Interview room & judging panel (rookie questions)

[Gary Dillard]

Originally Posted by Lisa Perez

If, for instance, our team's assigned interview time conflicts with a match (our Chairman's interview team consists of two drive team members), would FIRST reschedule it? Or would it be in our best interest to have "understudies" to fill in for the interview if such a conflict occurs?

I think you can pretty much count on having a conflict, based on the short time in between matches and the length of the presentation. I would recommend an understudy - we had one just in case the timing didn't work out. On the schedule our previous match was at 10:08 and our interview was at 10:30, but the match didn't finish until 10:25 and the presentation before us got done at 10:20. The judges said we could wait until 10:30, but if the schedule had been tight we had someone ready. Also, the interview room was (thankfully) only around the corner about 100 feet from the side of the field where we were competing so as soon as the buzzer went off our driver left the field and ran to the interview.

[Meredith343MiM]

I've been in our Chairman's award interview for the past two years. Both nationally and at 2 separate regionals. Last year, a rookie team was ahead of us... and when the judge came out of the room to tell the next team to come in, he asked if they were rookies, and they answered yes and he sent them away. He told them they weren't eligible for an interview. (These are just my experiences i'm sharing) Also... at Nationals in 2003 an actual judge told us to send in 3 students for the interview. She said that it was harming us to have mentors in the room with us. (again... these are just my experiences)

[macurtis]

Last year at West Michigan one of our mentors wanted to come into the interviewing room, but wasn't allowed to.

Another thing, about potential schedule conflicts, what you may want to consider doing is have a back up team. That is, if someone can't make it, you know you have someone else who is also familiar with the presentation material that you can ask to fill in.

You can never be too prepared for an interview.

[Nate Edwards]

I have two questions about the Championship Chairman's Award process. I have seen the discussion about 3 members so I just assume thats how many you should have no more (obviously its a limit) no less (less impressive if only 2 people are presenting?) So is the the right assumption? And also is their a Championship Interview? I couldn't find anyting about it in the Awards section but I assume that their is an interview because some of the judges may not be as familar with certain teams as others.. So is there a 10-minute interview. All of our members that went to the interview the last time we went championships are gone and I am in the process of preparing and need to know what I am preparing for. thanks

Nate

[richardp]

At Chesapeake they had a sign up sheet on the pit administration table.
One of the other teams that had signed up had a match during the time-slot. They asked us if they would change and we of course had no problems going earlier. While we did not win the judges said that we were a "Strong Contender" and "Strong in All Areas" so I cant complain.
It was a table with two judges and a few chairs for the presenters to sit however since we needed to be up to hit the button to change slides on the computer, we all stood.
We went in with two students and one mentor (an alumni of the team).

[wildcatsfive]

Nate the same rules apply for the Championship that applied for your regional. You get three presenters and ten minutes. There are three judges instead of two in Atlanta and for the past two years they have split the judging in half. Basically there are three "red" judges and three "blue" judges. So 15 teams get judged by the red panel and 15 by the blue panel (in the interest of time, 30 teams times 10 minutes).

[Pierson]

Just a big FYI: Last year, my team had everything worked out flawlessly with a powerpoint presentation and a projector. But as soon as we walked into the room... the computer froze. The judge's didn't tell us this, but as soon as we sat down at the table, the clock started. This meant that 10 minutes was up and we were only halfway through the presentation.

So, whatever you do, have a backup plan that is paper based and not digital and if your media fails for any reason move to the backup during the first 30 seconds.

[Katy]

Alright here is what I know from doing this. This is out of PNW and the last time I did a presentation was 2003.

How many judges review each team; is it a panel of 3, 10, or larger?

We had two judges

Are the interview time slots then every 30 minutes or so?

The actual presentation of the award: does it occur on a specific day at all Regionals? (i.e. Thursday? or Friday?) does it change depending on Regional? Or, do the judges start viewing presentations, continuing through teams over the two days until all teams have been viewed?

In Seattle we were given a time to appear so I am not sure how they blocked them out

What does an interview room typically look like? Is it near the pits?

No the interview room is not near the pits. The room we were in was smaller, probably a minor meeting room. There was a desk with two chairs on one side (where the judges sat) and three chairs on our side for us. Small curtains of a similar material to the kind used on banner-awards (regionals, chairmans, etc) were hung around the table with some space going back. The entrance meant you walked into the door to the room then to the back to come into the enclosure (basically the judges had their backs to the door). It was a very quiet room and nobody else was allowed in there.

I assume the the judges will already have pre-printed copies of the yearbook page and chairman's submission; correct?

They were holding a copy of both

Do teams typically have any sort of "leave-behind" for the judges?

Yes I would recommend it. Have a copy of your submitted document in case they don't have it for some reason and also have a second on that doesn't look anything like your actual submission. It should have all the same data though, don't hold on to information for a "surprise" or anything.

In past years, teams have presented Powerpoint slide shows, videos, etc. So, I assume that each team needs to bring their own laptop PC, projector, etc?

Will they provide tables, chairs and other materials for us or do we have to bring our own?

There was the table and five chairs and I think I remember a TV and a VCR...don't quote me on that one though. Really though you should bring anything you need other than the chairs and table.

By presentation you mean the essay? Must we present the exact same topics of the essay but in a more creative way?

Really you don't have to do anything. There are very few rules and guidelines to how you submit the award. I think of the five minute presentation as a chance to add a more life-like sense of it rather than hard data.

Has anyone ever experienced a situation where you take in an advisor just to "view" the presentation? or to help the students set up their presentation? Or, is it strictly limited to just the three presenters per team? *Looking for input, as I stated above, I know what the rules state. I am VERY new to the PR/Business side of FIRST. Thanks!*

Do any of you send in less than the three students? Or do you generally always send in the three students? Are they usually three students? Or do you send in mentors, and the mentors present specific portions?

If a mentor is present in the room, can they be involved in the presentation as well, or can they only talk during the interview?

We brought a mentor with two students and the judges appeared very edgy about that idea. They said several times that he was not permitted to talk at all during the presentation or interview. They did ask him one question directly (I think it was out of politeness) which he answered but I do not think they really wanted a mentor there.

Do all three students talk? Or, do you send in one maybe two students to present, then have the sedond and third student to assist in the Q&A session after one student gives the presentation portion?

It is your team do it however you feel best. Do check however that you don't send in three people who have an impulse to talk all the time...because they will fight with each other.

I was wondering if people could post sample questions that the judges might ask. This would be greatly beneficial to our team. Thanks.

No...they have them up for FLL but not for us sadly. I do remember them asking what impact does our team have on the community, how is our relationship with our sponsors, how is your teamwork, how is your team a community, what have you done to spread science and technology awareness, etc etc. If you read through all the other awards and know ways to prove you qualify for those though you are on a very good track. Chairman's is about the whole picture so proving you have all the pieces is a good start.

If, for instance, our team's assigned interview time conflicts with a match (our Chairman's interview team consists of two drive team members), would FIRST reschedule it? Or would it be in our best interest to have "understudies" to fill in for the interview if such a conflict occurs?

We actually did have a conflict and two of our three students were on drive team. We had to make due Also on that note while the matches often run late they try to keep the Chairman's awards on schedule so even if the numbers say there is no conflict there may be one. If I were you I would just try to avoid having your drive team and your presentation team share members.