Why do you want to attend our program?

"I was really drawn to your program because of your holistic approach. Your mentorship options were also very attractive, drawing from others established in the field, especially since it's not exclusive to your former alumni. After touring several other universities, I loved your campus and culture the most. Your values resonate with me. And all in all, it feels like the right fit."

With this question, they'll be evaluating how clear your vision and motivation are for what you hope to accomplish by attending their program. When answering this question, focus on why they feel like the right fit for you, and how that plays into your determination to succeed. The more motivated you are, and satisfied with your experience, the less likely you'll be to burn out and drop out of the program. So, elaborate on the lasting impressions their school and program made on you, and what, in your mind, elevates what they have to offer. You'll need to be able to define, in your own words, what you found engaging about their community, culture, and campus. You'll also want to be able to articulate your commitment to following through with this opportunity and why you feel aligned as a good mutual fit.

Every academy has different recommendations for interview-appropriate attire. Kira Talent recommends choosing business casual attire in most cases, "such as a dress shirt, blouse, sweater, or long sleeve top. However, you will also want to check if the school has specified a dress code." The more research you do to prepare for your interview, the stronger your work ethic will be, and it will show. So dress appropriately. But above all, you want to be relaxed and confident in your interview, and that requires ensuring you are comfortable. "Keep it simple and choose something breathable and comfortable. Remember that you're not being evaluated on your fashion choices, so don't overthink it. Finally: You should wear bottoms. All jokes aside, in the odd event you need to stand up to adjust something in your workspace while completing Kira, you don't want to get caught in an embarrassing conundrum. :) Good luck!"

With regards to gifts and subsidies, what, if anything, do you feel is acceptable for a professional to accept? What guidelines should be put around such gifts, and why?

"Well, I would say that if it in any way generates bias or preferential treatment for the person or group who provided the gift or subsidy, it creates a conflict of interest, in which case it would be inappropriate. So, I would say, without a clear idea of the particular context, or the ethical code of conduct that applies to any given situation, I can't possibly say what would be appropriate or acceptable. But, I have a lot of integrity, which forms my character. And, if it didn't feel right or acceptable to me, I would graciously decline accepting such a gift."

One of the goals of Kira's assessments is to assess your character. This includes your sense of honesty and integrity, your code of ethics, and what you view as acceptable conduct. They need to ensure you are aligned with their culture and community, and that, as an alum, you would reflect well on their institution. Spend time researching the academic institution you are applying to. Do a search for their code of ethical conduct, which will likely be published online in a PDF format. Then reflect on your character, and how you are aligned with their values.

Before your interview begins, you'll want to make sure your laptop, camera, microphone, speakers, or headphones are working properly, and are fully charged and connected to a power source. You'll also want to ensure you have a stable internet connection, and to make sure all your software is updated to ensure you "avoid the pesky 'Do you want to update?' pop-ups and unwanted computer restarts by making sure your software is up to date before you start." Also, disable notifications, disable browser extensions, such as Grammarly, and close unnecessary applications and browser tabs, "to avoid unnecessary distractions." Kira also recommends you "disable ad-blockers and autoplay blockers, close all unnecessary browser windows and tabs, and close all non-essential computer applications to free up system resources and reduce competition for internet bandwidth." Ensure you silence any other personal electronic devices you own. Lastly, "if possible, ask your family, colleagues, or roommates for some quiet time. Let them know that they shouldn't disturb you."

Before your interview, take advantage of the built-in practice questions, which you can complete an unlimited number of times. Also, go the extra mile and use your computer's camera to record yourself completing the interview questions in this set to get a feeling for this interview format. "Then review your performance, identify areas for improvement, and practice again."

Describe a situation where you didn’t have all of the information at the time and had to make a decision. What did you do?

"I was working on a story with the school paper that surrounded some scandalous allegations the major developer of the town was facing. This organization pretty much owned the town, and the town was named after the family that owned the company. But, they refused to comment on the story or offer their opinion. So, this presented only one side of the story, and this one person's 'facts' could not be substantiated or disproven, making it essentially hearsay. Also, there were some other issues that came to light which called into question their character. So, I had to either have the word alleged appear ubiquitously throughout the text, or scrap the story, with the paper deadline approaching fast. So, I had a backup article at the ready to fill that page in the paper, and decided against pursuing that story until more information came to light."

According to their rating scale, this question is designed to help the assessment reviewer determine how effectively you gather and analyze key information while remaining composed and thinking quickly on your feet. They want to know how capably you articulate your thought process, whether you look beyond the obvious, identify root causes, focus on the critical information, come up with reasonable solutions, all while keeping the big picture in focus.

How you answer will inform them of how effectively you apply logic to break complex problems down into manageable parts or sub-problems, integrating perspectives from a variety of sources to arrive at unexpected but practical and effective solutions. They need to establish whether you can solve tough and unconnected problems and capably explain how the pieces are connected, while viewing the broader picture and showing creativity when problem solving.

