Remember our previous article regarding what the Direct School Admission (DSA) is all about? Well, have you started your applications yet? The first thing to do is to get down to fill in the applications and then, next comes the more challenging part – the interview!
You would have already started thinking about the interview that lays ahead and how to ace it. Yes, many parents, as well as students, tend to be rather tense about the interview. Are you? Don’t worry! With a few basic tips, you will be able to face this challenge and ace it! Let’s take a look at the important things that you should keep in mind while preparing for the interview.
What do the interviewers look for?
The first question that one should ask is this – what are the interviewers looking for? Now, different schools might have slightly differing approaches, but the general thread is the same. In reality, they are all watching out for a few skills. These include the ability to communicate skilfully, confidence, positivity apart from skills in any of the specific co-curricular activities.
Confidence and Honesty – the keys to success
Confidence is undoubtedly the most important thing that you need while taking an interview. If you lack it, you are half-way out even before the interview begins. If you have it, however, half the ‘battle’ is already won. How do you build confidence in kids? During this period, parents are the ones who can do the most in this regard. Only spread positivity in your kids – tell them that you believe in them and try to take away any fear of failure that may be within them.
The next important thing is honesty. Interviewers are drawn in by honesty. More often than not, they are also easily able to recognize a dishonest answer. Therefore, never try to cook up answers unnecessarily. You will be caught if you’re unable to keep up with your answers, and that would dent your chances of success.
Tips to sail through
Here are a few things that you can do during your interview preparation.
Organize your answers
Firstly, organize your answers to the most probable questions. By this point, many of you might have already realized that there are certain default questions that every candidate can expect. These include:
1) What makes you different from other candidates?
2) What additional value will you bring to this school?
3) What are your best qualities?
Be ready for such questions. Invest some time and prepare well-organized answers for them, but make sure they are all true!
Be ready to perform
The next thing to remember is that you might be asked to do something related to any of the specific talents that you have put down in your application form. This year, owing to the constraints of conducting the interview via e-modes, there are limitations to this. Still, be prepared to ‘walk the talk’. These tasks might include activities like a musical performance, giving a short speech, or solving a maths puzzle question, depending on the talents that you have mentioned in your application
Practice makes perfect
You can never underplay the importance of practice. Practice answering questions, both the generic questions and the ‘more-unique’ (more challenging) ones. Take a few mock interviews. Parents can help out here. There are also quality coaching institutions that offer mock interviews for DSA candidates. This will help you to have a better understanding of the interview process while also pointing out more clearly the areas where you need to work on before the final interview.
The icing on the cake
We’ll sum up with just one more tip. Wear a smile for your interview. This can bring in a tremendous amount of positivity and work in your favor.
With all these basics covered, you are sure to do well in the online interview. You’ve got this. Believe in yourself. Tick all the basics and ace your interview.
All the best! 😊
Exam Smart Tips
Exam Smart Tip #1 – How to Encourage Our Kids to Speak Better?
Exam Smart Tip #2 – How to avoid carelessness?
Exam Smart Tip #3 – Establishing Routines!
Exam Smart Tip #4 – Let’s Read Carefully!
Exam Smart Tip #5 – Beating the Exam Fever!
Exam Smart Tip #6 – How to Eat Right for the Exams?
Exam Smart Tip #7 – How to Avoid a Meltdown?
Exam Smart Tip #8 – Taking Stress out of Tests
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