School Club Executive Interview Hacks

So you’re applying for a leadership role in a school club? Nice. Whether it’s Student Council, School newspaper, Chess, Debate, or DECA, here’s how to ace the interview while being authentic. Note that the same tips will also work for interviews for volunteering, internships, and part-time jobs.

1. Know the Role (Like, Actually)

Before the interview, do your homework. Ask yourself these key questions, doing some research if needed:

• What does this position do – e.g., outreach? managing social media and communications with members? providing training to members? organizing fund raising events? other?

• What challenges does the club face – low student participation rate? lack of resources?

• What would success look like for this role?

Considering these questions helps you narrow down potential interview questions and focus on preparing answers to demonstrate your qualities most relevant to the position.

Hack: Recall your experience as a club member, check the club’s past events, or speak to the current members/execs. During the interview, say things like:

“I noticed last year’s fundraiser had low turnout. I’d love to help boost engagement by doing X, Y, and Z…”

This shows initiative, problem-solving ability, and that you did your homework.

2. Prepare 3 “Go-To” Stories

School club executive interviews (and interviews for volunteering and part-time jobs too) like to ask candidates to share stories where they face a certain situation. The purpose is to see the candidate’s experience and quality in certain areas. Without preparation, you may stumble or freeze. Prepare 3 short stories that show:

• Leadership (e.g., “I organized a group project when no one else would.”)

• Problem-solving (e.g., “We were behind on meeting the deadline of a class project, so I…”)

• Passion/Commitment (e.g., “I’ve been part of this club since grade 9 because…”, “I just love chess. In the past 3 years, I…)

  
  

Hack: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep your stories clear, compact, and structured. Pick stories that can be tweaked to respond to various questions in this category. Example Question: Tell us about a time you showed leadership.

S (Situation): Our English group project was falling apart because there was no coordination.

T (Task): I decided to step up and organize the team.

A (Action): I made a shared Google doc of group member roles, tasks, and mini-deadlines. Then, I set up a meeting for group members to review the doc together and agree as a team. I also sent out regular reminders of approaching deadlines for each task, so that the entire team were in sync. Additionally, I coordinated several ad hoc meetings where the group came together to tackle some challenging parts of the project.

R (Result): We made steady progress, finished on time, and got one of the highest grades in the class.

3. Be Specific

Don’t just say “I want to make the club better.” Explain how. Otherwise, it's just empty words that mean nothing.

Examples:

• “I’d like to start a monthly newsletter to keep members in the loop. The newsletter could have these sections…”

• “We could partner with another club for a joint event to boost turnout. For example, we could collaborate with club X to do…”

  
  

Hack: Pitch 1–2 realistic, creative ideas. It shows leadership and vision.

4. Show You’re a Team Player - Always!

Even if you’re going for president or editor-in-chief, don’t act like you're above everyone. Nobody likes an insufferable know-it-all (Look at Hermione in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – before the mountain troll encounter!). Plus, no matter how brilliant you are, you can’t do it all. A team is the strongest when everyone is engaged and valued.

You can show your team spirit by telling the interview panel:

• “I want to support the other execs and make sure everyone’s voice is heard.”

• “I’m big on collaboration – I think the best ideas come from the group.”

Hack: Mention a time you helped someone else shine and succeed. That’s leadership too, you know.

5. Practice Out Loud (Not Just in Your Head)

Reading your answers silently ≠ being ready. Saying things out loud and hearing yourself giving answers makes it more real. You’ll remember your points better, catch awkward phrasing and distractive fillers (e.g., too many “like”), and sound way more natural during the actual interview.

Hack: Get a friend or a parent to do a mock interview with you. You can use common questions like:

• “Why do you want this role?”

• “What’s a challenge you’ve faced in a previous role and how did you handle it?”

• “How would you handle conflict in the club?”

If you do this, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable when facing the interview panel.

6. Calm Your Nerves with a Pre-Game Ritual

Right before the interview:

• Take 3 deep breaths. Or you can find a quiet place and listen to some music, if you so prefer (A friend of mine does this and it works for him).

• Smile (Trust me! It WILL work! Here’s the science: When you smile, even if you’re not feeling happy, your brain releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. It’s called the facial feedback hypothesis: your body can trick your brain into feeling calmer and more confident. Try it!).

• Remind yourself: The interviewers want you to do well, because they genuinely want partners and successors to make the club successful.

Hack: Think of it as a conversation, a meet-up, a networking opportunity, not a test. And smile, smile, smile.

7. Prepare Questions to Ask Them

At the end of the interview, the panel would usually say, “Any questions for us?” Don’t say “Nope.” Always ask at least one question – you can prepare it in advance. It shows genuine interest, thoughtfulness, and maturity.

Example questions:

• “What are the club’s top goals for next year?”

• “What’s the biggest challenge the club is facing right now?”

  
  

 8. End with a "Thank You"

Before leaving, make sure you thank the panel.

You can say: “Thank you for your time. I really appreciate the opportunity.”

It shows maturity, respect, and gratitude. Plus, it helps you leave on a positive note.

Even if you feel that you didn’t do well, hold yourself together. Don't ragequit! You can scream, kick the wall, or stomp your feet when you’re out of sight. Why? First, you can’t be sure you didn’t get the position until it’s confirmed. Second, even if you don’t get the position this time, leaving a good impression keeps the door open for future opportunities. Don’t burn the bridge by being sour. Last but not the least, even if you lose the competition, at least you can demonstrate decency and courtesy by staying poised.

Hack: Consider shaking the interviewers’ hands and sending a quick thank-you message afterward. The note doesn’t have to be fancy – just a simple, sincere note to say you appreciate the opportunity and it has been a great learning experience for you.

Good luck applying! You got this.