Tell us about yourself.

"I grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, just outside of Toronto. I am a straight-A student with a spotless track record, and throughout my academic experience, I have participated in several academic decathlons and other various scholastic competitions. I am very clear about my passions and have been singular in my vision to pursue this field, since before I can remember. This school has been at the top of my list, and I cannot imagine a better fit for me and my pursuits than this program. I feel fortunate that my parents support my path, and I feel fortunate to be here in this interview today. I am looking forward to this process and learning more about the program, that is, more than what I was able to discover in my research while preparing for this opportunity."

This introductory question is typically one you can count on. It helps set the stage for the rest of your interview. After all, it's the objective of the admissions team or hiring team to get to know you better. Although they'll assess you for various criteria, your communication skills will be consistently evaluated throughout your interview. So, consider this question as good practice, and as the first test of your communication skills. Prepare a brief biography of yourself and add structure to your introductory narrative. Keep it to around 200 words. And where possible, align your interests with that of their college or program.

Before your interview, do what you can to relax and muster your confidence. Do some quick physical exercises. Have a snack so you don't go in hungry, which could add to your stress. Make sure you have a glass of water nearby. Take some time to go to the bathroom, look at yourself in the mirror, and give yourself a pep talk. Take a deep breath, take your time, and "showcase your unique personality. This is your opportunity to shine. Be yourself, and have fun! Be clear, be concise and you'll do great. Best of luck!"

One of Kira Talent's main goals is to help their clients "make fair decisions" and reduce bias. This also includes the bias of the "halo effect." "Halo effect bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when an initial positive or negative judgment about a person unconsciously colors the perception of the individual as a whole. In a Kira assessment for example, after being impressed with an applicant's first response, the 'halo-effect' bias may cause a reviewer to rate the applicant's subsequent responses more generously, even if the quality of the responses didn't warrant higher ratings."But Kira's reviewing process was created with the aim of creating an accurate and reliable scoring system, question to question, to "ensure each applicant is evaluated by more reviewers and creates an easier onboarding experience for your team, as reviewers need only focus on becoming well-versed at evaluating one competency each." So, even after you set a great first impression, you'll want your strong interview performance to remain consistent through to the last question.

Tell us about a time when you overcame a difficult challenge.

"I was on the yearbook committee at school and had a concept for the year that I really felt proud of, and kept running with it. I'd put a great deal of time and energy into conceptualizing the whole thing. Quite a lot of work. But I made the mistake of not running it by my teacher first, and when I got around to sharing it with them, they told me it was the same concept from about ten years ago, and our principal felt very strongly about not repeating previous themes, even remotely. So, I had to scrap all the work I'd done and was all out of ideas. But mostly, I was emotionally attached to the concept, and that made it particularly hard. But, I recovered and learned to ask more questions and be more transparent with my ideas and my work so that I wouldn't repeat that mistake ever again. When I did come up with another concept it went over well, and everyone liked it, but I wasn't as invested in it. But I put my all into it anyways, and it was a success."

Throughout your academic pursuits, and in your professional life, you'll face unique challenges, just as you have in the past. So, this question is aimed at how you navigate such challenges, how adaptable you are, and whether you are positive and decisive. How you answer could offer insights into how resourceful you are, and whether you approach such situations with outside-of-the-box thinking. Your answer might also prove informative regarding how innovative and collaborative you are. Kira suggests, that by using their platform, their clients will more successfully "enroll a more employable cohort." When scoring your answer, they'll also evaluate how effectively you articulate your answer, and whether you had an "intended personal impact in a group setting."

In your opinion what makes a good leader, and why?

"I think a good leader understands the strengths and weaknesses of everyone on the team. They have to really know everyone, be able to connect with everyone, and play on everyone's strengths. To make everyone feel valued and give everyone a voice and a chance. They need to know what drives them, how to motivate them, and above all, they need to have earned the trust of everyone on their team. That's what being a good leader means to me."

Understanding the leadership qualities you value will serve as an indicator of the leadership style you will most likely model. So, this question is designed to help your reviewer get a better sense of your "leadership potential, emotional intelligence, and communication." This question is aimed at helping a reviewer "discover how applicants will conduct themselves in your program and beyond through unscripted, unrehearsed responses, identify applicants with the skills and traits to be successful in both your program and the workplace, and improve yield by more efficiently identifying the best candidates for interviews or offers."

Tell me about a recent time when you had to ask for help with something. Who did you ask, and how were they able to help you?

"Well, I consider myself pretty resourceful, and I am always asking questions. I also pay attention to what others on my team are working on, or those other interests which capture their attention. So I was working on an assignment and I realized that a good deal of what I had to learn was material that a classmate of mine was something of an expert on. So, I offered to buy them lunch if they gave me a quick rundown on the subject matter and pointed me in the direction of the resources I could turn to in order to get the quickest and most thorough information. They gave me a quick tutorial and pointed me in the right direction, and I was able to complete my research at speed."

