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Self-Reflection: Describing Your Personality in an Interview

self reflection after interview essay

Self-reflection is the act of introspection, where an individual examines their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is an analytical approach to self-awareness that helps one understand their personality better. In a job interview setting, self-reflection is a vital tool that can help candidates showcase their personality, skills, and competence.

Employers look for individuals who can understand themselves and others, and this is why self-reflection is significant during job interviews. It helps the candidate articulate their strengths and weaknesses and personalize their responses based on their experiences. Ultimately, it sets them apart from other applicants and increases their chances of landing the job.

This article highlights the importance of self-reflection in job interviews and provides insights on how to describe personality traits effectively. The article starts by discussing the definition of self-reflection and its significance in a job interview setting. It then outlines the different types of personality traits and how they can impact job interviews.

Furthermore, the article covers practical tips on how to describe personality traits in a job interview. It discusses the STAR method, behavioral questions, and the importance of being authentic and concise. Additionally, it explains how to provide examples of behaviors that demonstrate positive qualities such as leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.

The article also delves into the importance of self-awareness in both personal and professional development. It provides guidance on how to develop self-awareness and how to leverage it in a job interview. Finally, the article concludes by highlighting the key points and emphasizing the significance of self-reflection in job interviews.

This article aims to equip individuals with the necessary tools to describe their personality in a job interview. It emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and provides practical tips that can help candidates leave a positive impression on interviewers.

self reflection after interview essay

Understanding Your Personality Traits

Understanding your personality traits is crucial when it comes to job interviews and career success. Personality traits refer to our individual characteristics and behaviors that define us as unique individuals. These traits can be broadly categorized into five categories: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Overview of personality traits

Openness refers to traits such as imagination, creativity, and a willingness to try new things. Conscientiousness is the degree to which individuals are reliable, organized, and responsible. Extraversion relates to social and outgoing behaviors, such as assertiveness and gregariousness. Agreeableness is the degree to which individuals are cooperative, empathetic, and compassionate. Neuroticism refers to emotional instability, such as anxiety and moodiness.

Popular personality tests (e.g. Myers-Briggs, Big Five)

Several popular personality tests can help individuals understand their unique characteristics and behaviors. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a popular test that identifies individuals’ personality types based on four dimensions: extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. The Big Five Personality Test, on the other hand, assesses individuals’ traits related to openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

How personality traits affect job performance

Research shows that personality traits can significantly affect job performance. For instance, individuals who are high in conscientiousness perform better in jobs that require organizational skills and attention to detail than those who are low in conscientiousness. Conversely, individuals who are high in extraversion perform better in sales and marketing roles that require social skills and interaction with customers.

Moreover, individuals with high levels of neuroticism may struggle in high-stress careers, while those who are low in agreeableness may struggle in collaborative work environments.

Understanding your personality traits can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to make career decisions that align with your unique characteristics and increase your job satisfaction. It’s crucial to reflect on your personality traits before going into an interview, so you can effectively communicate your strengths to potential employers.

Preparing for the Interview

Before going to any job interview, it’s essential to prepare thoroughly. This preparation can ensure that you show up confident, knowledgeable, and ready to impress. This section will cover several crucial steps to prepare for an interview: researching the company culture and job requirements, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and practicing self-reflection techniques.

Researching the Company Culture and Job Requirements

Researching the company culture and job requirements are crucial steps in preparing for an interview. You’ll need to know what the company does, what their mission statement is, and what the company culture is like. Knowing this information can help you tailor your responses to the interviewer, highlight your skills, and show that you are a good fit for the company.

Additionally, researching job requirements is essential to ensure that you have the necessary skills and qualifications for the job. This information can help you address any potential gaps in your skills and experiences during the interview.

Identifying Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Identifying your strengths and weaknesses is another critical step in preparing for an interview. Knowing your strengths can help you highlight them during the interview, while knowing your weaknesses can help you address any limitations or knowledge gaps that you may have. Additionally, being aware of your weaknesses can help you prepare to answer questions that may come up during the interview.

Practicing Self-Reflection Techniques

Practicing self-reflection techniques can be useful in preparing for an interview. This technique can help you identify your personality traits, values, and beliefs, and provide you with insight into how you interact with others. Knowing yourself, in turn, can help you articulate your qualities and provide insights into how you will fit into the company’s culture and team.

Preparing for an interview requires a certain level of research and self-reflection. By researching the company culture and job requirements, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and practicing self-reflection techniques, you can best equip yourself for whatever questions come your way. Remember to be honest with yourself and the interviewer, stay positive, and keep the focus on how you can add value to the company.

self reflection after interview essay

Identifying Your Key Values

In order to effectively communicate your personality traits in a job interview, it’s essential to have a firm understanding of your personal values. Defining your personal values allows you to gain insight into what motivates you, what you value most in life, and what you stand for.

To define your personal values, start by asking yourself what matters most to you. Do you value honesty, integrity, and respect? Or do you prioritize innovation, creativity, and risk-taking? Whatever your answer may be, it’s important to be honest with yourself and dig deep to uncover what truly drives you.

Once you have a list of potential values, identify your top values. These are the values that you believe are non-negotiable and shape your worldview. Your top values can serve as a guiding force in your decision-making process and how you prioritize your time and efforts.

Now that you’ve identified your top values, it’s time to connect them to job requirements. Look at the job description and identify the values that the company prioritizes. For example, if the job emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, highlight how your own values align with these traits.

In addition to connecting your personal values to job requirements, be prepared to give concrete examples of how you’ve applied these values in real-life scenarios. This will not only demonstrate your values but also showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to new situations.

Identifying your key values is a crucial component of self-reflection and essential for communicating your personality traits in a job interview. By defining your values, identifying your top values, and connecting them to job requirements, you can confidently demonstrate how your values align with the company’s mission and culture.

Describing Your Personality using PAR Method

When it comes to job interviews, your resume and job experience can only take you so far. One important aspect that interviewers look for is your personality, as it can greatly impact how you will fit into the company culture and work with others. The PAR method is an effective way to showcase your personality to potential employers.

Overview of PAR Method

PAR stands for Problem, Action, and Result. In this technique, you describe a specific problem you faced (either in the workplace or in your personal life), the actions you took to solve it, and the positive results that came from your actions. By using this method, you not only demonstrate your problem-solving skills but also reveal aspects of your personality such as perseverance, creativity, and leadership.

Providing Examples to Support Each Point

To better understand the PAR method, let’s consider an example:

Problem:  You notice a lack of communication between team members, leading to missed deadlines and decreased productivity.

