Who can conduct interviews?
How long does the typical interview take?
How do I know when an interview is needed?
How do I claim an interview?
What if the interviewee lives far from me?
What should I do if I am asked a question which I don't know the answer?
What if I don't feel an interviewee is right for AFS?
How do I submit my interview results?
Where can I learn more about interviewing?
Who can conduct interviews?
Any registered volunteer can conduct an interview—you just need the right training. We encourage volunteers to get involved, and check with their team leadership if they have any questions about their owns team's process for scheduling and interviewing applicants. Click here to view the Interviewer volunteer role description.
How long does the typical interview take?
The length of the interview depends on the program and interview type.
- Host Family Interviews take on average 1 hour to complete
- Study Abroad Interviews take on average 1 1/2 hours to complete
- Volunteer Interviews take on average 15-20 minutes to complete
How do I know when an interview is needed?
You will be notified about an interview that is needed in your area in one of the following ways:
- Communication directly from a member of the Field staff or a Volunteer Leader in your team.
- Email from AFS-USA informing you of an interview.
- MyAFS where you can log in and see the interviews that are needed in your team.
How do I claim an interview?
You can claim, schedule, and submit interviews easily on MyAFS. To start, find applicants who need an interview.
What if the interviewee lives far from me?
- Host Family interviews
Must be conducted in person with all members of the family present. In this case, you could work with the RFS (Regional Field Specialist) to identify a nearby volunteer to assist. Follow up with a host parent or any other adult household member(s) that will be responsible for the care and wellbeing of the exchange student must be conducted in person prior to the departure of the student from their home country in the case of initial placements and prior to the arrival in the home, for moves. For any other household members not present at the interview, follow-up may take place over the phone or by video. Any follow-up taking place after submission of the interview form must be submitted to staff in an addendum. - Study Abroad Interviews
Study Abroad Interviews can take place via a video conferencing tool like Skype if the applicant lives too far, or if an in-person interview is not feasible. - Volunteer interview
Most volunteer interviews happen by phone!
What should I do if I am asked a question to which I don't know the answer?
It is okay to not have all the "answers." Make note of these questions from the applicant/s and let them know you will get back to them. A member of the Volunteer Leadership Team who is most knowledgeable about the applicant's program or your RFS are the best resources to either answer or lead your to the answers and/or resources. Not knowing an answer gives you a great excuse to follow up with the applicant to help them continue to feel connected to AFS.
What if I don't feel an interviewee is right for AFS?
If you have concerns about the applicant and you have conducted the interview on your own, write down and be specific as to the reasons why you think the applicant is not right for an AFS program. The next step would be to contact AFS staff and the Volunteer Leader to review your concerns and determine next steps. Depending on the situation the next step could be a recommendation to not accept the applicant or to arrange a follow-up interview with the applicant that would involve specific questions addressing the concerns.
How do I submit my interview results?
Use MyAFS to submit an interview. In addition, you can transcribe the notes from the interview directly onto the interview form or in the applicant's service case in Global Link. If you are using a Word version of the interview form rather than the online form, you can upload the document directly to the applicant's record in Global Link once you have completed it.
Where can I learn more about interviewing?
There are a number of resources and online training modules available to volunteers outlining the different types of interviews that are conducted at AFS-USA. Please click here for the resource and training page.