Your interviewer is curious about how comfortable you are asking for help. A strong classic indicator of emotional intelligence is one's comfort level with asking others for help, while remaining humble and confident. Some might fear asking for help as a sign of inexperience, weakness, or ignorance. However, someone who leans on their team for help, while tapping into their knowledge and skills, is more likely to learn from the experience, is likely more resourceful, and more willing to help out their fellow team members when needed.

One of the core competencies Kira evaluates for is "problem solving." They define strong problem-solving skills as follows: "Can think on their feet, remain composed and clearly articulate their thought process. Views the broader picture and shows creativity when problem solving."

Have you ever received criticism that you initially didn't agree with? Why? Did you change your perspective?

"Well, I have been working on curbing a habit of mine, where I can sometimes constantly need reassurance. So, I ask for feedback often. Sometimes the feedback wasn't what I wanted to hear, sure. And that's not very reassuring. In fact, it's disappointing. But, I am pretty driven, and I just learn what I can from the feedback and hope that I don't hear that particular bit of criticism a second time. Try, and try again."

This question is aimed at determining how you respond to feedback, and whether you proactively seek out feedback, or wait for it to come to you. How you answer could potentially reveal whether you took advantage of the feedback, regardless of how the criticism might have been communicated, what you learned from it, or whether you viewed it negatively, and responded defensively.

This question is aimed at helping the assessment reviewer evaluate how interested you are in your own self-improvement, and whether you can identify and capitalize on your own capacities, strengths, and weaknesses. Someone who scores high on this question would be rated as someone who is resourceful, can manage their own emotions, "pursues personal development, recognizes and understands personal capabilities or limitations," and has an "adequate balance of confidence and humility."

Are you an early riser or a night owl? Why?

"It depends on the time of the year. In the summers, I would say I prefer working a job that allows me to have more of a nightlife. But this is only when I am not focused on my studies. During the school year, I would say that I am more diurnal. I prefer more of an early morning to late afternoon academic schedule which allows enough time to prioritize my studies at an acceptable hour. However, I am adaptable."

This is one of Kira's practice questions, which falls under their category of an "ice-breaker question." They offer about twenty such questions on their website, which are designed to familiarize applicants with the Kira assessment process. They detail that these help "alleviate some pre-assessment anxiety and relaxes applicants with fun and easy questions, without providing "applicants insight regarding the content of the formal assessment." Lastly, consider this last bit of advice from Kira regarding their practice questions: "While completing your practice questions in Kira, you can replay your responses to ensure you're presenting yourself in the way that you want to be seen."

We've chosen this particular question for the insight it has to offer the reviewer of your assessment, regardless of it being an ice-breaker question. Every answer you provide to every question stands to yield insights into your fit for their institution or program. For example, how you answer this question could inform the assessment reviewer of whether you prioritize your studies above your social life. It could inform them of your habits, and how well you manage your time. It could inform them of how proactive you are or whether you procrastinate and get enough sleep. Each one of these could be used as performance indicators. So, even with icebreaker questions, be deliberate in what you communicate, and ensure that the message you aim to send is indeed the message your reviewer receives. As they say on Kira's website, "Keep in mind that the content of your responses is what matters most to the admissions team!"

Tell me about your favorite home cooked meal.

"I'd say my favorite home-cooked meal is my father's Latino cooking. He makes the best rice and beans and red sauce and tacos you can imagine. But, this whole last year I have been cooking with him, and he has taught me all his secrets so that I can make batch meals for myself, eat well all week long, and dedicate myself to my studies on a budget with limited distractions. So, I am ready to have my favorite home-cooked meal wherever I go, thanks to Dad."

This is another ice breaker question that stands to reveal a lot through your answer. How you answer could inform your interviewer of how predisposed you are to home-sickness, your level of commitment, and the likelihood of following through the program, all the way to graduation. It could also prove revealing about the kind of home life you have, and whether your family offers the support you'll need to follow through on your commitments.

"When completing your assessment or interview in Kira, you'll want your environment to reflect how prepared you are." So, here are more than a few tips from Kira on ensuring the environment you plan on conducting your interview in serves as a positive reflection of who you are as a candidate. The key to this is to prepare. "Choose a well-lit environment. Natural light is preferable. You should try to set the light source in front of you so the admissions team can see your face clearly. When choosing a location, consider how you'd like to portray yourself on video. Try to avoid featuring an unmade bed, a cluttered shelf in the background, or a window with passing vehicles. A plain wall or simple background is typically best."Kira advises their clients, when recording their videos, "to capture the questioner from mid-torso up." So, apply this as well. "Try to center yourself in front of the camera with your face and shoulders visible. Your camera and screen should be sitting at a distance and angle where it's comfortable to read the screen just below eye level. Try to look into the camera. It's tough, but do your best to resist the temptation to watch yourself on the screen. The admissions or hiring team will appreciate you talking into your camera because they'll be able to make eye contact with you, making your responses even more engaging."