Action:  You schedule a meeting with your team to discuss the issue, listen to everyone’s concerns, and brainstorm solutions. You also implement a weekly check-in to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Result:  As a result, team communication improves, deadlines are met, and overall productivity increases.

Sample PAR Statements for Different Job Positions

Using the PAR method, you can describe how your personality traits would fit into specific job roles. Here are a few examples:

Marketing Manager

Problem:  Low lead generation due to ineffective email marketing campaigns.

Action:  Research best email marketing practices, revamp email strategies, and develop a targeted email campaign.

Result:  Leads increase by 50% within the first quarter.

Customer Service Representative

Problem:  High call volume and frustrated customers due to long wait times.

Action:  Analyze call data patterns and implement a new system to improve call routing and reduce wait times.

Result:  Customer satisfaction improves and call volume becomes more manageable.

Project Manager

Problem:  Project timeline constantly delayed due to miscommunication between stakeholders.

Action:  Initiate regular meetings with all stakeholders to ensure everyone is on the same page and update the project timeline accordingly.

Result:  Project is completed on time and within budget.

By using the PAR method, you not only convey your problem-solving skills and work experience, but also your personality traits such as leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. This technique can help you stand out in a crowded job market and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Preparing for Common Personality Questions

When it comes to job interviews, being prepared can make all the difference. It’s important to not only be ready to answer questions about your experience and qualifications, but also questions about your personality. Employers want to know not only what you can do, but also who you are. Here is an overview of some common personality questions you may encounter in a job interview:

Overview of Common Personality Questions in Job Interviews

How would you describe your work style?

  • How do you handle stress and pressure?

What motivates you?

Can you give an example of a time when you had to work with a difficult coworker or supervisor?

How do you handle constructive criticism?

These questions may seem simple, but they require thoughtful answers in order to truly showcase your personality and demonstrate why you would be a good fit for the job.

Sample Questions with Possible Answers

My work style is very organized and efficient. I like to make to-do lists and prioritize tasks to ensure that I am using my time effectively. I also enjoy collaborating with my coworkers and am always looking for ways to improve and streamline our processes.

I handle stress and pressure well by taking a step back and assessing the situation. I focus on the task at hand and break it down into manageable parts. I also make sure to take breaks when needed and prioritize self-care by exercising and practicing mindfulness.

I am motivated by a sense of accomplishment and the feeling of making a meaningful contribution to a team or project. I also thrive when given opportunities to learn and grow in my role.

One time, I had a coworker who was consistently negative and uncooperative. Instead of letting their attitude bring me down, I tried to approach the situation with empathy and constructive communication. I made an effort to understand their perspective and find common ground, and eventually, we were able to work together more effectively.

I appreciate constructive criticism as an opportunity for growth and improvement. I ask for specific feedback and make changes based on that feedback in order to perform better in my role.

Tips for Responding Effectively

  • Be honest and authentic in your answers
  • Use specific examples to illustrate your points
  • Focus on your strengths and how they align with the job requirements
  • Don’t be afraid to show a bit of personality and let your passion for the role shine through

By keeping these tips in mind and preparing thoughtful answers to common personality questions, you can impress employers with your self-awareness, communication skills, and suitability for the job.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is an integral part of personal growth and development. However, many people fall into the trap of making common mistakes during self-reflection, which can hinder their progress. In this section, we will discuss the common mistakes during self-reflection and provide tips on how to avoid them.

Common Mistakes During Self-Reflection

Being Too Harsh on Oneself:  One of the most common mistakes during self-reflection is being too harsh on oneself. Although it is essential to identify and work on personal shortcomings, overly criticizing oneself can lead to feelings of inadequacy and demotivation.

Ignoring Blind Spots:  Another common mistake is ignoring blind spots. Blind spots refer to personal habits, behaviors, or traits that individuals are not aware of. Ignoring these blind spots can prevent individuals from making significant progress towards personal growth.

Comparing Oneself to Others:  Many people fall into the trap of comparing themselves to others during self-reflection. This can lead to feelings of jealousy, envy, and low self-esteem, hindering personal growth.

Tips for Avoiding These Mistakes

Be kind to yourself:  Instead of being overly critical of oneself, practice self-compassion. Recognize that mistakes and setbacks are part of the learning process and be kind to yourself.

Get feedback from others:  Seeking feedback from others can help identify blind spots and provide perspectives to help with self-reflection.

Focus on personal growth:  Avoid comparing oneself to others and focus on personal growth. Make a list of personal goals based on self-reflection and work towards accomplishing them.

Discussing Negative Traits

Discussing negative traits during self-reflection can be challenging. However, it is crucial to identify and work on personal shortcomings to achieve personal growth. When discussing negative traits, be specific and objective. Use concrete examples of when the trait has hindered personal growth and development. Additionally, identify steps that can be taken to overcome the negative trait and work towards personal growth. Remember that negative traits are not permanent and can be changed with effort and dedication.

Self-reflection is an essential tool for personal growth and development. By avoiding common mistakes and working on personal shortcomings, individuals can achieve personal growth and become better versions of themselves. So, take the time to self-reflect, be kind to yourself, seek feedback from others, and focus on personal growth.

Using Nonverbal Cues in Self-Reflection

When it comes to self-reflection, nonverbal cues can often speak louder than words. These subtle movements and gestures can communicate a great deal about a person’s feelings and personality. Understanding the significance of nonverbal cues and using them appropriately can significantly enhance interview performance and convey a positive impression to potential employers.

Significance of Nonverbal Cues

Research has shown that more than half of all communication is nonverbal. That means that the way you hold your body, the expressions on your face, and the movements you make are all vital indicators of your personality, confidence, and honesty. Nonverbal cues provide insight into what you are thinking and feeling, and this information can be just as important as the words you use to express yourself.

Suggestions for Appropriate Body Language

To use nonverbal cues to your advantage during an interview, it’s essential to be mindful of your body language. Here are a few suggestions for using appropriate body language:

  • Make eye contact: Maintaining good eye contact throughout the conversation shows that you are engaged and confident. Avoiding eye contact can make you appear uninterested or insincere.
  • Use open body language: Uncross your arms and legs and keep your hands visible to signal openness and honesty. Closed-off body language can indicate defensiveness or discomfort.
  • Lean in: Leaning slightly forward can show that you are interested in what the interviewer is saying and can help build rapport.
  • Nod and smile: Nodding your head and smiling at appropriate times conveys that you are actively listening and engaged in the conversation.

Sample Scenarios Where Nonverbal Cues Can Enhance Interview Performance

Using appropriate nonverbal cues can enhance interview performance in a variety of scenarios. Here are a few examples:

Demonstrating confidence: Standing up straight with shoulders back and head held high suggests confidence and self-assurance. Avoid slouching, fidgeting, or playing with hair or clothing, which can indicate nervousness or insecurity.

