Officer interview

E

Eli2024

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Feb 18, 2024
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Can anyone give me advice, to share with my daughter, on how to prepare for the officer interview?
 

For both my officer interview at Columbia University and CO interview (ISR), all of my questions were asked from this packet. I was asked about 3 from each section (with the exception of my Columbia interview with additional questions not listed asked).

I recommend just looking over the *possible* questions, but do not memorize any answers. The best thing you can do is be able to hold up a real conversation and not present yourself as a robot with robotic answers. Teenagers are the stars in these interviews, no one expects them to answer perfectly, so just do your best and know your reasons for why you want to commission into the Navy and go through NROTC vs other means of commissioning.

Good luck
 
Eli2024 said:
Can anyone give me advice, to share with my daughter, on how to prepare for the officer interview?
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The greatest advice that's been given to me is body language. Body language is essential to an interview, it can make you seem confident and well prepared or scared and non-confident. Make sure to sit up straight, look the interviewer in the eyes when answering questions, and be cool. I wish your daughter good luck for her interview!
 
USSEnterpr1se said:
The greatest advice that's been given to me is body language. Body language is essential to an interview, it can make you seem confident and well prepared or scared and non-confident. Make sure to sit up straight, look the interviewer in the eyes when answering questions, and be cool. I wish your daughter good luck for her interview!
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I remember in one of my communications classes they said somewhere like 90% of communication was non-verbal. Posture, eye contact, facial expressions, the way you move and speak. :thumb:
 
Eli2024 said:
Can anyone give me advice, to share with my daughter, on how to prepare for the officer interview?
Click to expand...
What I did is I just got a hair cut borrowed my dads suit and came up with some answers to general questions. Basically, if you dress nicer than average and really show you wanna be their by showing up a little early, looking them in the eyes, and have a good handshake itll put you ahead of a decent bunch. Furthermore, have some well thought out answers. For example, they will 100% ask "why do you want to serve" don't just say "to serve my country" because everybody says that. The hardest question for me was "why do you deserve the scholarship over others" reflect on that one because it took me by surprise. Good luck, dm me with any questions!
 
One thing to consider is if the interview will be in person or virtual. If doing it virtually, and you are not comfortable looking into a camera, then practice before the interview.

I remember conducting a virtual interview with a young man who wanted to wear headphones so his parents wouldn't hear the questions (he was home for his interview). Then he had a problem with the headphones so he disconnected them. Then he realized his only mike was on the headphones. You can see where this is going. Try to do an in person interview to avoid all of that.

The goal of the interview is for you to showcase why you really want to serve your country and what steps have you taken to prepare. You may get some really hard questions. Just do your best and do not get flustered.
 
1. Turn your cellphone off
or,
2. Depending on which service you are interviewing for, set your ring tone to (a) Anchors Away (b) Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder, (c) When the Caissons Go Rolling Along - and have a friend call you 10 minutes into the interview. However, under no circumstances use the insipid Coast Guard song Semper Paratus.
 
EDelahanty said:
1. Turn your cellphone off
or,
2. Depending on which service you are interviewing for, set your ring tone to (a) Anchors Away (b) Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder, (c) When the Caissons Go Rolling Along - and have a friend call you 10 minutes into the interview. However, under no circumstances use the insipid Coast Guard song Semper Paratus.
Click to expand...
Honestly, This is the funniest tip i have heard
 
LoonWatch2027 said:
What I did is I just got a hair cut borrowed my dad’s suit and came up with some answers to general questions. Basically, if you dress nicer than average and really show you wanna be their by showing up a little early, looking them in the eyes, and have a good handshake itll put you ahead of a decent bunch. Furthermore, have some well thought out answers. For example, they will 100% ask "why do you want to serve" don't just say "to serve my country" because everybody says that. The hardest question for me was "why do you deserve the scholarship over others" reflect on that one because it took me by surprise. Good luck, dm me with any questions!
Click to expand...
Solid advice- appreciate your time.
 
You should learn to "read the room". There are some times where you should be sorta stern, but in my case in both NROTC interview, and USNA nom interview they were "laid back". Both boards were kinda making jokes and i was able to stay respectful but not seem uncomfortable and match their energy because id assume thats what they want, because leadership isn't about MAKING people respect you its about earning it, and you'll never do that if you don't have a relaxed side to you.
 
These are fantastic tips! Love the ringtone one. 😂My son was interviewed over the phone at home. I felt so bad for all the noise he had to deal with. I wasn’t involved in that process but I’m curious to know what they asked him. I’m going to ask him if he has any tips he can share and will report back.
 
All great advice already mentioned.
I would also recommend doing practice interviews. Do it with a parent’s friend, guidance counselor, or someone who may be unfamiliar to the candidate. Do it in “dress rehearsal “. Then the candidate can become more comfortable in posture, body language, not saying “umm”, and wearing dress clothes that look and fit properly.
This will help get through the jitters of a first time nervous candidate interview.
Interviews are critical to the process….
 
shock-n-awe said:
All great advice already mentioned.
I would also recommend doing practice interviews. Do it with a parent’s friend, guidance counselor, or someone who may be unfamiliar to the candidate. Do it in “dress rehearsal “. Then the candidate can become more comfortable in posture, body language, not saying “umm”, and wearing dress clothes that look and fit properly.
This will help get through the jitters of a first time nervous candidate interview.
Interviews are critical to the process….
Click to expand...
This is great advice. Especially getting a interviewer the candidate doesn't know that well. The interviewer doesn't have to ask Navy specific questions. Just typical job interview questions will help to give the candidate some confidence in the interview.
 
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