Please tell me about a time you experienced a hardship. How did you react and what were some of the outcomes?

"Well, I had something of a tough time when I sprained my wrists and broke several ribs in a snowboarding accident. The injury ended up bruising my lungs, and I got pneumonia. I was in the hospital for a couple of days, and on bed rest for the next few weeks. But I didn't want it to affect my grades, so I reached out to a few of my teachers to see if it was possible I Zoom into class. All but one teacher agreed, and I was luckily able to keep up my grades. At first, it was more difficult than usual to focus, but I developed some systems for note-taking and adapted quickly. Fortunately, my grades didn't slip at all, and I was able to maintain my average."

This question is aimed at helping them determine how likely you are to succeed in their program. How you answer could inform them of how capably you navigate obstacles, how they impact your productivity, and how prone you are to quit. Some of the competencies you are likely to be scored on with this question are your emotional maturity, your ability to assess your personal strengths, weaknesses, and behaviors, and whether you carry yourself with both confidence and humility.

Describe a time when you disagreed with, or had a conflict with someone. What happened? How did you address it? What was the outcome?

"I recently worked on a group project where the individual who was appointed to lead the team wasn't effective in communicating with a very assertive member of the group. This individual was very spirited and at a certain point positioned themself in the leadership position which was contradictory to the project. So, I pointed out the situation and reminded everyone who was assigned to lead the group. The assertive individual then said something to the effect that our leader wasn't a good leader. I then suggested that this was a leadership learning opportunity for some of us, and a lesson in teamwork and collaboration for others. I think that confused them because at that point they fell silent. Ultimately, I felt it was my duty to speak up because I get along with everyone really well, and I am well-liked, and I felt comfortable doing so in a way that wouldn't offend anyone. So, from then on, we supported each other, and the project was a success."

In one of Kira's videos, they state that one thing they hear from nearly all school programs is that they are looking for exceptional communicators. This is why communication is one of the core competencies they score applicants on. This question, in one form or another, is commonly used in Kira's assessments. Its purpose is to assess your communication skills as well as your conflict resolution skills. How a person answers this question could offer insights into whether they are emotionally mature and communicate non-defensively, or whether they respond emotionally and defensively in such situations.

This question is all about how you interpret it. Having a disagreement doesn't necessarily translate to conflict or a negative exchange. Also, a conflict can simply imply something is incompatible with something else, such as a scheduling conflict, or a conflict of interest. So, when answering this question, focus on the positives, and on professionalism, emotional maturity, and collaborative problem-solving. You want to come across as part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

According to their five-point scoring system, some of the things they'll be looking for in your answer to this question is to determine whether you show the ability to do the right thing, even in the most difficult situations or when no one is looking. They want to know whether you take ownership of your actions and hold yourself and others accountable to the same standards.

Describe a time when you had to communicate a message to multiple groups.

"I recently had to host two meetings that communicated the same points. I tried to schedule one meeting, but those who needed the information could not all attend on the same day, and three people could not attend at all. So I created my presentation and adapted my notes into a meeting points template that allowed me to insert poignant comments and observations made in the initial meeting. I then compiled, reviewed, and edited the meeting notes template and emailed them to the three who could not attend. This ensured my message was clear and consistent among all parties."

With most of the questions you'll face, your interviewer's aim is to assess your competencies. This particular question is centered on your communication skills. They're curious how efficient your approach is, and how consistently you were able to convey the content of your message. Kira advertises that one of the benefits that their platform offers to their clients is to help them "gain insight into your applicants' written communication skills with candid responses that simulate the interactions they'll have in your program."

How you answer, according to their rubrics, will help inform them of how articulate you are, and how proficient and skilled you are at speaking and presenting information. They'll be assessing how effectively you can articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely. So, when sharing your answer, you'll want to provide strong relevant experiences, to detail multiple ways in which you've communicated internally and externally, and that you are effective in communicating in both verbal and written form.

Tell us about a time you motivated a disinterested team member.

"I was working with someone on a team who really struggled with the subject matter, and admitted it wasn't their strong suit, which frustrated them. So they really weren't participating in the project, and the rest of us suddenly found ourselves carrying their weight. So, I caught them as we were getting out of school and offered them a ride home, and they accepted. And on the ride home, I asked them about their involvement in the project, and they said they didn't need the credit for it. But I kept pressing them anyway, and we talked about their struggles with the subject matter, and in no time, I was breaking down the material and mentoring them on the subject matter. By the time I pulled up to their house, they had a breakthrough moment, and suddenly they got it. The next day they were the first one waiting at our project roundtable, and they apologized for not being present lately, and that now they were fully on board. As the project progressed, they kept asking me for my insights, but by the time the project was done, they were taking their own lead to the finish line, and we were graded highly for the finished product."

