25 Campus Tour Guides Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Campus Tour Guides interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. How do you keep yourself motivated?
How to Answer
"I like to set small goals throughout the week. Each week I aim for five to ten of the students who attend my tour to enroll in the school. I check in with the admissions department to find out which students are considering the school and which ones have enrolled. It helps me stay positive when I know I'm making an impact. I know there will be hard days where it's difficult to be motivated about my job. Focusing on my goals helps me to keep going."
When a parents begin to bicker and students are whining because it's so hot outside, you might need that reminder of why you love your job. Give an example that shows you can stay positive and persevere even when you're faced with obstacles. Share any tools that help you keep a great attitude!
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I like to set small goals throughout the week. Each week I aim for five to ten of the students who attend my tour to enroll in the school. I check in with the admissions department to find out which students are considering the school and which ones have enrolled. It helps me stay positive when I know I'm making an impact. I know there will be hard days where it's difficult to be motivated about my job. Focusing on my goals helps me to keep going."
Written by Rachelle Enns
2. How do you stay organized?
How to Answer
"I always use a calendar and my to-do list to stay organized. I check my to-do list at the beginning of the day, updating any new tasks, and the end of the day so that I am prepared for the next morning. I set up alerts on my calendar to remind me of important events and meetings."
Leading campus tours will require organization by you and your team. You will be working with admissions to coordinate the tours and other events like fundraisers or concerts. You will need to keep track of your daily tasks as well as the events going on across campus. Give a few examples of how you will keep it all together!
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I always use a calendar and my to-do list to stay organized. I check my to-do list at the beginning of the day, updating any new tasks, and the end of the day so that I am prepared for the next morning. I set up alerts on my calendar to remind me of important events and meetings."
Written by Rachelle Enns
3. Tell me about your leadership experience.
How to Answer
Campus tour guides serve as representatives of the student body. They lead by example and motivate future students by helping them get excited about attending a new school. Before you answer this question, take a moment to define what leadership means to you. Even if you have little experience guiding or facilitating teams, you have learned about leadership from managers, professors and other role models in your life. Leaders can be held accountable and they listen to the opinions of others. They are good decision-makers and they genuinely care about their team. They are proactive, anticipating problems and taking initiative. You might consider discussing your influence when you were on a sports team or participating in a social group, like a fraternity of sorority. If you started a club in high school or if you participated in the student council cabinet, those are great experiences to share as well!
Written by Rachelle Enns
4. How do you stay up to date on the latest campus activities?
How to Answer
"I read College Guide Magazine, which is a local publication that lists the weekly events with articles about college organizations. I'm also involved in my fraternity, and we are always participating in events of our own and with other social groups."
The interviewer wants to hear about your involvement with student organizations. Campus tour guides are expected to know the campus, its events and activities in order to educate new students and help them get involved. There are many ways to get involved. You may search online for groups that share your interest, or you may participate in organized sports, like intramurals. If you are not already involved, talk to other students or research online to find out about upcoming events! It's important to find your niche so that you don't get lost in the crowd!
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I read College Guide Magazine, which is a local publication that lists the weekly events with articles about college organizations. I'm also involved in my fraternity, and we are always participating in events of our own and with other social groups."
Written by Rachelle Enns
5. Do you have any experience with social media or marketing?
How to Answer
"Most of my marketing experience has been from promoting group events that I organized online. I primarily used Facebook to spread the word, posting pictures and videos that were relevant to the events."
Some campus tour guides are responsible for undergraduate admissions projects. These projects may involve promoting student events to help them get more involved with the student body on campus. Marketing experience will come in handy! You may have only used social media for personal use, like Facebook or Instagram. If this is the case, talk about how you will use your skills to help engage with future and present students.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"Most of my marketing experience has been from promoting group events that I organized online. I primarily used Facebook to spread the word, posting pictures and videos that were relevant to the events."
Written by Rachelle Enns
6. How would you handle a situation where you were going to be late for work?
How to Answer
" I always make sure I have the numbers of my coworkers and my boss so that I can call to let them know if I'm stuck or might be running late. I would call my boss first to let them know, and I would also tell them I would be willing to stay late or skip lunch to make up for the time missed. If I needed to, I would call a coworker to see if they could fill in for me until I get there."
