CHALLENGE/ACTIVITY #9: PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW/MERIT REVIEW BOARD

This week's challenge will be for cadets to prepare for an interview and/or a Merit Review Board (MRB). MRBs are required for a cadet to be promoted to the rank of WO2 and WO1. When cadets enter the workforce, they will be required to conduct an interview to ensure they are hired for the job. 

Cadets are to prepare answers for the following questions and if possible with the help of another person (cadet, family member, friend, etc.) have an interview conducted on themselves asking some of the following sample questions.

Junior cadets are not to get too discouraged as they are still a few years away from attaining the rank of WO2 or accepting a part-time job, but this preparation will help when the moment comes. Try to answer the questions you can to the best of your ability.

PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW/MERIT REVIEW BOARD

​EXAMPLE QUESTIONS TO EXPECT AT A MERIT REVIEW BOARD FOR PROMOTION
Question areas may include:

• your achievements through cadet training (eg, squadron program, CSTC program);
• previous positions of leadership held (eg, at cadets, at school) and your performance in related situations;
• personal goals and / or your goals for the squadron;
• achievements outside of the cadet squadron setting (eg, at school, in the community, sports teams, extracurricular
• activities), and
• scenario-based questions that relate to typical squadron situations and how you might approach / deal with the situation.

All candidates will be asked the same questions, which could be similar to the following examples:

• Describe your current squadron responsibilities.
• Describe your involvement in squadron teams, band and drill, flag party or clubs.
• What leadership positions have you held in any organization?
• What do you consider your own strengths / weaknesses?
• If you had to change something about yourself, what would it be?
• How did you become interested in the cadet movement?
• On an average evening, how much time do you dedicate to homework?
• For what do you use your home computer? (eg, games, research, emails)
• Where are you headed in life?
• Do you plan to take any post-secondary school education?
• What discipline or education do you wish to pursue?
• Do you have a part-time job and, if so, does it compete with cadets or school?
• What community related-activities do you participate in?
• What targets have you set for your personal growth or improvement?
• Do you participate in any organized school teams / groups (eg, band, football)?
• Are you involved with any citizenship activities in your community outside of cadets?
• Do you have any hobbies?

Scenario-based questions:

• You have been given responsibility for a group of cadets, some of whom require motivation in uniform care. What will you do?
• You are in charge of drill instruction and one of your assistant instructors keeps touching cadets when correcting them, despite your instructions to not touch. What do you do?

PREPARATION FOR A MERIT REVIEW BOARD FOR PROMOTION

​A candidate for a merit review board for promotion should:

• think about potential questions that could be asked and prepare answers to these questions;
• talk to others who have been through the process to find out what to expect; and
• participate in any opportunity to practice for a board, such as practice merit review boards.

Dress Requirements
The interview candidate shall identify dress requirements well ahead of their interview. The uniform must be worn in accordance with the cadet dress instructions in the relevant Cadet Administration and Training Order (CATO). Dress shall be maintained to a high standard.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW
Importance of Bearing
Many candidates will exhibit high standards of dress and high levels of knowledge. The final selections will therefore be based partly on the winning candidates' bearing.

Unless given other instructions, the candidate will enter facing the board, wearing headdress, and salute. Wait until offered a seat and remove headdress when seated.

​During the interview, do nothing that may distract the interviewers, to include:

• biting one's lips;
• squirming;
• scratching;
• chewing gum;
• twisting fingers;
• playing with hair;
• checking the time;
• yawning—make sure to have a good night's sleep before the interview; and
• taking anything into an interview that has any chance of distracting the interviewers.

​Hand gestures while speaking will also distract interviewers, making a negative impression.

Sit with an open posture and legs and arms not crossed.

The members of the board want the cadet to feel comfortable and relaxed. Try to be so, while maintaining respect and decorum. A confident candidate will sit up straight, calmly looking the interviewer straight in the eye without fidgeting. Nodding or shaking the head does not constitute an answer of any kind. All replies must be verbal.

Candidates must be prepared to say some introductory words about themselves.
Remember that the interviewers are also going through a process for which they have made long preparations and to which they attach great importance. The candidate being interviewed is, in many ways, part of a team which includes the interviewers. All members of this team are expected to maintain respect, decorum and friendliness.

When the interview is completed, stand, replace headdress, make firm eye contact, salute, and smartly depart the room. The board members may or may not offer to shake hands. Follow their lead.

If the candidate does not know the answer to a question it is best to say so in as direct a manner as possible so the interview moves on to another topic where the candidate has better knowledge. This will minimize both the psychological impact of the missing information and the damage to the candidate's mark. Shoulders must never be shrugged during an interview.

​PREVIOUS CHALLENGES/ACTIVITIES

Previous challenges/activities:
#1: Construct a Model Aerodrome
#2: Construct a Model Bivouac Site Layout
#3: Most Improved Polished Boots
#4: Participate in Stretching Exercises
#5: Keep a Weekly Gratitude Journal
#6: Participate in Warm-Up Exercises & Create a Physical Activity Tracker
​#7: Create Short-Term & Long Term SMART Goals
​#8: Prepare for an Aircrew Survival Exercise - Part I
​

ALL CHALLENGES ARE PARTICIPATION BASED AND CADETS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO SHOWCASE THEIR RESULTS AT THE END OF THE TRAINING YEAR.