"Leadership" is another core competency Kira will consistently assess applicants for in their five-point scoring system. This leadership question is designed to reveal how effectively you lead by example while inspiring the rest of your team. This can pertain to the pace or standard of your work, your attitude, and your sense of camaraderie, adaptability, and collaboration. In their system, Kira defines exemplary leadership as inspiring "all team members to do better. Provides clarity and motivates the group to excel beyond goals with strong conflict resolution skills. Understands the overall team goal while working with others, and what needs to be done to be successful. They get along well with others, are solution-oriented and understand how to drive others towards a common goal." Lastly, how you answer may also provide insights as to whether you see the success of the team as equal in priority to your success as an individual.

What is a positive attribute or quality your friends, professors, or peers would say you have?

"I've frequently been described as cheerful, happy-go-lucky, and have been complimented for my positive attitude. I don't always feel positive, but my resting face has a bit of a smile to it, and I feel fortunate that people often want to be around me, which is nice. But, I would say that I don't see myself as much of a quitter, and prescribe to the philosophy that where there is a will, there is a way. So maybe that is part of what others see in me as well."

How you see yourself may not always align with how others perceive you. This question serves as a test of your self-awareness and your emotional intelligence. How you answer will inform your interviewer of your honesty, sincerity, consistency, and your attention to detail. Reflect upon the positive comments your friends, professors, or peers have made about you in the past, and be discerning with what you share, ensuring your response is aligned with the rest of your narrative, and complementary to the school's community, values, and culture. Ensure that what you share is sincere and consistent with the other responses you provide. The more consistent your answers are from one question to the next, the more reliable and credible you will seem.

As mentioned in the introductory article, "each question will have a designated amount of prep and response time." On their platform, their clients can adjust "the response time, which is how long an applicant has to answer the question. The default is set to 60 seconds for video questions, and 300 seconds (5 minutes) for written questions. You are able to customize the amount of time an applicant has to prepare before answering the question. The default prep time for video questions is 30 seconds, and written questions have no prep time."

Looking back over your life, what’s one thing you would’ve changed?

"Well, I would've started college hunting in my sophomore year, with the hopes of skipping my senior year of high school and enrolling in college a year early. Instead, having accomplished a lot of my studies early, I felt like my senior year really didn't contribute much to my education, nor did it narrow my focus on the path I wanted to pursue. So that's the main thing I would've changed."

This behavioral question is directed at what you've learned through perspective and at what your answer might suggest as a predictor of future performance. When answering this question, try to make your response relevant to your pursuits, while showcasing the growth you've experienced, showcasing your drive for continual growth, and taking advantage of future learning opportunities to come. Remember, they will be focused on the content of your message. So, before your interview, spend time meditating on how you want to structure and convey your narrative, regarding who you are as a candidate, and not only what their program has to offer you, but what you have to offer their program. Then focus on being consistent with your message with every answer you have to offer.

On Kira's website, they detail that the "reviewers assess responses based on predefined rubrics that outline desired behaviors and competencies for the program. They look for evidence of skills like critical thinking, communication, leadership, and problem-solving in the candidate's responses." They also include a testimonial to that effect. "The advances we've made because of the insight we've gained from Kira have been beneficial across the board. You gain so much insight into how genuine the applicants are and what kind of community member they will be."

What do you do when someone comes to you with a problem?

"I do everything I can to help them while maintaining my focus and managing my time. If they approach me for help and it isn't a good time, I hear them out and explain to them with transparency what I can do for them and when. I think it's important to set boundaries and clear expectations with transparent communication. I want them to trust me to the extent that they feel safe to come to me for help. I mean, what an honor. That's what teamwork is all about, anyway. So, I do everything I can to help those on and off my team in the most sustainable way possible."

This question, which seems largely open to interpretation, stands to reveal a lot about your emotional intelligence, general attitude, how team-oriented you are, and whether you are more of an introvert, ambivert, or extrovert. According to Kira, one of their core competencies which you'll be reviewed for is "critical thinking: is able to solve tough and interconnected problems by drawing on one's own knowledge and experience base and calling on other references as necessary; when making difficult or vital decisions, others turn to them for advice or guidance."

When answering this question, focus your answer on being motivated to help your fellow teammates, on your eagerness to mentor others exhibiting leadership potential, your ability to think quickly on your feet, and your resourcefulness, quickly finding solutions when you don't already have them. You want to portray yourself as a reliable, go-to resource of information.

What is one thing you'd like the admissions committee to know about you?

"A fun fact about me. For the last three years, I organized and got sponsorship for our school talent show. As the host, I warmed up the crowd with some silly comedy and got the crowd excited about each act. Every year, the show sold out and resulted in some truly zany and usual fun. I also served as a backup disc jockey for our community college this last summer as well, which I absolutely loved doing."

This question offers you an opportunity to share something unique about yourself that you feel might give you a competitive edge. But with this question, the content of your answer is only as important as how you convey it. They need to assess how strong a verbal communicator you are, whether you are proficient in speaking and presenting, can articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely, are engaging, and can think quickly on your feet. They will score you on how articulate you are, how honest and well-reasoned you are, and how clear your goals and trajectory are to you. Remember, grammar, syntax, and storytelling ability are considered, not as standalone factors, but as part of the overall communication effectiveness. Also, make your message clear and concise. Fitting more words into your response doesn't necessarily make it better!

How you answer this question will help give the reviewer a more collective view of your communication skills. Kira has structured their platform in a way that ensures their clients won't have to solely rate your competencies according to each question, but rather from the collective view, including any written materials you've submitted, beyond any written assessments you'll take. This includes your application, your resume if you've submitted one, and any other written materials you've volunteered prior to your interview, so they can "link multiple video and written questions to gather more insight. Using only an essay or short video, it can be difficult to assess complex competencies like leadership potential, collaboration, or empathy. Question sequences allow schools to build out multi-part questions to get a deeper story on your applicants' goals or past experiences. Admissions teams can ask connected questions related to a single trait, like leadership, or probe deeper into existing content with follow-up questions. Reviewers can give a communications rating to applicants after reviewing their responses across all applicant materials, including timed responses, as well as uploaded documents, for a truly holistic view of each applicant."

Here is a rendering of what their scoring would look like for an overall communications score, taken from a screenshot from an article they posted about "Document Review, Question Sequences, and Overall Communication Scores.""Poor: Few if any responses are adequately clear, acceptably organized, and mostly relevant to the questions. Fair: Some responses are adequately clear, acceptably organized, and mostly relevant to the questions. Good: Most responses are adequately clear, organized, and relevant to the questions. Great: Nearly all responses are clear, organized, and relevant to the questions. Exceptional: All responses are very clear, well organized, and highly relevant to the questions."

Talk to me about a disappointment you experienced and how you handled it.

"I had signed up for an advanced class because I really admired the instructor and their approach to teaching. But, I hadn't realized that the school hadn't gotten around to updating the program to include the new instructor who was taking that class over. The instructor I admired transferred to another school in the district and I was pretty disappointed by this. Yet, I took the class anyway and found this instructor to be pretty dynamic and engaging. It was still a different experience than I imagined, but I never regretted taking the class."

In most interviews, it is common to be asked similarly phrased questions. These are designed to test one's attention to detail and to assess the originality of your answers, which in turn could prove insightful to your level of experience. To draw the distinction, a hardship is often something that happens outwardly, whereas disappointment is something inward. The similarity between asking about your hardships and disappointments pertains to how you recover from such experiences. So, even though the prep time is limited, make sure you pause and take time to understand each question being asked before answering it. This is why it is useful to warm up beforehand and take advantage of the practice questions if you can. Even though the practice questions may or may not be related to your real assessment questions, and the preparation and response time between questions may also vary, it will help prepare you and enable you to think more quickly on your feet.

"The practice questions in Kira allow you to get familiar with the platform and to double-check that your device is set up properly. However, there are some key differences between practice and real assessment questions to be aware of. During the practice, you can complete your questions as many times as you'd like. During the real assessment, you only have one chance per question. During the practice, you can replay your responses to understand how you're presenting yourself. During the real assessment, you cannot play back your responses. Only your responses to the real assessment questions are evaluated. No one has access to anything you recorded during your practice (except you!)"

What motivated you to pursue your goals?

"It's my life passion, and it's what I love to do. Do what you love. So, I've always been determined to be good at what I do. Do what you are good at, right? I love what I do, am passionate about what I do, and am good at what I do. All three of these continue to motivate me in my pursuits, which feels pure to me somehow."

The reviewer wants to learn more about you than just your grades and scores. They're curious to learn more about who you are and why you chose your particular pursuits. How you answer this question could provide insights into how well you'll fit into their program, your likelihood to succeed, and what you'll contribute to their graduation rate and esteemed alumni. If you chose a career path you were pressured into, you're likely at a statistical disadvantage. That pressure, combined with the pressure of school, creates a higher likelihood of burning out and dropping out of the program. Whereas choosing to pursue goals that you are passionate about, and truly invested in, will more likely contribute to, and deliver your success. Keep this in mind when formulating your answer.

"Kira provides the canvas for your custom questions, competencies, rubrics, and platform experience. Select your best-fit students for the right non-cognitive competencies by assessing for program fit and key traits like leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills." Reviewers will break up each applicant's response according to their competencies. Kira defines competency as "the underlying quality or characteristic that a question is meant to assess." In addition to leadership, critical thinking, and communication, some of the other "key traits," or "competencies," Kira's platform scores for, are empathy, collaboration, integrity, resilience, judgement, and maturity. They'll then score each competency according to Kira's default 5-point scale, rating an applicant's response from poor, fair, good, great, to exceptional. Again, Kira defines a rubric as the criteria by which a reviewer determines how to score the applicant for a given competency. Their four primary rubrics are "collaboration, self-awareness, drive and grit, and critical thinking."

Name a time that you were not happy with your performance. What did you do to address it?

"I had two competing deadlines for two projects. The most important one I was running out of time on. So I completed it ahead of schedule and approacedh my instructor and explained to them I wasn't happy with the project and intended on polishing it. But, just in case, I wanted to hand in what I did have, just in case I couldn't get the more polished one turned in on time. They said they understood. So then I finished the other project, and I realized I had some extra time, so really went above and beyond for that project before I turned it in, and then came back to the first project, and started really making that one shine. I was up pretty late, and normally my instructor can be reached at that hour, but I wasn't able to get a hold of them. So when I turned the project in the next day, it was past the deadline. But, they said they would review and contrast both forms of my project, and would decide if an exception to turning in the work late would be allowed, or if the previous version would stand as the graded work. In the end, they accepted the final version, based on the responsible planning I did, and how much more exceptional the final version was."

One of Kira's key rubrics is "Drive and Grit." This question takes aim at how hardworking, ambitious, and committed you are to putting in the work. Someone who scores high here would be considered "driven and self-disciplined, and takes initiative inside and outside of the classroom. Proactive and strategic instead of reactive." So, when answering this question, provide an example where you learned from the experience and improved your work standard. If you were able to improve your work while still meeting your deadline, all the better. The ultimate aim here is to showcase how you consistently strive to go above and beyond and strive to always best your previous performance record.

What is a situation in which you had to work with someone who had a very different perspective or way of solving problems than you? How did you approach it while preserving your relationship with them?

"Well, I have frequently been told that I look at the world through an unusual lens, and march to the beat of my own drum. And I think that's right. So, from my point of view, everyone has a different perspective and way of doing things, which has always piqued my curiosity. So, I pay attention, actively listen, ask a lot of questions, and do what I can when I can to learn from those I work with and collaborate with. But that's nothing unusual. As a species, it is what we've done since the beginning of time."

This is another question aimed at assessing your perspective and life view. When you read this question, does working with someone who has a different perspective, has a different approach to solving problems, and is different from you suggest that as being a problem? Consider instead how this question presents an opportunity for you to showcase how adaptable you are, how curious you are to learn from varying perspectives, and how open you are to collaborating with those who are different from you. This approach will assure the reviewer that you will fit in with the rest of their diverse community.

Mitigating bias, in all its forms, is one of the core priorities of Kira Talent and their clients. Kira Talent even advertises that one of the primary functions of their assessment model is to help their clients mitigate bias from their review process while focusing on getting to know their applicants in a more meaningful way. "Make fair decisions. Give every applicant an equal opportunity to impress by creating a structured assessment with built-in bias mitigation features. Select your best-fit applicants. Discover the real people beyond the applications by assessing for program fit as well as traits like leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills."

When something is more challenging than you expected, how do you go about not letting it impede your success?

"Stuff comes up all the time that either presents an obstacle or detour, or just doesn't go the way you hoped. But that's just life. So, even I am disappointed by things not being easy, I adapt and make due. What else is there to do but adapt and keep moving? As my mom would say, just keep at it. So that's what I do until it's done. I just keep at it, no matter how tough the going gets."

This question is basically asking how effectively you perform in high-pressure, stressful situations. How you answer should inform them of whether you are able to manage your stress, think quickly on your feet, and respond situationally rather than emotionally. So, when answering this question, you want to exhibit that you are able to adapt and respond decisively without experiencing task paralysis.

Depending on the institution you are applying to, stress-based behavioral questions such as these may be phrased in a manner that more often correlate to the specific situations you'll likely face in that program. So, even though a question pertains to a particular situation in that program, or to your field of study, the focus of the question will be the same. For example, here is an account from an applicant who completed a Kira Assessment for a Physical Therapy program they were trying to enter. "My interview questions were very different from the practice questions. The practice questions seemed pretty generic admission-like questions. My actual interview questions were much more PT related and seemed to test my thinking process in tough/stressful situations as a future PT."

Tell us about a time you failed at an important goal and what you learned as a result.

"Last year I felt pretty ambitious getting all my toughest required classes out of the way so that my senior year would be very simple and easy. But, it wasn't long before I realized the extent of my miscalculation and that I'd been a bit overzealous in what I hoped to accomplish. I had no social life, was super buried in my studies, and started feeling a bit burned out by it all pretty quickly. It was more difficult to get through my work as time went on. I still got through it, and it was a tough year. But I now have a clearer idea of how much work I can take on at one time, and that there is always a fine line between quantity and quality."

Questions surrounding failure are aimed at assessing one's sense of determination, which in turn yields insights into one's likelihood for success. Most successful people will assert that the only way to succeed is to fail along the way, and what you learn from your failures greatly contributes to your success. Here is a testimonial from one of Kira's client institutions, where they attest to how the platform helped them identify successful applicants. "What Kira has been able to do for us is assess the applicants' motivation, commitment and drive. It allows us to know the candidate deeper, which helps us make an admission decision and feel more comfortable with that decision."

Tell us about a time you went above and beyond academically.

"This last year of school, as soon as I knew what my curriculum would be, I procured all of my textbooks and started reading them all three weeks prior to when the school year began. I really wanted to get a head start on the material. It served me well, and I have no regrets."

This question is aimed at determining the measure of your typical work standard by scaling it against your most exceptional examples. Your aim when answering this question should be first to paint a picture of your strong work ethic, how proactive you are in your work, and that it is always your aim to go the extra mile when your well managed time allows for it. Communicate how you are consistent in your performance and always strive to over deliver.

One of Kira Talents' offerings is their plagiarism checker. Every document submitted by applicants, and the written question responses will be run through their "Simcheck" which provides a similarity score, and the source of the similar content published elsewhere. This helps ensure "applicant integrity." In addition, their platform "tracks suspicious and/or fraudulent applicant behavior and reports this information back to the school/organization on a per-applicant basis. This includes typing speed, browser refreshes, technical issues, and internet disconnections."

Kira Talent Interview Questions

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1. Why do you want to attend our program?
2. With regards to gifts and subsidies, what, if anything, do you feel is acceptable for a professional to accept? What guidelines should be put around such gifts, and why?
3. Describe a situation where you didn’t have all of the information at the time and had to make a decision. What did you do?
4. Tell us about yourself.
5. Tell us about a time when you overcame a difficult challenge.
6. In your opinion what makes a good leader, and why?
7. Tell me about a recent time when you had to ask for help with something. Who did you ask, and how were they able to help you?
8. Have you ever received criticism that you initially didn't agree with? Why? Did you change your perspective?
9. Are you an early riser or a night owl? Why?
10. Tell me about your favorite home cooked meal.
11. Please tell me about a time you experienced a hardship. How did you react and what were some of the outcomes?
12. Describe a time when you disagreed with, or had a conflict with someone. What happened? How did you address it? What was the outcome?
13. Describe a time when you had to communicate a message to multiple groups.
14. Tell us about a time you motivated a disinterested team member.
15. What is a positive attribute or quality your friends, professors, or peers would say you have?
16. Looking back over your life, what’s one thing you would’ve changed?
17. What do you do when someone comes to you with a problem?
18. What is one thing you'd like the admissions committee to know about you?
19. Talk to me about a disappointment you experienced and how you handled it.
20. What motivated you to pursue your goals?
21. Name a time that you were not happy with your performance. What did you do to address it?
22. What is a situation in which you had to work with someone who had a very different perspective or way of solving problems than you? How did you approach it while preserving your relationship with them?
23. When something is more challenging than you expected, how do you go about not letting it impede your success?
24. Tell us about a time you failed at an important goal and what you learned as a result.
25. Tell us about a time you went above and beyond academically.

Kira Talent Interview Questions

1. Why do you want to attend our program?

2. With regards to gifts and subsidies, what, if anything, do you feel is acceptable for a professional to accept? What guidelines should be put around such gifts, and why?

3. Describe a situation where you didn’t have all of the information at the time and had to make a decision. What did you do?

4. Tell us about yourself.

5. Tell us about a time when you overcame a difficult challenge.

6. In your opinion what makes a good leader, and why?

7. Tell me about a recent time when you had to ask for help with something. Who did you ask, and how were they able to help you?

8. Have you ever received criticism that you initially didn't agree with? Why? Did you change your perspective?

9. Are you an early riser or a night owl? Why?

10. Tell me about your favorite home cooked meal.

11. Please tell me about a time you experienced a hardship. How did you react and what were some of the outcomes?

12. Describe a time when you disagreed with, or had a conflict with someone. What happened? How did you address it? What was the outcome?

13. Describe a time when you had to communicate a message to multiple groups.

14. Tell us about a time you motivated a disinterested team member.

15. What is a positive attribute or quality your friends, professors, or peers would say you have?

16. Looking back over your life, what’s one thing you would’ve changed?

17. What do you do when someone comes to you with a problem?

18. What is one thing you'd like the admissions committee to know about you?

19. Talk to me about a disappointment you experienced and how you handled it.

20. What motivated you to pursue your goals?

21. Name a time that you were not happy with your performance. What did you do to address it?

22. What is a situation in which you had to work with someone who had a very different perspective or way of solving problems than you? How did you approach it while preserving your relationship with them?

23. When something is more challenging than you expected, how do you go about not letting it impede your success?

24. Tell us about a time you failed at an important goal and what you learned as a result.

25. Tell us about a time you went above and beyond academically.