Showing enthusiasm: Using animated facial expressions and hand gestures can convey enthusiasm and passion for the role. However, be careful not to overdo it, as excessive movements can be distracting and convey a lack of focus.

Building rapport: Mirror the interviewer’s nonverbal cues, such as posture, vocal tone, or gestures, to build rapport and establish a connection. Matching the interviewer’s energy level can also help put them at ease and facilitate a more productive conversation.

Nonverbal cues can be just as important as verbal communication in conveying your personality and feelings during an interview. By using appropriate body language, you can enhance your interview performance and make a positive impression on potential employers.

Responding to Follow-Up Questions

As an interviewee, you may be faced with follow-up questions after describing your personality during an interview. These questions aim to clarify or delve deeper into your personality traits, behaviors, and values. Here are some possible follow-up questions and suggestions on how to answer them to avoid inconsistencies in your responses.

Possible follow-up questions

  • Can you give an example that demonstrates your creativity?
  • How do you handle conflicts with your colleagues or superiors?
  • Can you elaborate on your teamwork skills?
  • Can you tell me more about your leadership style?

Suggestions for answering follow-up questions

  • Be prepared with a specific example or anecdote that highlights your creativity. This could be a project you worked on, an innovative solution you proposed, or a successful result you achieved through your creativity.
  • Practice active listening, empathy, and assertiveness in dealing with conflicts. Use “I” statements, focus on the problem, not the person, and suggest solutions that benefit both parties.
  • Describe a successful team project you participated in and highlight your specific contribution. Mention how you communicated and collaborated with your team members to achieve the project’s goals.
  • Explain your coping mechanisms and stress management techniques, such as exercise, meditation, music, or time management. Demonstrate how you prioritize tasks, assess risks, and seek support when needed.
  • Share your vision, values, and goals as a leader. Describe your communication style, delegation style, and how you motivate and engage your team members. Provide examples of successful projects or teams you led.

Avoiding inconsistencies in responses

To avoid inconsistencies in your responses, make sure you:

  • Review your resume, cover letter, and application materials for consistency and accuracy. Be prepared to answer questions regarding your past experiences, achievements, and skills.
  • Practice active listening, clear communication, and honesty during the interview. Listen carefully to the questions, clarify them if needed, and answer truthfully and respectfully. Avoid exaggerating or overstating your skills or experiences.
  • Be aware of your body language, tone, and attitude. Present yourself confidently, positively, and professionally throughout the interview. Pay attention to your nonverbal cues, such as eye contact, posture, and gestures.
  • Take notes during the interview to remember the questions, your answers, and any feedback or next steps. Review your notes after the interview and reflect on what you did well and what you can improve.

By following these suggestions and avoiding inconsistencies, you can present a clear, authentic, and memorable description of your personality during an interview. Remember, self-reflection is a continuous practice, and every interview is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Reflecting on the Interview Experience

When it comes to landing a job, the interview stage is crucial. It’s an opportunity to showcase your skills, qualifications, and personality, and to convince the hiring manager that you’re the right fit for the role. But no matter how well-prepared or qualified you may be, interviews can still be nerve-wracking and stressful.

To make the most of your interview experience, it’s important to engage in reflective thinking techniques. This means taking the time to evaluate your interview performance, what went well and what could be improved, and then using these learnings to prepare for future interviews.

There are several steps you can take to evaluate your interview performance. First, review your notes from the interview (if you took any) or jot down your recollections of the experience. Then, ask yourself:

  • Did I adequately answer the interviewer’s questions?
  • Did I provide specific examples from my experience to support my answers?
  • Did I seem enthusiastic and engaged throughout the interview?
  • Did I ask insightful questions about the role or company?
  • Did I highlight my unique strengths and qualifications?

Depending on your answers, you may identify areas for improvement. For example, if you realized you didn’t provide enough examples from your experience, you may need to review your resume and prepare more job-specific examples for future interviews.

Once you’ve evaluated your performance, it’s important to use these learnings to prepare for future interviews. For example:

  • Practice answering common interview questions with a friend or family member
  • Identify your unique strengths and examples to support them
  • Research the company and role thoroughly
  • Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer
  • Consider scheduling a mock interview with a career counselor or mentor

By using these strategies, you can turn your interview experience into a learning opportunity and increase your chances of landing a job. Remember, self-reflection is key to both personal and professional growth, and can help you to continually improve and develop your skills.

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Ellin Lolis Consulting

How To Tackle the HBS Post-Interview Reflection

Oct 5, 2023

self reflection after interview essay

After spending months fine-tuning your MBA application essays, you’ve finally received that long-awaited interview invitation — only to discover that now you need to write more essays!

Though not all schools utilize interview essays – essays that are required only of candidates invited to interview – they have become increasingly popular in recent years. With more and more competitive candidates applying every year, elite MBA programs are always looking for new ways to distinguish the “admits” from the “dings.” 

Though they may seem small and relatively unimportant at first, MBA interview essays are an important element of your overall application and should be carefully crafted. That’s why we’re sharing our top tips on how to approach and write your own Harvard Business School Post-Interview Reflection . By following these tips, you can ensure you stand out and land a spot at your dream school. 

Harvard’s post-interview reflection is perhaps the most well-known example of an MBA interview essay. Now with a suggested word limit, this open-ended question must be answered by all candidates that are selected to interview at HBS . 

As part of the application process, you will be required to complete a Post-Interview Reflection. Here are a few details:

  • The Post-Interview Reflection is not intended to be another formal essay. Think of it instead as a reflection after a meeting.
  • We will be much more generous in our reaction to typos and grammatical errors than we will be with pre-packaged responses. Reflections that give any indication that they were produced before you had the interview will raise a flag for us.
  • We do not expect you to solicit or receive any outside assistance with this exercise.
  • Your Post-Interview Reflection is due within 24 hours of the conclusion of your interview. Let the interview soak in a little bit…no need to start writing your reflection right at the conclusion of your interview.
  • There is a word guidance of 300-450 words for the Post-Interview Reflection.

How to approach your answer

Since you only have 24 hours after your interview to prepare the essay, you might be tempted to write out your answer in advance and then make small adjustments later on. 

I personally love HBS’ admissions process because the school is incredibly clear and transparent about its expectations. For your essay, they couldn’t make it clearer that a pre-packaged answer will hurt your application: 

“ We will be much more generous in our reaction to typos and grammatical errors than we will be with pre-packaged responses. Reflections that give any indication that they were produced before you had the interview will raise a flag for us. ”

That’s because the Post-Interview Reflection (PIR) works best when it’s just that – a reflection on how your interview with the school actually went . 

