Sports coordinators are in charge of the sports and recreation programs for community and corporate organizations. This person develops and oversees the implementations of programs and the training and performance of staff. The coordinator also orders supplies, helps create an operating budget, and makes sure that all instructors have proper certification prior to being allowed to coach or teach at the facility. To make sure that applicants meet all of the requirements for the position, interviewers may ask questions pertaining to both management and athletic abilities.
A very common interview question is for the interviewer to ask for you to tell him about yourself. When asked this interview question at a sports coordinator position interview, you should have a great story prepared to tell the interviewer that showcases your personality. Make sure that the story you tell somehow relates to the position that you are applying for, such as tying back to your management or athletic skills. For example, if the company has a swim team that you would oversee, include an anecdote related to swimming in your story. Your answer should also incorporate information about your work ethic. It is important when answering this question that you be compelling without coming across as overbearing or fake.
Another common question is for the interviewer to ask why he should hire you. Asking this question helps the interviewer to better understand your motivations. Your answer needs to be about the job, not about your love of sports or personal skills. Dont give the interviewer a generic answer, such as telling him what a great worker you are. Focus instead on your passion for organizing team events and recruiting staff — elements that are related to the position of sports coordinator. If applicable, try to incorporate specific examples from your work experience.
Be prepared for an interviewer to ask you what some of your recent goals are and how you met them. This questions lets the interviewer know how your work ethic translates into your everyday life and helps him better understand what kind of sports coordinator you would be. When answering this question, list professional goals first unless you are specifically asked about personal goals. Tell the interviewer about the goal, why you set that particular goal, the time frame that you gave yourself to achieve it and briefly outline the steps that you took to meet the goal. Make sure that you include the outcome and any valuable or relevant experience you gained in the process.
Before your interview, you should take the time to study any available information about the company or community program. Be ready to answer if the interviewer asks you what you know about his organization and why you want to work for it. One source of information about the organization is the Internet. Go online and read about the companys structure, key staff members, goals, and what its role is in the community or industry. Make sure that you know what recreation programs it provides and if it supports or provides training facilities for teams. Be prepared to dazzle the interviewer with your knowledge and explain how you would be an asset to the company as sports coordinator.
Residing in Los Angeles, Kristin Swain has been a professional writer since 2008. Her experience includes finance, travel, marketing and television. Swain holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Georgia State University.
I don’t expect you to go into too much detail – but why are you leaving your last job?
An innocent question. But a question that if answered improperly, can be a deal breaker. While many individuals will be looking to a new job as a means of increasing their salary, “not being paid well enough at your last job” is not something you want to mention to your interviewer. After all, are you not likely to leave this particular job if you found you could make more down the street?
If you’re currently employed and leaving of your own accord, craft your response around enhancing your career development and a seeking out of new challenges.
If your current employer is downsizing, be honest about it, remain positive, but keep it brief. If your employer fired you or let you go for cause, be prepared to give a brief – but honest – reply. No matter how tempting it may be, or how “unfair it was that they let you go” steer clear away from any and all drama and negativity. Any experienced employer understands that sometimes things happen. Staying positive is key here.
While this question is an invitation to do some chest pounding, remember to illustrate strengths that will benefit the employer and are relative to the position. For example:
Are typically all solid strengths, but again, consider the position. For example, mentioning you are an excellent “team player” in a job where you largely work alone suddenly becomes irrelevant to the employer and demonstrates a genuine lack of self awareness.
Beyond this, present your strengths with confidence – this is not the time to be modest.
Another tricky one. The purpose of this question is to see how you view and evaluate yourself.
One the one hand, if you suggest you don’t have any weaknesses, your interviewer will almost certainly see you as a lair, egotistical, or both.
Don’t fall into the trap of trying to present a positive skill in disguise as a weakness, like “I work too hard” or “I am a perfectionist”. Any experienced interviewer will see through this in a heartbeat.
Additionally, revealing that “I’m not really a morning person and have been known to come in late” raises immediate and obvious red flags.
The trick here is to respond realistically by mentioning a small, work related weakness and what you are doing or have done to overcome it.
What experience do you have when it comes to discussing our recently posted school sports coordinator position?
Answer tips:
Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you know you do not have much experience in the job you are applying for, plan for this question ahead of time and ensure you can provide some relatable examples based on what you have done.
Almost all interviewers will appreciate confidence and pride in the work experience you have earned and your passion in transfering these valuable skills to your future role or position.
Answer sample
What’s your teaching style or philosophy?
Interviewers want to see that you really want to help students develop inside and outside school—not just push them toward some academic result. Basically, you care about people and their success, and you’ve thought about what that success looks like and how you’ll help students achieve it.