Breakdowns, wrecks, traffic jams, rain storms... the possibilities that could interfere with your morning route to work are endless. So how do you take the most responsible approach to these predicaments?
Showing that you take initiative and think ahead are the best examples to share during your interview. You want to show that you are dependable and reliable. And when something goes wrong to keep you from showing up on time, you always take the proactive approach.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
" I always make sure I have the numbers of my coworkers and my boss so that I can call to let them know if I'm stuck or might be running late. I would call my boss first to let them know, and I would also tell them I would be willing to stay late or skip lunch to make up for the time missed. If I needed to, I would call a coworker to see if they could fill in for me until I get there."
Written by Rachelle Enns
7. Are you a team player?
How to Answer
"Yes! I enjoy working in teams because I am a people person and I enjoy learning from others. I recently worked on a school project in my mass communications class. I liked participating in discussions and encouraging each other as we each did our part of creating an awesome presentation!"
Show off your team skills by giving an example of when you worked together with your coworkers. Demonstrate how you communicated your thoughts or opinions. Share how you contributed to the project. Explain how you enjoy collaborating with others.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"Yes! I enjoy working in teams because I am a people person and I enjoy learning from others. I recently worked on a school project in my mass communications class. I liked participating in discussions and encouraging each other as we each did our part of creating an awesome presentation!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
8. Tell me about your customer service experience.
How to Answer
"I have been working in customer service for the past three years in a retail store. I have learned how to listen and show empathy whenever a customer has an issue. I am also very experienced in meeting customer needs and problem-solving. I really enjoy helping others, which is why I am excited about this opportunity! I'm ready to take my experience to the next level."
Some people enjoy making the customer happy and receiving positive feedback after an interaction. Others like the satisfaction of solving problems. Explain your experience to show the interviewer that you treat customers with respect and take great care to resolve issues. Customer service experience is not always a requirement, but very helpful for a position as a campus tour guide! If you haven't worked in customer service, share any relevant work or volunteer experience.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I have been working in customer service for the past three years in a retail store. I have learned how to listen and show empathy whenever a customer has an issue. I am also very experienced in meeting customer needs and problem-solving. I really enjoy helping others, which is why I am excited about this opportunity! I'm ready to take my experience to the next level."
Written by Rachelle Enns
9. Do you have any experience with public speaking?
How to Answer
Campus tour guides are positive and outgoing. They are excited to share their knowledge about the history and all of the benefits of an education at the university. Public speaking experience is not always required, but extremely helpful! If you are comfortable speaking in front of a crowd, you will be able to easily adapt to giving tours on a regular basis. If you have given a presentation or a speech at school, you can share what that experience was like for you. If you've ever been nervous about public speaking, talk about what you have done to ease the anxiety.
Written by Rachelle Enns
10. How do you make students and parents feel welcomed on the tour?
How to Answer
"Before we start a tour, I always do introductions. I tell everyone a little bit about myself and make myself approachable by being friendly and personable. I try to make conversation with students and parents in the group to help keep everyone engaged."
As a tour guide, you are responsible for educating groups about your school to convince students to enroll. When students feel comfortable on the tour, they will feel even more comfortable considering attending the school. Parents are often nervous about sending their child away to school. Students can be equally anxious! Talk about how you will communicate with others to help them feel more at ease.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"Before we start a tour, I always do introductions. I tell everyone a little bit about myself and make myself approachable by being friendly and personable. I try to make conversation with students and parents in the group to help keep everyone engaged."
Written by Rachelle Enns
11. What are some areas you could improve on?
How to Answer
As a leader and a role model, it's important for you to be proactive about improving weaknesses. You will also be spending the majority of your time working with people, which means you'll need to be very self-aware. If you receive feedback from a student, parent or a manager, remember not to take it personally. You are capable of improving your performance and making changes, even if it's simply through taking small steps forward. Give an example that shows you take initiative to improve an area of weakness.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I have been practicing projecting my voice so that everyone can hear me loud and clear when I am giving a tour. I had a couple of students tell me that they were having difficulty hearing me the last time I led a tour, so I have made a point to be more enthusiastic and raise my voice just a little bit louder."
Written by Rachelle Enns
12. What is your academic standing?
How to Answer
Be honest! You're interviewing at a school that has access to your records! It's important to consider your academic standing when you apply for a campus tour guide position because you will be expected to maintain your good grades. Explain to the interviewer that you are diligent with your studies and share your GPA. Be confident in your abilities! The interviewer wants to hear that you will continue to work hard to be an example to future students.