Though we’re sure you diligently prepared for your big day , interviews have a way of going a little differently than expected. 

Last year, for example, our client Nathalia’s interview was so focused on her new international job that she only later realized she’d never told her interviewer her reasons for wanting to attend Harvard. In her PIR, she was able to address this topic, as well as a few other points mentioned in the interview that she wanted to further expand/clarify upon. 

This approach helped Nathalia get into HBS. 

As such, the best strategy for your PIR is to do your best on interview day and then calmly assess your performance afterward. After reflecting, you should consider including the following elements in your PIR: 

  • A brief thank you for the opportunity to interview
  • Any points you feel are relevant but were not able to discuss in the interview
  • Any “mistakes” you’d like to correct or additional points you’d like to add
  • How you feel you can contribute to the HBS community (if you were not able to mention this)
  • Anything you learned about HBS during the interview or during your campus visit (if you interviewed in Cambridge)
  • A closing paragraph that reinforces why you are so passionate about attending HBS. 

Essentially, after reading your PIR, the admissions committee at HBS should be convinced that you deeply reflected on your interview and your place in the HBS community, demonstrating you are exactly the type of candidate they are looking for!

Finally, though the HBS admissions committee states that they are more understanding of spelling and grammar errors, try to run your essay through software like Grammarly to avoid any unnecessary mistakes. 

Effectively Tell your Story During your Interview

One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA interviews is that candidates fail to tell compelling, well-constructed stories about their profiles while also nailing the basics. 

Striking this balance between sharing STAR-format examples that show off your background while also presenting strong answers to questions like “Why do you want an MBA?” is a challenging task that requires significant thought and preparation. 

Because of this, it’s no surprise that, on average, 50% of interviewed applicants walk away without an offer .   

This is why our interview preparation process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting is known as the best in the industry. We offer customized 1:1 support that ensures you’re able to turn your application’s strengths into compelling answers that show fit and sell your profile in any type of interview. That’s why 98.9% of our complete consulting clients get into at least one of their target schools. 

Not only can you take advantage of our development process through multiple sessions – you can also benefit from a single session! If your budget is tight, our interview experts can focus your session on a single aspect of the preparation process, from workshopping your answers to providing mock interviews. 

MBA Interview Prep

Forget simulation platforms or long lists of tips – our 1:1 preparation focuses on playing to your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses to turn you into an interview expert . Hire our interview services here. VIP packages that allow you to work directly with Ellin sell out quickly, so make sure you sign up today !

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Nine Tips for Writing a Great HBS Post-Interview Reflection

February 23, 2024

Debbie Choy

You walk out of your Harvard Business School (HBS) interview, and you are either floating on cloud nine, feeling amazing, or your mind is racing with “could’ve, should’ve, would’ve.” You wish you could run back to the interviewer to clarify your answers or add details. With the HBS Post-Interview Reflection, you  can!  Not literally, of course, but you nonetheless have the opportunity to follow up on anything you think was left incomplete, unclear, or unsaid.

The HBS Post-Interview Reflection has a 300- to 450-word limit. The submission is due within 24 hours of completing your interview and it is a chance for you to make your final case to the admissions committee. 

Here are nine tips for achieving an insightful post-interview reflection that could help get you accepted at HBS’s MBA program.

1. Pay attention to the guidance given by HBS.

One message that stands out in the guidance HBS provides is that it is not intended to be a formal essay. The admissions committee advises that you think of the submission as though you are writing a reflection after a meeting. To me, this guidance suggests that your writing style can be more casual than you would use in a typical “professional” write-up and therefore less rigid than a formal essay. Imagine you are composing an email to a colleague. In fact, I always like to read the post-interview reflection essay aloud to ensure that it is clear and sounds like a letter addressed to an actual person. For example, dispense with long sentences, and avoid using a lot of multisyllabic words. Ultimately, ask yourself,  Does this read like how I talk?

2. Jot down your thoughts immediately after the interview.

Right after your interview, go someplace quiet where you can think about the meeting and discussion you just had. Write down your thoughts about the questions you were asked and how you answered them. Note the questions for which you feel your responses were incomplete or not as clear as you would have liked. Perhaps you now remember additional information you could have provided. Importantly, also note the questions to which you gave great answers. Were you organized and articulate in your response? Remember, this post-interview reflection is not simply a self-critique. It should ideally be balanced.

3. Take a breather to decompress.

I always recommend taking a short break after you jot down your initial round of notes. Whether you grab a bite, take a walk, or go to the gym, having a change of scenery and focus is important in two ways. Firstly, it helps your mind relax. With this comes clearer thinking, which is needed for good writing. Secondly, inspiration seldom comes from staring at a computer screen. A shift in your environment can spur different memories of and perspectives on your interview. If you can, carry a notebook with you so you can record any new thoughts that come to you during this time.

4. Come back recharged and focused—then start writing.

When you return from your breather—hopefully reenergized—it is time to start writing! Review your notes and organize them. Develop a structure for your written reflection, and choose the main points you want to focus on in your essay. What message do you want to deliver to the admissions committee? Because of the brevity of the post-interview reflection essay, you will not be able to (nor should you) touch on every single question in the interview. However, key points you might want to include are as follows (in no particular order):

  • A brief thank you
  • Anything you were thrilled to discuss (this could include what you think went well)
  • Anything you missed or want to clarify or add to
  • Why you are excited about HBS (or how you could contribute to the class)

5. Share your thoughts and feelings; do not just summarize what happened.

One common mistake I see in post-interview reflections is summarizing too much what happened in the interview experience. Do not simply recount the meeting “blow-by-blow”; this is not a journal entry. Your reflection will be much more interesting if you share your inner thoughts and perspectives. For example, were you surprised by any question or line of discussion? Do not be afraid to be candid—this will help your reflection come across as more authentic and personal.

6. Think about what new insight or perspectives you can add.

The reflection is a unique opportunity for you to offer the HBS admissions committee further insights or perspectives. For example, what else can you add on a topic that was discussed during the interview? Perhaps you could provide additional background or context to a project that would be new information for the school. If you have other examples that are relevant to an interview question, you could also share them in your reflection. These examples do not need to be completely “new” to HBS. For instance, if you have a meaningful project listed on your resume but did not describe it in detail in your application essay, writing about it in your reflection might be appropriate.

7. Be thoughtful in addressing “why HBS.”

A very common question we get from clients is how much they should include in their Post-Interview Reflection about why they want to attend HBS. The question of “why HBS” might not even have come up in your interview at all. That is not unusual for HBS interviews. This is also reflected in the HBS application, which includes no specific “why HBS” prompt. 

