Tips for Interview - Verbal Preparation

Interviewing is a great skill to have and you can never practice too much. It is a lifelong skill that will benefit you both personally and professionally. This is the chance to show the judges the real you and show them exactly why they should choose you for the title. 

Be Prepared

This is pretty standard, but it is a common mistake. Sure, you never know what the judges are going to ask you, but you should always practice the most common interview questions (I will list some below for practice). You must have an idea of what you’re going to say for the most common interview questions. Note, I said have an idea. This shouldn’t be a rehearsed or scripted answer. It should come off natural when speaking. Also, research the pageant and what they stand for. What is their mission statement? When were they founded? What/who are the legacies to come before you? Reference these points in your interview, it shows you’ve done your homework and want to live and work for this title for the next year. 

• Tell me a little about yourself

• Who is your role model, why?

• Who is the most inspirational/influential person in your life?

• Where do you see yourself in five (ten) years?

• What is your dream job?

• If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why?

• Why do you want to be Miss International?

• What is your biggest strength/weakness?

Remove Filler Words

Filler words are short meaningless words that fill the little pauses in speech while we decide what we are going to say next. We all use them in everyday speech and sometimes they can be distracting. Uh, um, er, like, hmm, and so are the most common. Practice taking these out of your daily speech habits. You only have a few minutes with the judges and want to leave a great impression with them, you don’t want to waste your time with filler words that can distract them from your overall message. How do you get yourself to stop using filler words? It really takes practice, but pause, think then speak. Think before you speak, and really listen to the words that you are saying. Practice removing those words from your vocabulary in general, not just for pageant prep. Find someone close to you and have a conversation with that person to politely let you know when you start to slip and use the filler words again. This person should be someone you talk to regularly, your best friend, mom or dad, or significant other.

Answering the Question

Speak clearly, annunciate, and be concise when answering questions, even if you are asked a question that suggests an in-depth answer. Aim to express yourself in as few words as possible while still getting the point across. Think of your answers in three sentences. 1. Answer the question. 2. Provide a supporting detail or two,l 3. Wrap up your thought. Sticking to three sentence answers will help show the judges you are prepared, concise, and will also give the opportunity for more questions to be asked. 

Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear from you: missintl2020@gmail.com Stay happy, healthy, and grounded Mind. Heart. Body.

Megan Vladic

Miss International 2020