Written by Rachelle Enns
13. What are is your availability?
How to Answer
Before you offer up your evenings and weekends, be sure that you are clear on what they need from you for this position. Typically the hours are laid out in the job description, but if it only says "part-time" or "full-time" and you are asked about the hours you're available to work, you may want to respond first with, "What hours do you need me to work?" Once they have laid out the expectations, you can tell them, "That sounds great! I'm available on those days and I can offer my weekends if I am needed as well." You want to show them that you're excited about the job and that you are willing to make yourself available to work when they need you.
Written by Rachelle Enns
14. How well do you know your way around our campus?
How to Answer
Even if you know the campus like the back of your hand, take some time before your interview to explore the campus, using a map and marking important places like the union, bathrooms, and each department building. You may only have a couple of hours to give a tour, so you will want to hit up the most popular spots, including historical markers. The interviewer wants to feel confident in your ability to tour the campus without getting lost or forgetting where to go!
Written by Rachelle Enns
15. Do you have any experience in customer service or hospitality?
How to Answer
"I have two years of experience working in the service industry as a hostess and waiting tables. Prior to that, I worked as a sales associate at a retail store. I learned how to effectively communicate with customers by listening and making them feel more at ease. I also learned how to be patient and attentive to customer needs."
Provide a short summary of your relevant work experience. You can include the skills you developed and what you learned from those experiences. If this is your first job, you can respond by simply saying, "I haven't worked in customer service before, but I'm a great communicator and a fast learner!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I have two years of experience working in the service industry as a hostess and waiting tables. Prior to that, I worked as a sales associate at a retail store. I learned how to effectively communicate with customers by listening and making them feel more at ease. I also learned how to be patient and attentive to customer needs."
Written by Rachelle Enns
16. How will you build relationships with students and parents?
How to Answer
"I am friendly and approachable. I am also very relaxed, which helps others feel more comfortable around me. Even though I follow the schedule and like to keep everything moving forward and on time, I still maintain a calm and stress-free environment for the students and parents on my tour. I understand that they are already feeling frantic about making the right decision about which school to attend, so I take the pressure off and take some time to get to know everyone in the group."
Relationship building is a skill. Think about how you take the time to build relationships with your classmates and your coworkers and apply those skills to your new work environment.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I am friendly and approachable. I am also very relaxed, which helps others feel more comfortable around me. Even though I follow the schedule and like to keep everything moving forward and on time, I still maintain a calm and stress-free environment for the students and parents on my tour. I understand that they are already feeling frantic about making the right decision about which school to attend, so I take the pressure off and take some time to get to know everyone in the group."
Written by Rachelle Enns
17. How will you balance this job with your schoolwork?
How to Answer
"I know that I will need to make some sacrifices, but I am prepared to focus on this new job and my studies. I know that it can be challenging to divide my energy, but I've worked retail and in the service industry since I started school and I have found a balance that still allows me some time to myself and time to be social!"
Working and going to school can be a difficult balance! As a campus guide, you will be required to maintain good academic standing to set an example for the students you meet every day. If you have learned any tools that have helped you balance your school with work in the past, talk about them. You may stick to strict schedule, keeping a calendar or setting alarms on your phone. Share what you've learned so far!
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I know that I will need to make some sacrifices, but I am prepared to focus on this new job and my studies. I know that it can be challenging to divide my energy, but I've worked retail and in the service industry since I started school and I have found a balance that still allows me some time to myself and time to be social!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
18. Which of your strengths will help make you an excellent campus tour guide?
How to Answer
"I'm a leader and an excellent communicator. I am good at observing people and noticing body language. I can tell when others feel nervous or uncomfortable and I am good at being sensitive to their needs. I like speaking in front of others, and I feel confident that these strengths will make me a great fit for this position!"
If you're having trouble thinking about your strengths, take a look at your resume. Notice your accomplishments and think about the qualities you embody that made those achievements possible. Make a list of those strengths. Next, take a look at the job description and ask yourself how your qualities and skills will help you meet the requirements for the job. You are great with people and self-motivated. You are independent and don't require much supervision. Your strengths will make you the perfect fit for this role!