Yet you might decide that you really want to share with the admissions committee the reasons you consider HBS your top choice. If so, addressing this topic in your Post-Interview Reflection is perfectly fine. However, you need to be thoughtful about how much space you allocate to the topic, and ask yourself how much of the information will be new to HBS and additive to your candidacy. I find that a simple reference to what makes you excited about attending the program can be a good way to wrap up your reflection. Or you could mention what you are looking forward to contributing to the HBS classroom. 

All that said, not mentioning “why HBS” at all in your Post-Interview Reflection is also perfectly acceptable. Remember, this essay is your chance to highlight some of your thoughts for the admissions committee. If you feel that “why HBS” is less important than the other ideas you want to share, prioritize accordingly.

8. Do not overpolish your essay.

As tempted as you might be to keep refining your reflection as much as you can in the time allotted, be careful of overpolishing it. I find that applicants’ early drafts will often contain a lot of genuine feelings and thoughts, which is precisely what HBS wants to see in the reflection—so you do not want to edit your essay to such a degree that this high level of candor and authenticity is lost. This is why the school gives you just 24 hours in which to respond. Which brings me to my final tip…

9. Take another break before your final review.

Although you have only a short amount of time in which to write and submit your reflection, if you can take another brief break before giving it one final review, I highly encourage you to do so. Ideally, come back to your essay with fresh eyes, and read the final draft out loud before submitting it to ensure that it embodies the style, voice, and message(s) you want to convey to the admissions committee. 

In conclusion, I hope these tips can help you draft a strong HBS Post-Interview Reflection. If you would like even more targeted guidance on the HBS interview and on writing this unique essay, check out our HBS Mock Interview and Post-Reflection Support  services.

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self reflection after interview essay

January 22, 2024

Seven Important Tips for Your HBS Post-Interview Reflection

self reflection after interview essay

Congratulations! You’ve just completed another step on the road to acceptance to Harvard Business School (HBS) – your interview . Now, you have 24 hours to send HBS your Post-Interview Reflection…so let’s get started!

When it comes to this part of the process, there’s really one major thing you need to do – reflect! 

How to reflect efficiently and effectively

As soon as possible after your interview , sit down and think about everything that happened during your meeting. Try to complete the first three tips on the following list immediately after your interview.     

1. Think about any of your responses that might not have been as clear as you wanted them to be.

Make note of any answers you gave in which you didn’t hit the nail on the head or your logic or story was a little fuzzy. Was the point you were trying to make relevant and important? If not, let it go. If it was, consider how you could clarify the point in your Reflection essay.     

2. Analyze any responses you gave that you feel were incomplete.

Jot down any points you would have liked to have made if you’d thought of them      during the interview. What should you have included?

3. Take note of the responses you feel you did a great job on.

Take a moment to appreciate the answers you gave that were on point — where your thought process was organized, you were articulate, and you conveyed your response clearly. Give yourself a pat on the back! But then move on – there’s no need to be redundant or circle back to these responses.

4. Choose the elements you want to focus on in your Reflection.

Most of the content of your Reflection should come from what you identified in the first two tips on this list. Focus on the points that relate to what you most want HBS to learn and remember about you.     

Because you don’t want your Post-Interview Reflection to be only about clarifications and adding things you forgot to mention in your interview, make sure to also weave in and close with a reference to something in the interview you feel you aced – but do so in a way that is additive or enhances meaning, rather than being redundant.       

Also, don’t shy away from reflecting on the interaction itself. Think about what you learned during or from the interview experience. For example, did the interviewer question you on a topic from a perspective you hadn’t considered before? Did you gain insight from being thoughtfully challenged on an answer? Showing that you are always learning and thinking – always open to reevaluating experiences and ideas – can only help your case.

5. In terms of tone, think of your Reflection as a one-on-one conversation with another person, or as HBS advises, “Think of it… as an email you might write to a colleague or supervisor after a meeting.”

While the email metaphor connotes dialogue and conversation, it does not imply – or permit – a lack of professionalism. Write your Reflection as you would a business email: you can use the first (“I”) and second (“you”) person in your writing. Keep it cordial, and be sure that it is well written, grammatically correct, and professional. 

6. Be succinct.

Don’t repeat any information that was conveyed in your application. The HBS adcom already has that on file and has reviewed it. And don’t repeat what you said in the interview. They’ve heard that information already, too. 

7. Be sure to express your thanks for their time and continued consideration.

Your social IQ is on display. They’ve invested time in reviewing and considering your application and in meeting with you. Say, “Thank you.”

Make your Reflection meaningful!

Using the seven tips we just presented will make writing your Post-Interview Reflection a much easier and more meaningful experience. And the result will be a more effective, compelling statement that puts the final, lasting shine on your application.       

cindy

After a successful career in business publishing, Cindy Tokumitsu worked with Accepted for more than 20 years. Although she no longer works directly with applicants, every year her clients were accepted to top MBA, law, and med programs. She is a pioneer in the niche area of EMBA application consulting. Want an admissions expert to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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Successful Life: Interview Reflection Essay

This essay is written to reflect on an interview conducted on Stephen King, a 68-year-old male patient. King had been a doctor in the Australian army for more than thirty years. Due to the high level of competency and brilliance that he exhibited on his work, he managed to go to several expeditions. This included peacekeeping missions in Africa and the Middle East. As a result, he managed to get a great deal of experience both for his career and life.

An interview was conducted on King on the topic, what makes a person successful in life and the views and advice he had for the individuals of the younger generation. To gather all the required information for the exercise, a mix of communication skills were employed. This included verbal and non-verbal skills. These skills were essential as they established a serine communication channel between the interviewer and the respondent. This in turn leads to the development of a strong bond between the two individuals (Creswell, 2005). As a result, the level of understanding between the two individuals increases (Sherman, 2009). This thus increases the chances of the interviewer to collect the relevant data that was required for the exercise (Trochim, 2008).

Analysis of Communication Skills

In the course of this interview, several communication skills were used. The interview was conducted on the back yard of the home, where a small garden was present. This place was quiet, peaceful, had clean air, nice breeze and had beautiful plants that created a beautiful surrounding. Being a lover of nature, this environment made King to be relaxed and comfortable all through the interview. Due to the ill health of the respondent, it was therefore wise to look for a bench in the garden and conduct the interview while we were seated. The respondent and I sat at an angle with each other on the same bench. This gave us the chance to have direct contact with each other and at the same time, the interviewer could look around and reflect on issues so that he comes up with the correct response to the question that I had posed to him (Creswell, 2009).

