[civsa] Interview Questions for Prospective Tour Guides

Wed Oct 1 08:59:19 CDT 2014

Good morning!

I attached our questions and scoring sheets, but I'll explain how our
interviews works first.

We have two interview rounds. We invite our top applicants for the first
round of interviews and break them into three groups of five(ish). They go
through three different sessions; mock tour, tough questions, general
interview questions.

*Mock Tour*
Tour guides who have worked in our office for over a year take an applicant
one-on-one around campus for 15 minutes. The applicant is encouraged to
share whatever they would like, walk their own route, and will just be told
when they should start heading back to the main office. We always assure
the applicants they are not being graded on knowing PLU facts (we can train
them on those), but instead looking for their ability to tell a story,
connect with their guests, authenticity, etc.. But of course we have a
scoring section for those that did memorize facts about PLU - this clearly
shows initiative and professionalism.

*Tough Questions*
This is the room I facilitate. I ask tough questions our tour guides hear
everyday popcorn style around the room (safety, drinking, cost, etc.).
While I am certainly listening for a certain type of answer, I am also
looking for composure under pressure and confidence. Invariably someone in
the room will answer a question poorly, I then look to see who in the room
will help the applicant. This is what I love about the group interview
dynamic! I can watch how they interact with their peers, if they have
empathy, a sense of humor, etc.. All things they must use while out on a
tour with families. We know how strange families can be...

*General Interview Questions*
These are your basic google search interview questions. However, we do ask
the group to go around and share a fun fact about them. We are trying to
see personality here! Best fun fact we have heard to date? One of the
applicants was on MTV "Made" when he was in high school. We hired him. Duh.

At the end of the evening my student coordinator and I review all of the
notes. At the bottom of every scoring sheet we ask the interviewer to say
if they would hire the applicant or not. If an applicant has triple no's,
we do not invite them back for round two of interviews. If they have three
yes's, then of course they make the next round. If they are split the
coordinator and I figure out who we think has the best potential or we want
to hear more from.

The final round of interviews are held with just my student coordinator and
myself. We ask a few follow-up questions, and repeat any questions we might
have flagged previously. The interviews take about 20 minutes.

We have used this process for about five years now and love it! For the
most part, these are 18 year-olds who are going through one of their first
interviews. I feel like the group process with three different sessions
allows them to warm up, potentially stumble through one session, but excel
in a different one. We allow room for mistakes and nerves, as long as it
isn't seen through all three sessions! It also gives my current tour guides
professional development opportunities since they are essential in the
interview process.

I highly encourage this if you have the time and bodies to help out!

Have a great day,

Hannah

On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 12:06 PM, Roof, Christopher <roof at gonzaga.edu>
wrote:

>  Hi Everyone,
>
>
>
> We do a nomination, application, group interview, individual interview
> process for our new crop of volunteer ambassadors. The numbers usually go
> from 300 nominations – 130-150 applications – 85 group interviews – 50-60
> individual interviews and pick between 25-30 depending on the number of
> seniors we have graduating that year.
>
>
>
> These are the questions we use during the individual interview – this is
> also the only area that I have a part in – the rest is done by the Amby
> Interns and their selections committee, with guidance on things to keep in
> mind from myself throughout the process..
>
>
>
> 1.      Tell us something random or interesting, a fun fact, about
> yourself that makes you unique.
>
> 2.      Tell us one thing you would change about Gonzaga and why.
>
> 3.      We quiz them on 3 random fact and figures questions.
>
> 4.      Situations – we usually ask 2-3 situational questions – the
> interviewer can pick between the following:
>
> a.       You are giving a tour to a group and stop in Crosby to talk
> about the different offices. On your way into Crosby, parents see a group
> from the HERO Club, our LGBTQA club on campus, and they inquire about how
> this club relates to Gonzaga as a Jesuit institution. How would you react
> in this circumstance?
>
> b.      It is GEL weekend and you are giving a tour to a sizable group of
> prospective students and their parents. You stop to talk about something
> and notice a couple beer cans scattered around a bush right next to you—and
> not in a subtle way. What would you do in this situation? What if at a
> Preview Day students, separated from their parents, ask about “the party
> scene” on campus?
>
> c.       Your tour group consists of many students from all over the
> country, such as from Seattle, Phoenix, and San Francisco. On your tour
> they all comment on how gross Spokane is. How would you respond?
>
> d.      On your tour you have a number of students from Jesuit high
> schools who have made it clear that their Catholic faith is a hugely
> important part of their educational experiences and of their lives. When
> you stop to talk about University Ministry, a different student asks, “How
> does this apply to me if I’m not Catholic”? How would you address this
> student’s concerns?
>
> e.       You are giving a campus tour to prospective students and their
> families and your roommate sneaks onto the tour and starts making jokes or
> your friend yells an inappropriate comment towards you as you are passing
> by Crosby. What is your response?
>
> 5.      Being an Ambassador is a commitment for the rest of your Gonzaga
> experience, not just this first semester or year. In the event you are
> chosen to be an Ambassador, what degree of commitment would you be willing
> to give to the program, even as you become more involved on-campus?
>
> 6.      Because of the importance of the role Ambassadors play in the
> Admissions Office, they have to be accountable. What does it mean to you to
> be accountable, and how does that apply to the different areas of your life?
>
> 7.      From committee: Any follow-up questions?
>
> 8.      Any questions for us?
>
>
>
>
>
> If you have any questions for me about our process, just please let me
> know.
>
>
>
> *Chris Roof **‘08* *| *Visit Specialist |Ambassador Advisor
>
> [image: GU_cmyk_c]
>
>
>
> 800.322.2584 ext. 6580 | 509.313.6580
>
> www.gonzaga.edu/visit
>
> #BeAZag
>
>
>
> *From:* listserv [mailto:listserv-bounces at civsa.org] *On Behalf Of *Andrea
> Hitsman
> *Sent:* Monday, September 29, 2014 7:10 AM
> *To:* listserv at civsa.org
> *Subject:* Re: [civsa] Interview Questions for Prospective Tour Guides
>
>
>
> Tiffany: Here are some question we use. I also attached a rubric for
> rating the candidates. We also wanted to change up the way we interviewed
> tour guides but more importantly we wanted to stop just hiring people
> because they were "bubbly." Now we focus more on "Can this person tell
> their story" and "Can they keep the group engaged"
>
>
>
> Hope this helps!
>
>
>
>
>
> 1. Tell us why you would be a great ambassador.
>
> 2. Tell us about your work experience(s).
>
>    What challenges have you overcome?
>
> 3. What does the Jesuit Mission mean to you?
>
> 4. Let’s say you’re giving a tour and there are beer cans in the show
> room. How would
>
>     you handle that?
>
> 5. What are your most favorite and least favorite things about being a
> Billiken Buddy?
>
> 6. What is your least favorite thing about SLU? If you could change one
> thing, what
>
>     would it be?
>
> 7. Let’s say you’re giving a tour and another current student yells “SLU
> sucks! Don’t go
>
>    here!” How would you handle that?
>
> 8. How would you talk about campus safety to prospective students and
> parents?
>
> 9. How would you explain the Jesuit Mission to a family that has made it
> clear they are
>
>    not religious?
>
> 10. What do you like to do in your free time?
>
> 11. What is your favorite movie/book/show?
>
> 12. You’re very involved. How do you manage your time?
>
> 13. How did you choose SLU?
>
>
>
> Do you have any questions for us?
>
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 23, 2014 at 1:31 PM, Tiffany Pena <tlpena at mail.plymouth.edu>
> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
>
>
> I just took over our tour guide program here, and our interview questions
> are really bland and out of date.  Is anyone willing to share a list of
> questions they use when interviewing prospective tour guides?
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
> - Tiffany
>
>
>
> Tiffany L. Peña
> Events and Communications Manager
>
>
>
> Admissions Office
> Plymouth State University
> 17 High Street - MSC 52
> Plymouth, NH 03264
>
>
>
> Direct 603.535.2308
> Fax 603.535.2714
>
> www.plymouth.edu/admissions
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> listserv mailing list
> listserv at civsa.org
> http://civsa.org/mailman/listinfo/listserv_civsa.org
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> ANDREA L. HITSMAN
> Assistant Director-Campus Visits
>
> BLS '08, MA '13
>
> *SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY*
>
> *Office of Admission*
> One North Grand Boulevard
>
> Room 119
> St. Louis, MO 63103
>
> *DIRECT:* (314) 977-2420
>
> CELL: (314) 985-9332
> *FAX:* (314) 977-7136
> *EMAIL:* hitsmana at slu.edu
>
>
>
>
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>

-- 
Hannah Middlebrook
Assistant Director of Admissions
Pacific Lutheran University
253-538-6370
middlehm at plu.edu
w <http://www.choose.plu.edu/>ww.choose.plu.edu

<https://www.facebook.com/pluadmission>
<http://instagram.com/plu_admission>
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