Last week I discussed
the application process for this specific D.C. internship, and figured this
week I would talk about the next step: the interview. The first thing everyone
should know is that the response time is not immediate from the day you submit
the application to the day you receive an email saying that you either did or
did not get an interview. I submitted my application in early October and found
out the Wednesday before Thanksgiving that I was chosen for a phone interview
that next week. So do not get discouraged if a month passes and you still do
not hear from them. I scheduled my interview
for a day and time when I knew I would be free and someplace quiet. Do not
schedule an interview time for an hour before your class starts, you do not
want to feel pressured or rushed during the interview. I spent a few days
before the interview preparing my answers to all the basic interview questions
I assumed they would ask:
Why do you want to intern at this museum? Why should we choose you among other applicants for this internship?
I created a list of all of the qualifications and experiences I wanted to mention in the interview so I didn't forget any vital information that could win me the internship. The list included the number of Holocaust survivors I met, the names of the Survivors I interviewed, the camps I visited in Poland, the museums I volunteered at and what I specifically did in those museums. This really kept my mind clear from roaming because I didn’t have to pause and think about an answer. The interviewer called me at exactly the time I was scheduled for and the first thing he did was discuss what position I was interviewing for and the jobs I would be performing in that internship. Once I said that I understood the position, he moved onto the questions.
They did ask the basic questions I mentioned above, so be prepared to tell them what you can bring to the museum and make sure to complement the museum's offerings; such as the large archives or their Passport project. It's good to let them know that you are familiar with the place and what they have to offer, so that you can tell visitors. They also asked how I deal with children and, due to my education minor background and the many hours of service I spent in schools, I was able to give an answer that pleased my interviewer. They also asked if I am okay with lifting heavy objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Seeing as how my job on campus is delivering packages to on-campus students, I was able to tell him that I have carried TVs and printers before and that 25 pounds would not be an issue. As the interview went on, he began to ask deeper questions, including "Would you be able to emotionally handle working at the museum?" I told him of my time visiting the concentration and death camps in Poland and that if I can get through that, I can get through ten weeks of working at the museum. He then asked the what if questions:
What if a visitor came up to you and asked you a question that you did not know the answer too? I said I would give my best answer, but direct them to the many resources the museum has to offer to answer their question, including the museum's website. This seemed to be the answer they were looking for,
I heard back from the museum exactly two weeks after the interview after receiving a call asking if I was still interested. I practically screamed that I was, and was told that I would hear from someone in a few days about the next steps. It took a month to hear from someone. I was so nervous that they decided not to give the internship me, that I ended up having to call them before my school's add/drop deadline to know if I should withdrawal from my classes. Do not be afraid to take initiative and email or call if you have any questions or concerns, everyone I spoke with was super nice and understanding.
Why do you want to intern at this museum? Why should we choose you among other applicants for this internship?
I created a list of all of the qualifications and experiences I wanted to mention in the interview so I didn't forget any vital information that could win me the internship. The list included the number of Holocaust survivors I met, the names of the Survivors I interviewed, the camps I visited in Poland, the museums I volunteered at and what I specifically did in those museums. This really kept my mind clear from roaming because I didn’t have to pause and think about an answer. The interviewer called me at exactly the time I was scheduled for and the first thing he did was discuss what position I was interviewing for and the jobs I would be performing in that internship. Once I said that I understood the position, he moved onto the questions.
They did ask the basic questions I mentioned above, so be prepared to tell them what you can bring to the museum and make sure to complement the museum's offerings; such as the large archives or their Passport project. It's good to let them know that you are familiar with the place and what they have to offer, so that you can tell visitors. They also asked how I deal with children and, due to my education minor background and the many hours of service I spent in schools, I was able to give an answer that pleased my interviewer. They also asked if I am okay with lifting heavy objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Seeing as how my job on campus is delivering packages to on-campus students, I was able to tell him that I have carried TVs and printers before and that 25 pounds would not be an issue. As the interview went on, he began to ask deeper questions, including "Would you be able to emotionally handle working at the museum?" I told him of my time visiting the concentration and death camps in Poland and that if I can get through that, I can get through ten weeks of working at the museum. He then asked the what if questions:
What if a visitor came up to you and asked you a question that you did not know the answer too? I said I would give my best answer, but direct them to the many resources the museum has to offer to answer their question, including the museum's website. This seemed to be the answer they were looking for,
I heard back from the museum exactly two weeks after the interview after receiving a call asking if I was still interested. I practically screamed that I was, and was told that I would hear from someone in a few days about the next steps. It took a month to hear from someone. I was so nervous that they decided not to give the internship me, that I ended up having to call them before my school's add/drop deadline to know if I should withdrawal from my classes. Do not be afraid to take initiative and email or call if you have any questions or concerns, everyone I spoke with was super nice and understanding.
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