This sitting arrangement was also serine as it gave us the chance to take breaks during our conversation. These pauses were necessary especially for King who is an elderly person and requires time to reflect on what he is talking about in order to remain within the context of the interview (Blank and McCartney, 1989). In addition, i was keen on the gestures and facial expressions that were being made by the respondent. At times, I kept quiet and observed the respondent while he was talking. This gave him the opportunity for continuity and hence he fully expressed himself and the views on the topic of discussion. All these formed part of my non-verbal behaviours that I used in the study. All of these were successful apart from the idea of taking a walk in the garden.

A major communication skill that i used in the course of the interview was attending behaviour. With this skill, the respondent felt important since he received my full attention. This skill was also essential on my part since it increased my listening and understanding skills (Finlay, 2002). I was able to fully follow and comprehend what the respondent was talking about and managed. For this skill to be successful, I had to consider a number of factors. First, I ensured that there is a good distance between us during the interview. This distance was essential since it made it possible for us to pause during the conversion. This in turn ensured that each party had the chance to speak. On top of that, I maintained constant eye contact with the respondent. This gave him the impression that I was following what he was talking about. Finally, I ensured that I was well-dressed, groomed, and maintained desirable character all through the interview. All these factors ensured that we were comfortable with each other.

Questioning is also another communication skill that I employed in the course of the interview. Through questioning, I was able to get more information about the things that the respondent was talking about. For instance, I was able to know that he embraced modern technology and advised the current generation to use it to improve the world through coming up with better health practices, environmental management and effective and efficient production processes. However, I had to be keen while questioning him. In addition, the questions that I posed also had to be relevant to the topic of discussion.

I also had to build rapport to ensure that the interview was effective and efficient. Rapport building is a method that is used to increase the responsiveness of an individual through the development of trust and respect in the course of a conversation (Senge, 2004). To achieve this, I had to be polite to the respondent, maintain my integrity and apply professional ethics. Once the respondent was comfortable with me and the idea of being interviewed, I was able to collect relevant information from the interview (Orlich, 2009).

However, the respondent was not comfortable with the idea of me taking notes or using a tape recorder to record the conversation that we were having. Despite the fact the he knew the information that he provided was confidential, he did not want to be quoted in any way. After probing him for a while, I discovered that he had been misquoted several years ago and this almost made him lose his job.

Self-Awareness Discussion

In the course of the interview, I felt delighted to have a chance to interview Stephen King, a citizen who has put his life on the line to ensure that many lives are safe from danger. From the conversation that we had, I learned a lot about the various aspects of life. My main strength in the course of the interview was my ability to probe the respondent to get more information. As a result, I managed to gather a lot of information from the conversation that we had. However, my major weakness was remembering the details of the information that I had received. King was not comfortable with me taking notes and he did not want me to use a tape recorder to record the interview. I therefore had to rely on active listening to remember details of the conversation that we had.

Analysis of the interview using the circular transactional model of communication

In the process of the interview, there was effective communication between King and me. We both sent and received messages via the communication channel. I thought about a question, posed it to King whom then listened to it, understood it and the responded appropriately. From his response, I was able to pose another question and the process went on and on.

This essay has been used to show the use of various communication skills to collect relevant information in the course of an interview. It is therefore important for an interviewer to have a sound knowledge and skills of various communication methods in order to be effective and efficient in his work.

Blank, G. and McCartney, J. (1989). New technology in sociology: practical applications in research and work. London: Transaction Publishers.

Creswell, J.W. (2005). Affirmation of personal values buffers neuroendocrine and psychological stress responses. Psychological Science , 16 , p. 846-851.

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Finlay, L. (2002). Negotiating the swamp: The opportunity and challenge of in research practice. Qualitative Research , 2(2): 209–30.

Orlich, D., Harder, R., Callahan, R., Trevisan, M., & Brown, A. (2009). Teaching Strategies: A Guide to Better Instruction. New York: Wadsworth Publishing.

Senge, P. (2004). Excerpt Spirituality in Business and Life: Asking the Right Questions. New York: Digital Publishers.

Sherman, D. (2009). Psychological vulnerability and stress: The effects of self-affirmation on sympathetic nervous system responses to naturalistic stressors. Health Psychology , 28 , p. 554-562.

Trochim, W., and Donnelly, J. (2008). The research methods knowledge base . Mason, OH: Cengage.

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IvyPanda. (2021, April 9). Successful Life: Interview Reflection. https://ivypanda.com/essays/successful-life-interview-reflection/

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Self-Reflection: Interviewing Yourself After Conducting an Interview

A guest lecturer came in to our lectorial this week to explain their experiences in interviewing. Louise Turley, an experienced worker in the Media industry and current producer of Back Roads on ABC TV, provided many, many helpful tips on interviewing for our upcoming project: a video portrait. One of these tips I found particularly important was  reflection .

Even though I’ve had experiences in interviewing in the past due to school assignments (high school and university), it was very helpful to have tips and tricks explained in-depth by someone who does this for a living. One of the things that Turley mentioned which stood out was the task of self-reflection that she suggested in doing after conducting an interview. Turley explained that it is helpful to stay on task by gathering your thoughts and ideas to as why you’ve done this interview and what impact you intend to make with your interview.

Reflection on your interview helps to understand how you wish your interview to turn out like, what the interview means, and what effect the interview can potentially have. This also gives you the opportunity to form a structure and idea of how to make this interview most effective.

This advice on self-reflection very relevant and insightful to me, especially when wanting to create quality content in a realm filled with useless pieces of information. The self-reflective technique is very useful for media practitioners to use when creating valuable and quality content in the future, and will help me to create an engaging interview with my friend and (t)rap artist, Reiis , for project brief 3.

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How to Write About Yourself in a College Essay | Examples

Published on September 21, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability. Your essay shouldn’t just be a resume of your experiences; colleges are looking for a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

To write about your achievements and qualities without sounding arrogant, use specific stories to illustrate them. You can also write about challenges you’ve faced or mistakes you’ve made to show vulnerability and personal growth.

Table of contents

Start with self-reflection, how to write about challenges and mistakes, how to write about your achievements and qualities, how to write about a cliché experience, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Before you start writing, spend some time reflecting to identify your values and qualities. You should do a comprehensive brainstorming session, but here are a few questions to get you started:

  • What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
  • Whom do you admire most and why?
  • What are the top five things you are thankful for?
  • What has inspired your hobbies or future goals?
  • What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

As you self-reflect, consider how your values and goals reflect your prospective university’s program and culture, and brainstorm stories that demonstrate the fit between the two.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Writing about difficult experiences can be an effective way to show authenticity and create an emotional connection to the reader, but choose carefully which details to share, and aim to demonstrate how the experience helped you learn and grow.

