Summer Camp: Part 2, Application and Interview

Hello and welcome back to ‘Boy in a Big World’

 

So this is part to of a series I am writing about my experience in applying and going to America to work as a camp counsellor.

 

This is a very long post but do keep reading, it will be worth it, I promise!!

 

If you want the first post which is all about how to choose the right company for you and why I chose to do it then that’s here, but if not then read on because today’s post is all about the application form and the initial interview you will have with whatever agency.

 

NOW……..I applied through a company called Americamp so this post will only be talking about their process directly but I have friends that have gone with other agency’s and as far as I am aware they all operate in a VERY similar way when it comes to accepting applicants onto the programme. So read on because this post will include some useful lessons I learnt when applying.

 

The written/online application

So you have decided what agency you want to go with?!?

Great…….so now you are probably staring at an online application form thinking its really daunting and what the hell is there 24 pages for and what the Nora Batty am I going to put in all these boxes.

Well don’t worry. The first 15 of those pages will be details about you like your address and what school you went to and things like that. You know all this (or you should) so just plug in some music fill it in and away we go….

 

Now it’s the next part you have to pay attention to. This is where you are gonna want to dig out every bit of childcare experience you have. Whether that’s baby sitting for a neighbour or the fact you’re a trainee teacher and have worked with class full of kids.

For me, I am scout leader so that’s where the majority of mine has come from but try to think of a least 2 different examples to work with, the more the merrier.

Think about all the times you have had to run activities or entertain them at a moments notice. What did you do? How many kids? What where the challenges? And don’t be afraid to admit it was hard at times. Camp directors will be seeing your application and they know that being a camp counsellor is hard, if they see someone who can admit to challenges they know, that you know, what your getting yourself into, and even though you have faced adversity, it shows that you aren’t afraid to pick yourself back up and get on with it. Don’t admit to it going diabolically wrong just say something like, ‘It turned out to be more of a challenge than I expected, but it a challenge that I took in my stride and learnt greatly from’

 

Its all about clever wording guys!!!!!

 

So this is probably the most important part of your application in my opinion!!!!

This is the skills section. This is where you need to decide what you want to teach at camp. Now there are general counsellor roles at most camps where you do a bit of everything and help out on whichever activity needs you but most camps also like you to have skills you are prepared to teach and often lead a lesson in.

Try to think of things you know a lot about, for an example I will use me.

Because I have been involved in scouting for years I have a lot of outdoor skills that I am very competent in, like cooking outdoors and orienteering but my big one was the fact I can sail, but I am also very crafty, I can knit, I make cards and I sew, but I also do performing arts and studied media for 2 years, if you are struggling then talk to your agency about what to put or what could be a skill, they will go through this more in depth at your interview, but more on that next.

 

 

The Interview

So you have sent off your amazing application and the agency has contacted you asking to book an interview. Now as far as I am aware, all agencies ask you to pay an admin fee before your interview that is non-refundable, even if you don’t get placed. For Americamp it is £40 and I guess it is around the same for all of them but its worth checking if that would be an important factor for you.

 

Now all agencies run there interviews differently and I have a friend that used Camp America and they did it face to face in a hotel. For Americamp a lot of their interviews are done on skype but I do know if you are local to their Manchester HQ then they do it there.

Now don’t be worried for your interview, its more of a chat about your application, why you want to be in America and then they talk about your skills.

 

For my interview we went through my skills and highlighted all the good and….not so good. We changed them around multiple times until we where settled on a set that I was happy with and my interviewer thought I would most likely get placed with.

 

Remember, the agency want you to go to camp too because that’s how they make money. Don’t worry about your skills not being good enough or not having enough child care experience, they will point things out to you that you NEVER would have thought of in a million years.

 

Now the next part is the bit you should think about the most, the scenario questions?!?!?

To be honest they are nothing to worry about again. Use common sense and just think about your answers before you say them, a couple of examples of these questions could be…….A child is sitting on there own a lot and doesn’t want to join in, what do you do? OR It’s a Childs first time at camp and they seem nervous, what do you do? OR it has just started to rain and the next activity was planned to be outdoors, what would you do?

 

As you can see these are things that would happen a lot at camp so have a think along those lines and see what you come up with. But to be honest, they could ask you anything at all, just think about your answer and explain it as best you can!!

 

And to finish this section some tips that will help you, and you may not have though of :

• Think about what will be behind you (if on skype), tidy your room, or sit against a plain wall to keep it the least distracting. Also you going to be living in a Cabin with up to 15 other people, show you can be tidy(ish).
• Wear headphones (if on skype) it saves from echo and feedback noise and just makes the whole thing a lot easier.
• Have a print out of your application form near you and know you availability dates and how flexible they are. I didn’t do this and while it didn’t impend my interview it did mean that I had to email my interviewer after to confirm things I couldn’t remember.
• HAVE A DRINK BEFORE AND A GLASS OF WATER NEAR YOU. Nothing is worse than dry mouth and having to cough out your answers.
• SMILE. If you smile when you talk you not only look happier but you sound happier and your eyes light up and you look excited.

 

 

And I think that’s it. Gosh this was long but it all needed to be said.

GOOD LUCK

And let me know it goes!!!!

 

Wishes,

Jack