Nailing Your Interview at Ramah Day Camp Greater DC
“Shaping Your Culture Starts with Your Team.” – Jessica Herrin, CEO & Founder of Stella & Dot
At Ramah Day Camp Greater DC, we believe that hiring the right team is key to creating the best summer experience for both campers and staff. Our goal is to not only ensure safety, but also to bring in new staff who align with our values, culture, and educational mission. From the very first interview, we want our candidates to feel welcomed, respected, and set up for success.
For many of our applicants, this is their first job. We understand that interviews can be intimidating, but they are also a fantastic opportunity to:
- Show us who you are and why you’re a great fit for the role.
- Learn about us – we want you to understand our camp culture as much as we want to know about you.
- Practice for future opportunities – these skills are valuable for college, internships, and beyond.
- Start building a relationship with us – it’s okay to feel nervous; we’re here to help you succeed.
Our goal is to make the interview process as stress-free and supportive as possible. We want you to feel prepared and confident.
To help, we’ve compiled some common camp interview questions. While we may not ask all of them, they give you an idea of what to expect. The interview, often done virtually on Teams, will typically last about 20-30 minutes.
Sample Questions:
- Tell me about yourself (What grade are you in? Why do you want to work with kids?)
- Why do you want to work at Ramah this summer?
- What experience do you have working with children?
- How would you handle two kids who are exhibiting unsafe or disruptive behaviors?
- What would you do if a camper doesn’t want to leave a fun activity?
- How would you support a camper who is homesick?
- Tell me about a time you worked on a team and had a disagreement. How did you handle it?
- What would you do if other counselors weren’t pulling their weight?
- How have you been helped by a coach or teacher to improve?
- Tell me about a time you took initiative or solved a problem.
- What do you think will be easy for you, and where might you need support?
- Do you have any questions for us? (We love it when you ask!)
We’ll also cover camp hours, expectations, the daily schedule, and transportation details during the interview.
Haven’t even applied yet? CLICK HERE. (You will need the names of three references with their contact information to include in the application.)