"
 
OldRetSWO said:
Yep, you summed it up pretty well.

ProTip - Be ready talk about why you want to SERVE, not how the Academy is going to be so wonderful for you personally.

eg: "I want to Participate and LEAD in the Worlds Greatest Air Support to defend our country" as opposed to "I want
to get the best Education that I can get"
Click to expand...
☝
What he said!!!!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
tjennings said:
Hi all,
I have my interview scheduled for this Thursday; I am excited and a bit nervous.
To those who have already done their interview, and maybe some current liaison officers, what would be some advice on this interview?
Thanks,
-T
Click to expand...
How did your interview go?
 
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