Summer Camp Secrets

When we last heard from CCUSA, they were telling us all about their application process, including info on their awesome job fairs (congrats if you got hired at a job fair!). But if you didn’t manage to make it to one of the job fairs, and your application is still in its early stages, don’t worry, there’s plenty of time to get it all sorted and find yourself a job in America for the BEST summer ever!

CCUSA have been awesome enough to give the Summer Camp Secrets readers some insight into their interview process – I promise it’s not so scary, they really just want to chat and learn about you and your fabulous skills!

1. Who will I have my interview with? Is it in person/where will it be?

When it is time for you to have your interview, either Dave or Laura will be in contact to help set up the interview and make everything run smoothly. We have specialists (our interviewers) based all across the country, many of them based at Universities. Once you have been assigned your interviewer you can get in touch with them via email and set up an interview with a time and place that suits you both. Where possible, the interviewer will try and meet with you face to face and 9 times out of 10 it will take place in Costa Coffee or Starbucks. However, don’t worry if this isn’t possible because we can organise a skype interview for you as well.

2. Is the interview formal? Should I be nervous?

We don’t really like calling this part of the process an interview, just because it is much more of an informal chat. There is no need to dress up or bring a briefcase and CV along with you. It really is just to find out a lot more about you and the skills that you have already listed in your application. Before your interview, we will have worked out your top three skills and the interviewer will try and delve a lot more into how often you practise the skills, terminology you may know and how comfortable you feel teaching it. There really is nothing to be nervous about. All of our specialists are lovely so you really have nothing to worry about.

3. What should I wear?

For your interview there is really no need to dress up and come in a full suit. Just wear what you would usually wear to a day in lectures or going to your local shopping centre. But also don’t turn up with last’s night outfit on or PJ’s. Remember – at the end of the day this is an interview for a real life job.

4. How should I prepare?

Before the interview takes place there really isn’t a lot to prepare for. As long as you turn up and are willing to talk about yourself and your skills you will be absolutely fine. And remember to sell yourself and how good you are at the skills you have written about. Camp Directors look through hundreds of applications every week – we want to know what will make you stick out from the crowd and why are you better than someone else with the same skill.

5. What sort of questions will I be asked?

The majority of the interview will be taken up by talking about your top 3 skills, and certain aspects of that skill that you know about and are happy teaching to children. However, if there is something that the interviewer doesn’t mention, but you think would make you stick out from the crowd then 100% let them know. The more information they walk away with at the end of the interview the better position you are putting yourself in.

And there you have it! If you have any questions about CCUSA’s interview process (or anything to do with summer camp), just get in touch!

**I’m returning to camp this summer with CCUSA who have the lowest returner fees and have placed 100% of applicants in the last 2 years. Get in touch with them via their website, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, by phoning them on +44 0208 874 6325 or by email at info@ccusa.co.uk.**

Disclaimer: CCUSA are waiving my camp fees in return for this blog series, but please rest assured that all opinions are honest and my own.