LeadershipInterview

Interviewing Skills

For Secondary members with an IEP under IDEA: a pre-judged personal statement and resume for a real health-related position, then a five-minute mock interview with judges.

About this event

Interviewing Skills is one of four HOSA events reserved for members classified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Section 504 students are not eligible), open only to the Secondary division and sponsored by CareerSafe. You choose a real health-related job, internship, scholarship or educational opportunity you are qualified or training for, then write a two-page personal statement (with a title page) telling your story and a one-page factual resume. Both go in one PDF uploaded by May 15 and are pre-judged out of 105 points; an Accommodation Form (Appendix H-1) is also required or 35 points are deducted. Everyone who uploads advances to Round Two, a five-minute interview with judges with no materials allowed. The first two questions always ask you to describe the opportunity and the skills you bring; the rest are secret questions. Handshakes are allowed and expected at the start and end. The 80-point interview rubric covers first impression, answer quality, confidence and maturity, knowledge of the position, closing, diction and eye contact, for a 185-point total. New this year the interview grew by a minute to five minutes. Ties are broken by the highest-value rubric sections.

What judges score

Round One, A. Personal Statement: Spelling and grammar (5), Length, 2 pages plus title page (5), Formatting (5), Introduction (10), Ability to tell a story (10), Snapshot of the competitor (10), Conclusion (10)Round One, B. Resume: Spelling and grammar (5), Length (5), Content (20), Creativity (20); subtotal 105Round Two, A. Interview: Introduction / first impression (15), Interview answer criteria: volunteers information, responds to every question, relates strengths and skills, sounds professional (15), Confidence, maturity, enthusiasm (10), Knowledge of the position / opportunity applied for (10), Closing (10), Diction, pronunciation and grammar (10), Eye contact, poise and posture (10); subtotal 80, total 185

What judges score

Personal Statement: spelling and grammar, length, formatting, introduction, ability to tell a story, snapshot of the competitor, conclusionResume: spelling and grammar, length, content, creativityInterview: first impression, answering criteria, confidence, knowledge of the position, closing, diction, eye contact and posture

Study resources

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