Sending Interview Questions and Tips

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Listed below are the questions on the Placement Information Sending Interview Form and sample questions that you may find helpful in exploring each area with the candidate and his or her family.

Contents

Environmental information

This asks for a simple explanation of the student’s hometown and demographic background.

Home environment

This section asks for descriptions of the student’s physical home, who lives at home, the general living situation (parents married, single, divorced, etc.), and education level of parents, and home atmosphere. Any information that may be vital for a staff member or volunteer in a partner country regarding this student’s placement should also be recorded here.

Sample questions:

TO THE CANDIDATE:

  • If this is a single parent home: “Could you talk about your other parent and your relationship?”
  • “How would you describe your relationship with your siblings?”

TO THE PARENTS:

  • “Do you both work outside the home? What type of work do you do?”
  • “Have there been any changes in your family recently, like an illness, that we should be aware of?”
  • “Do you have reservations or fears about an AFS experience?”
  • “Are there any specific questions you have that I might answer, or direct to an Admissions Advisor?”

Family communication/interests

In this section we ask that you describe the family communication dynamics, whether either parent appears to be dominant, how the student relates to his or her parents and siblings, and what are the family values. The check-boxes are a good place to start, and please add your own comments as well.

Sample questions:
TO THE PARENTS AND CANDIDATE: (together or separately, answers may vary)

  • “How does your family spend time together?”
  • “Describe any of your family’s community activities (church, volunteer, school).”
  • “Do you have an extended family?”
  • “How are decisions made in your family?”
  • “What are the working rules of your household? What happens when the rules are broken?”
  • “Who makes decisions in the house?”

Candidate's personality

This section deals specifically with the student, and should be fairly detailed. The student’s attitude toward school and extracurricular activities is important for staff and volunteers in assessing the student’s application. Feel free to add comments, beyond the check-box answer options about the candidate’s personality.

Sample questions:

TO THE CANDIDATE:

  • “What is your favorite class in school? Least favorite?”
  • “Have you ever had an unreasonable teacher? How did you deal with him or her?”
  • “Describe yourself using three adjectives, what do you consider the best thing about you?”
  • “When you’re alone during the day, what do you do?”
  • “When you get frustrated or angry, what do you use as your escape valve?”

TO THE PARENTS:

  • “Has the candidate had any recent challenges in school? How were they overcome?”
  • “Describe the candidate using three adjectives.”
  • “What things about the candidate are you most proud of?”

Placement

This section deals with specific restrictions (dietary, medical, allergic, etc.) that AFS must take into account for placement purposes. Please provide any details that may be helpful. Also, give your opinion about the type of placement for which this student would be suitable. Having interviewed the candidate and family, you are the best position to voice any concerns or highlight any particular endorsements. Some of the answers to these questions may be best suited for the Other Comments section. Sample questions:
TO THE CANDIDATE:

  • “Do you attend religious services? If so, how often? Would you mind living with a family of a different faith?”
  • “How do you feel about attending services with a host family from another faith?”
  • “Do you have pets? Do you like animals?”
  • “What are your favorite foods? Any you dislike? What is the most exotic food you’ve ever eaten?”
  • “Describe any traveling that you’ve done. What did you like most about the place(s) you visited? The least?”
  • “What do you hope to get out of the AFS experience?”
  • “How did you hear about AFS? What made you interested enough to apply?”

TO THE PARENTS:

  • “How do you feel about (candidate) being placed in a family of a different religion?”
  • “How did you choose AFS over other types of programs (e.g. summer camps, sports camps, if a summer program)?”

Helpful Tips

  • Use a "funnel" technique. Approach topics from a broad angle, narrowing down to more specific questions.
  • Stick to one topic at a time. Follow up thoroughly before you go on to the next topic.
  • Summarize a candidate’s response in a simple sentence to be sure that you have understood what he or she was saying. This will give the candidate a chance to add to, or correct, what you understood.
  • Go from easy, non-threatening topics to more difficult ones, building to a deeper discussion once you have established good rapport.
  • You may need to use an indirect approach to difficult subjects (asking the candidate what he or she thinks others think about the subject rather than what he or she thinks) or a probing technique (“Why?” “How?”) if the candidate’s responses are insufficient.
  • Help the candidate feel secure by being relaxed and by showing that any response is permitted. Assure the candidate that all information is confidential.
  • End with a casual conversation so that the relationship you have established ends on a relaxed note.


Sending Interview Resources

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February 8 2012
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