The following are a summary of the different types of interviews volunteers can assist with.
U.S. Study Abroad Applicant Interviews
To remain in compliance with AFS-International, applicants in line for any of our programs must be interviewed. The means that we are now requiring interviews to be conducted for applicants in line for Year, Semester, Summer, and Global Prep programs. The interview can be conducted virtually or in-person and must have at least one parent or legal guardian present. These interviews typically take around 1 ½ hours to complete. This interview is an opportunity not only for volunteers to assess the applicant, but also for the applicant to ask questions and learn more about AFS and the programs we offer.
The interview is required by the hosting partner, and it is critically important to the application process and an essential part of preparing AFS students for the experience.
The interview creates an opportunity for the volunteer to step in and become a guiding and reassuring voice so that applicants and parents remain committed to having an AFS experience. This is also a critical opportunity to begin to set appropriate expectations with applicants and parents around what an AFS program is really like. Our volunteers have firsthand knowledge- as Returnees, as Liaisons, as Host Families, etc. and it is important to help AFS staff set expectations right away. Volunteers are not expected to have all of the nitty-gritty information on all of the countries, programs, and processes, but their voice of assurance and direct communication with the Study Abroad team will help retrieve the answers/info and provide it to families through direct engagement. This is an important component of the process and enhances the applicant experience tremendously.
The Study Abroad team also offers a national-level volunteer opportunity: Study Abroad National Interviewer. To understand this role, expectations, and the process of managing national interviews, please click here.
Host Family Interviews
All AFS host families need to be vetted with an interview including families who host students for a semester or year as well as families who host a student for a few days. The interview needs to be conducted in-home with all members of the household present and typically takes around 1 hour to complete. If a family member is not home, additional follow-up is required with that individual.
National Study Abroad Interviews
The Study Abroad team also offers a national level volunteer opportunity- Study Abroad National Interviewer. To understand this role, expectations, and the process of managing national interviews, please click here.
Volunteer Interviews
AFS interviews every volunteer. A volunteer interview can be conducted either in-person or on the phone. Interviews typically take around 30 minutes to complete. This interview is designed to help the volunteer applicant learn more about the local AFS team and learn about what tasks are open to start their AFS Journey.
Volunteer applicants can be found in the Interview Widget and the Volunteer Welcome Widget, which allows you to see volunteer leads in more detail.
NSLI-Y and YES
AFS-USA is one of several implementing organizations for both the NSLI-Y and YES Abroad scholarship programs and is responsible for coordinating and conducting interviews for candidates. AFS volunteers and teams coordinate and conduct individual and group in-person and virtual interviews in their team and region.
- Teams are asked to support the interview project based on the distribution of candidates across the U.S.
- AFS volunteers must be at least 21 years of age and complete an online NSLI-Y/YES Abroad interviews training process.
- Scheduling interviews is based on interviewer and candidate availability during the interview season, typically December through February.