Be vulnerable

It’s not necessary to have a tragic story or a huge confession. But you should openly share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to evoke an emotional response from the reader. Even a cliché or mundane topic can be made interesting with honest reflection. This honesty is a preface to self-reflection and insight in the essay’s conclusion.

Don’t overshare

With difficult topics, you shouldn’t focus too much on negative aspects. Instead, use your challenging circumstances as a brief introduction to how you responded positively.

Share what you have learned

It’s okay to include your failure or mistakes in your essay if you include a lesson learned. After telling a descriptive, honest story, you should explain what you learned and how you applied it to your life.

While it’s good to sell your strengths, you also don’t want to come across as arrogant. Instead of just stating your extracurricular activities, achievements, or personal qualities, aim to discreetly incorporate them into your story.

Brag indirectly

Mention your extracurricular activities or awards in passing, not outright, to avoid sounding like you’re bragging from a resume.

Use stories to prove your qualities

Even if you don’t have any impressive academic achievements or extracurriculars, you can still demonstrate your academic or personal character. But you should use personal examples to provide proof. In other words, show evidence of your character instead of just telling.

Many high school students write about common topics such as sports, volunteer work, or their family. Your essay topic doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but do try to include unexpected personal details and your authentic voice to make your essay stand out .

To find an original angle, try these techniques:

  • Focus on a specific moment, and describe the scene using your five senses.
  • Mention objects that have special significance to you.
  • Instead of following a common story arc, include a surprising twist or insight.

Your unique voice can shed new perspective on a common human experience while also revealing your personality. When read out loud, the essay should sound like you are talking.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

  • Writing process
  • Transition words
  • Passive voice
  • Paraphrasing

 Communication

  • How to end an email
  • Ms, mrs, miss
  • How to start an email
  • I hope this email finds you well
  • Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

  • Personal pronouns
  • Conjunctions

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Courault, K. (2023, May 31). How to Write About Yourself in a College Essay | Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 25, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/college-essay/write-about-yourself/

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self reflection after interview essay

Guide on How to Write a Reflection Paper with Free Tips and Example

self reflection after interview essay

A reflection paper is a very common type of paper among college students. Almost any subject you enroll in requires you to express your opinion on certain matters. In this article, we will explain how to write a reflection paper and provide examples and useful tips to make the essay writing process easier.

Reflection papers should have an academic tone yet be personal and subjective. In this paper, you should analyze and reflect upon how an experience, academic task, article, or lecture shaped your perception and thoughts on a subject.

Here is what you need to know about writing an effective critical reflection paper. Stick around until the end of our guide to get some useful writing tips from the writing team at EssayPro — a research paper writing service

What Is a Reflection Paper

A reflection paper is a type of paper that requires you to write your opinion on a topic, supporting it with your observations and personal experiences. As opposed to presenting your reader with the views of other academics and writers, in this essay, you get an opportunity to write your point of view—and the best part is that there is no wrong answer. It is YOUR opinion, and it is your job to express your thoughts in a manner that will be understandable and clear for all readers that will read your paper. The topic range is endless. Here are some examples: whether or not you think aliens exist, your favorite TV show, or your opinion on the outcome of WWII. You can write about pretty much anything.

There are three types of reflection paper; depending on which one you end up with, the tone you write with can be slightly different. The first type is the educational reflective paper. Here your job is to write feedback about a book, movie, or seminar you attended—in a manner that teaches the reader about it. The second is the professional paper. Usually, it is written by people who study or work in education or psychology. For example, it can be a reflection of someone’s behavior. And the last is the personal type, which explores your thoughts and feelings about an individual subject.

However, reflection paper writing will stop eventually with one very important final paper to write - your resume. This is where you will need to reflect on your entire life leading up to that moment. To learn how to list education on resume perfectly, follow the link on our dissertation writing services .

Unlock the potential of your thoughts with EssayPro . Order a reflection paper and explore a range of other academic services tailored to your needs. Dive deep into your experiences, analyze them with expert guidance, and turn your insights into an impactful reflection paper.

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Free Reflection Paper Example

Now that we went over all of the essentials about a reflection paper and how to approach it, we would like to show you some examples that will definitely help you with getting started on your paper.

Reflection Paper Format

Reflection papers typically do not follow any specific format. Since it is your opinion, professors usually let you handle them in any comfortable way. It is best to write your thoughts freely, without guideline constraints. If a personal reflection paper was assigned to you, the format of your paper might depend on the criteria set by your professor. College reflection papers (also known as reflection essays) can typically range from about 400-800 words in length.

Here’s how we can suggest you format your reflection paper:

common reflection paper format

How to Start a Reflection Paper

The first thing to do when beginning to work on a reflection essay is to read your article thoroughly while taking notes. Whether you are reflecting on, for example, an activity, book/newspaper, or academic essay, you want to highlight key ideas and concepts.

You can start writing your reflection paper by summarizing the main concept of your notes to see if your essay includes all the information needed for your readers. It is helpful to add charts, diagrams, and lists to deliver your ideas to the audience in a better fashion.

After you have finished reading your article, it’s time to brainstorm. We’ve got a simple brainstorming technique for writing reflection papers. Just answer some of the basic questions below:

  • How did the article affect you?
  • How does this article catch the reader’s attention (or does it all)?
  • Has the article changed your mind about something? If so, explain how.
  • Has the article left you with any questions?
  • Were there any unaddressed critical issues that didn’t appear in the article?
  • Does the article relate to anything from your past reading experiences?
  • Does the article agree with any of your past reading experiences?

Here are some reflection paper topic examples for you to keep in mind before preparing to write your own:

  • How my views on rap music have changed over time
  • My reflection and interpretation of Moby Dick by Herman Melville
  • Why my theory about the size of the universe has changed over time
  • How my observations for clinical psychological studies have developed in the last year

The result of your brainstorming should be a written outline of the contents of your future paper. Do not skip this step, as it will ensure that your essay will have a proper flow and appropriate organization.

Another good way to organize your ideas is to write them down in a 3-column chart or table.

how to write a reflection paper

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If you would like your reflection paper to look professional, feel free to check out one of our articles on how to format MLA, APA or Chicago style

Writing a Reflection Paper Outline

Reflection paper should contain few key elements:

Introduction

Your introduction should specify what you’re reflecting upon. Make sure that your thesis informs your reader about your general position, or opinion, toward your subject.

  • State what you are analyzing: a passage, a lecture, an academic article, an experience, etc...)
  • Briefly summarize the work.
  • Write a thesis statement stating how your subject has affected you.

One way you can start your thesis is to write:

Example: “After reading/experiencing (your chosen topic), I gained the knowledge of…”

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs should examine your ideas and experiences in context to your topic. Make sure each new body paragraph starts with a topic sentence.

Your reflection may include quotes and passages if you are writing about a book or an academic paper. They give your reader a point of reference to fully understand your feedback. Feel free to describe what you saw, what you heard, and how you felt.

Example: “I saw many people participating in our weight experiment. The atmosphere felt nervous yet inspiring. I was amazed by the excitement of the event.”

As with any conclusion, you should summarize what you’ve learned from the experience. Next, tell the reader how your newfound knowledge has affected your understanding of the subject in general. Finally, describe the feeling and overall lesson you had from the reading or experience.

There are a few good ways to conclude a reflection paper:

  • Tie all the ideas from your body paragraphs together, and generalize the major insights you’ve experienced.
  • Restate your thesis and summarize the content of your paper.

We have a separate blog post dedicated to writing a great conclusion. Be sure to check it out for an in-depth look at how to make a good final impression on your reader.

Need a hand? Get help from our writers. Edit, proofread or buy essay .

How to Write a Reflection Paper: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: create a main theme.

After you choose your topic, write a short summary about what you have learned about your experience with that topic. Then, let readers know how you feel about your case — and be honest. Chances are that your readers will likely be able to relate to your opinion or at least the way you form your perspective, which will help them better understand your reflection.

For example: After watching a TEDx episode on Wim Hof, I was able to reevaluate my preconceived notions about the negative effects of cold exposure.

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas and Experiences You’ve Had Related to Your Topic

You can write down specific quotes, predispositions you have, things that influenced you, or anything memorable. Be personal and explain, in simple words, how you felt.

For example: • A lot of people think that even a small amount of carbohydrates will make people gain weight • A specific moment when I struggled with an excess weight where I avoided carbohydrates entirely • The consequences of my actions that gave rise to my research • The evidence and studies of nutritional science that claim carbohydrates alone are to blame for making people obese • My new experience with having a healthy diet with a well-balanced intake of nutrients • The influence of other people’s perceptions on the harm of carbohydrates, and the role their influence has had on me • New ideas I’ve created as a result of my shift in perspective

Step 3: Analyze How and Why These Ideas and Experiences Have Affected Your Interpretation of Your Theme

Pick an idea or experience you had from the last step, and analyze it further. Then, write your reasoning for agreeing or disagreeing with it.

For example, Idea: I was raised to think that carbohydrates make people gain weight.

Analysis: Most people think that if they eat any carbohydrates, such as bread, cereal, and sugar, they will gain weight. I believe in this misconception to such a great extent that I avoided carbohydrates entirely. As a result, my blood glucose levels were very low. I needed to do a lot of research to overcome my beliefs finally. Afterward, I adopted the philosophy of “everything in moderation” as a key to a healthy lifestyle.

For example: Idea: I was brought up to think that carbohydrates make people gain weight. Analysis: Most people think that if they eat any carbohydrates, such as bread, cereal, and sugar, they will gain weight. I believe in this misconception to such a great extent that I avoided carbohydrates entirely. As a result, my blood glucose levels were very low. I needed to do a lot of my own research to finally overcome my beliefs. After, I adopted the philosophy of “everything in moderation” as a key for having a healthy lifestyle.

Step 4: Make Connections Between Your Observations, Experiences, and Opinions

Try to connect your ideas and insights to form a cohesive picture for your theme. You can also try to recognize and break down your assumptions, which you may challenge in the future.

There are some subjects for reflection papers that are most commonly written about. They include:

  • Book – Start by writing some information about the author’s biography and summarize the plot—without revealing the ending to keep your readers interested. Make sure to include the names of the characters, the main themes, and any issues mentioned in the book. Finally, express your thoughts and reflect on the book itself.
  • Course – Including the course name and description is a good place to start. Then, you can write about the course flow, explain why you took this course, and tell readers what you learned from it. Since it is a reflection paper, express your opinion, supporting it with examples from the course.
  • Project – The structure for a reflection paper about a project has identical guidelines to that of a course. One of the things you might want to add would be the pros and cons of the course. Also, mention some changes you might want to see, and evaluate how relevant the skills you acquired are to real life.
  • Interview – First, introduce the person and briefly mention the discussion. Touch on the main points, controversies, and your opinion of that person.

Writing Tips

Everyone has their style of writing a reflective essay – and that's the beauty of it; you have plenty of leeway with this type of paper – but there are still a few tips everyone should incorporate.

Before you start your piece, read some examples of other papers; they will likely help you better understand what they are and how to approach yours. When picking your subject, try to write about something unusual and memorable — it is more likely to capture your readers' attention. Never write the whole essay at once. Space out the time slots when you work on your reflection paper to at least a day apart. This will allow your brain to generate new thoughts and reflections.

  • Short and Sweet – Most reflection papers are between 250 and 750 words. Don't go off on tangents. Only include relevant information.
  • Clear and Concise – Make your paper as clear and concise as possible. Use a strong thesis statement so your essay can follow it with the same strength.
  • Maintain the Right Tone – Use a professional and academic tone—even though the writing is personal.
  • Cite Your Sources – Try to cite authoritative sources and experts to back up your personal opinions.
  • Proofreading – Not only should you proofread for spelling and grammatical errors, but you should proofread to focus on your organization as well. Answer the question presented in the introduction.

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Home — Essay Samples — Business — Business Success — Reflection on the Entrepreneurship Interview

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Entrepreneur Interview Experience: a Reflection

  • Categories: Business Success

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Published: Nov 8, 2019

Words: 1393 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

Works Cited

  • Chrisman, J. J., Chua, J. H., & Sharma, P. (2021). Family Business Studies: An Annotated Bibliography. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 12(3), 100468.
  • Gartner, W. B., Shaver, K. G., Carter, N. M., & Reynolds, P. D. (2004). Handbook of entrepreneurial dynamics: The process of business creation. Sage Publications.
  • Gupta, V. K., Goktan, A. B., & Gunay, G. (2014). Succession planning in family businesses: Evidence from Turkey. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 5(2), 154-168.
  • Hofstede, G. (1984). Culture's consequences: International differences in work-related values (Vol. 5). Sage.
  • Li, J. T., Poppo, L., & Zhou, K. Z. (2008). Do managerial ties in China always produce value? Competition, uncertainty, and domestic vs. foreign firms. Strategic management journal, 29(5), 383-400.
  • Nee, V. (1992). Organizational dynamics of market transition: Hybrid forms, property rights, and mixed economy in China. