Off Topic I have a job interview and have no idea on how to prepare!

[Gymnast2009]

Ok, so I had to quit gymnastics a few years back and now have an entry level rec coaching interview this week. I'm extremely nervous and have no idea how to act. What do I wear? Do I wear formal business attire like any other job interview? Do I tone it down? The coaches there usually wear leggings and a t-shirt with the gym logo on it while coaching but I don't know about the interview. What should I prepare for in terms of questions? What do I say? please help me
- nervous wreck

 

[ORgymmom]

Good luck! You can do this.

At my child’s gym, interviewing coaches usually wear athleisure because if the interview part goes well at the beginning, they will be brought out onto the floor and taken through some scenarios. It’s ok to ask if you’ll be on the gym floor during the interview. Wear clean socks.

For any interview, whether it’s this job or future ones later in your career, you should prep as if you’re answering STAR interview questions. “STAR” stands for: Situation, Task, Action, Result. You can easily google it and there are great examples out there. Structuring your answers in this way even if you’re not specifically asked it in this format is a way of showing how you see a situation, understand your responsibility within it, make things happen, and can link an outcome to the action you took.

An example would be: “tell me about a time when you dealt with a parent who was disappointed in their child’s progress” or “tell me about a time when you helped a child who was afraid to try a new skill.” You don’t have to show that you or the kid was successful, but you do need to show insight into the outcome and what you learned from it.

As for your own questions, you can ask about what training you’ll receive, if you’ll have an opportunity to shadow other coaches, if you’re responsible for structuring your own class progressions if there’s a curriculum coaches follow, and what the normal trajectory or expectation is for a new coach at your level. You should also ask about gym safety, safety procedures, etc. and how coaches are trained to manage it- a decent gym will have a comprehensive answer, and a bad gym will not. It is also ok to ask if you’re compensated for prep and setup before and after classes. Our coaches get paid time before their first class of the day to check rosters, move-ups, rotations, etc., and paid time after to move equipment and clean.

Finally, ask about how schedules and class assignments are set and how special things like camps and parties are staffed. You want to know if your hours will be consistent and/or if there is an opportunity or requirement for extra hours.

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

There are two answers I could give you. The first would be advice on what to wear, what sorts of things you want to say or avoid saying, what sorts of things they probably want to hear, general tips for job interviews etc.

But I'll skip over that, because my second answer makes all that irrelevant:
It's a gym. It's short-staffed. Every gym in the United States (and I suspect it's the same elsewhere) is always short-staffed. If you know the difference between a cartwheel and a pullover and you aren't a convicted sex criminal, you'll get the job.

On top of that, you are young (I'm assuming from the 2009 in your handle), you're passionate about the sport (I'm assuming from the fact that you're posting on a gymnastics forum in your free time), you're excited to prove yourself (I'm assuming from the fact that you're nervous about this); all of those are qualities that gym owners and managers love in prospective coaches.

You'll ace the interview by showing up. Dress comfortably, relax.

And remember: you're also interviewing them. Knowing that a young former gymnast who is still passionate about the sport can get a job offer at any gym in the universe, is this gym worth your while? Is it a positive atmosphere to work in? Do they pay well enough for the energy and effort you'll put into it? Spoiler: the answer to that last one is "no," but we as coaches get to decide what we're willing to settle for; remember that it's perfectly okay to walk away from a gym if doesn't seem like the right place for you.

Keep all that in mind once you get the job as well: the employer needs you more than you need them. Do not settle for a gym that isn't a good fit, don't be afraid to walk away from a gym (or any job, for that matter) if it's not working out for you.

 

[JBS]

You have some pretty good info on the two previous posts... so good luck.

Wear plain athletic clothes (with maybe only a small brand logo... like Nike)... don't show up with crazy stuff like a Nirvana shirt and Pink leggings...

 

[Gymnast2009]

There are two answers I could give you. The first would be advice on what to wear, what sorts of things you want to say or avoid saying, what sorts of things they probably want to hear, general tips for job interviews etc.

But I'll skip over that, because my second answer makes all that irrelevant:
It's a gym. It's short-staffed. Every gym in the United States (and I suspect it's the same elsewhere) is always short-staffed. If you know the difference between a cartwheel and a pullover and you aren't a convicted sex criminal, you'll get the job.

On top of that, you are young (I'm assuming from the 2009 in your handle), you're passionate about the sport (I'm assuming from the fact that you're posting on a gymnastics forum in your free time), you're excited to prove yourself (I'm assuming from the fact that you're nervous about this); all of those are qualities that gym owners and managers love in prospective coaches.

You'll ace the interview by showing up. Dress comfortably, relax.

And remember: you're also interviewing them. Knowing that a young former gymnast who is still passionate about the sport can get a job offer at any gym in the universe, is this gym worth your while? Is it a positive atmosphere to work in? Do they pay well enough for the energy and effort you'll put into it? Spoiler: the answer to that last one is "no," but we as coaches get to decide what we're willing to settle for; remember that it's perfectly okay to walk away from a gym if doesn't seem like the right place for you.

Keep all that in mind once you get the job as well: the employer needs you more than you need them. Do not settle for a gym that isn't a good fit, don't be afraid to walk away from a gym (or any job, for that matter) if it's not working out for you.

Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate the way you went about answering me, but I've never had a job interview before so I would honestly still appreciate the first answer you could've given me. I seriously don't know what to say or how to act in a situation like this regardless of the job lol

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate the way you went about answering me, but I've never had a job interview before so I would honestly still appreciate the first answer you could've given me. I seriously don't know what to say or how to act in a situation like this regardless of the job lol

Alright, happy to help with that, too!

As for what to wear for a coaching interview, it's less about how it makes you look than about how it makes you feel. You should feel comfortable, confident, and ready to coach. Wear something comfortable that you feel like you could coach in. And if you've got something that will make you feel more confident -- a lucky pair of shoes, a favorite t-shirt, a hairstyle you think looks great on you -- wear those! Again, it's not about how the clothes make you look, it's about how they make you feel. And if you find yourself stressing about it, then just throw on any random shirt and a pair of sweatpants and you're good to go. (One of the few luxuries this industry provides its workers is that we can pretty much go to work in PJs)

They'll likely ask about what sort of gymnastics background you have; that's easy, just answer honestly. You aced these questions before you even scheduled the interview.

They'll likely ask a few random other questions about school, or hobbies, or what your favorite time of the year is, or what kind of vegetable you'd be in a salad, or something else completely irrelevant to gymnastics coaching. The actual answers to these questions don't matter; what the interviewers are actually checking for with these questions is whether you're pleasant to talk to. Basically, don't swear at the interviewer, don't spend the entire interview avoiding eye contact, and don't bring up politics, and you'll do fine with these questions.

They'll ask what sorts of hours you're looking for; it's good to have an idea going in what hours you want to work. What days and times are you available? How many hours of coaching do you think you can do and still have the time and energy for school and family and friends and hobbies and other interests? (That second question is better to undershoot than to overshoot; it's easier to add more hours than it is to back off of hours you're already working)

Most importantly -- and perhaps most difficult -- is pay expectations. You should have an idea going in of what your goal is, and also what your minimum is. Being a new coach means you'll likely be on the lower end of the coaching payscale, but what that number should be varies widely depending on location and situation. I would at least find out what local fast food workers or grocery store checkout staff makes, and refuse to work for anything less than that (and honestly, I'd aim higher than that if you can). As a former gymnast, you already have experience, and that experience has significant value.

 

[sun]

If you respond promptly to their emails, show up on time, and have a pleasant attitude- you will be an unstoppable young coach