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I'm a leader and an excellent communicator. I am good at observing people and noticing body language. I can tell when others feel nervous or uncomfortable and I am good at being sensitive to their needs. I like speaking in front of others, and I feel confident that these strengths will make me a great fit for this position!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
19. Tell me what you know about our university.
How to Answer
Before your interview, take some time to research the school. Familiarize yourself with the different departments, degrees the offer and their culture. You will want to be able to talk about the different organizations on campus and what's it's like to be a student there. You'll need to know about the cool places to hang out and the up and coming organizations. Make sure you are also up to date on any big social events. The interviewer wants to hear that you are knowledgeable enough about the school to educate others. Take some time to review the website and talk to the admissions office about the enrollment process. The more you know the better guide you will be!
Written by Rachelle Enns
20. Have you ever led a campus tour before?
How to Answer
If you have no experience as a campus tour guide, you can use an example of a tour you led on your high school campus or even around your city! If you've ever hosted friends from out of town and shown them around town, that counts! Most schools will not require prior tour guide experience. Offer up an example that relates to the job. If you don't have an example, simply reply, "I don't have any experience, but I am looking forward to learning!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I don't have any experience, but I am looking forward to learning!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
21. Why do you want to be a campus tour guide?
How to Answer
"I'm excited about the opportunity to get to know future students and teach them about what I have learned about the school. I enjoy giving presentations and promoting school events. I have had such a great experience at this school that I want to share it with others!"
Share your enthusiasm! The interviewer wants to know that you are passionate about guiding and educating others. Demonstrate your positive spirit and your outgoing attitude! Talk about a few aspects of the job that excite you!
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I'm excited about the opportunity to get to know future students and teach them about what I have learned about the school. I enjoy giving presentations and promoting school events. I have had such a great experience at this school that I want to share it with others!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
22. How would you rate your communication skills?
How to Answer
Before you answer this question, write down some qualities that make you a good communicator. People with excellent communication skills are able to articulate themselves to people of all cultural backgrounds and capabilities. They are compassionate and able to express themselves effectively through body language and facial expressions. For this role, you will need to be able to communicate to large groups. Public speaking can be a challenging form of communication, but with some determination and practice, you will be a pro in no time! Share some of the qualities that make you a great communicator! You can also give an example of a situation where you took time to listen and communicate effectively with a coworker or a team.
Written by Rachelle Enns
23. Give me an example that shows you are dependable.
How to Answer
"When I worked as a hostess at a restaurant, I was always on-time. I would complete tasks like rolling silverware and spot sweeping the floor before anyone asked. I take pride in my work, and I like to be on top of things so that everything goes smoothly, even when we get a rush of customers."
Since campus tour guides work in a team environment, what you do really matters! Your work will have an effect on the rest of your team as well as future students and parents. Give an example from work, school, or your volunteer experience that demonstrates you are reliable and that you can be counted on to meet expectations.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"When I worked as a hostess at a restaurant, I was always on-time. I would complete tasks like rolling silverware and spot sweeping the floor before anyone asked. I take pride in my work, and I like to be on top of things so that everything goes smoothly, even when we get a rush of customers."
Written by Rachelle Enns
24. Why do you want a job while you're finishing school?
How to Answer
"I want to get more professional experience to build up my resume. I know that I will have to sacrifice some of my social life in order to work, but I think this job will help me maintain a healthy balance."
The interviewer wants to make sure you can handle the stress of adding a new job to your schedule. Working and going to school is challenging because you have to divide your time and also find a way to stay healthy and happy. You can talk about how you plan to continue studying and attending classes. You can also share your goals and how this job will help you achieve them. Share your motivation and how you keep a balanced work/life.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I want to get more professional experience to build up my resume. I know that I will have to sacrifice some of my social life in order to work, but I think this job will help me maintain a healthy balance."
Written by Rachelle Enns
25. Give me an example that demonstrates your school pride.
How to Answer
You may have been a die-hard basketball fan, waving a banner or even participating on the cheerleading team. This is a great opportunity to share talk about your involvement in high school or college. Whether you like to watch events or play on a team, share an example that shows how proud you are to be a part of your school.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I use to wear face paint when I would attend football games in high school. Now I don't always dress up, but I still wear my school colors and tailgate with my friends before games. I love the community and I love supporting my school teams!"
Written by Rachelle Enns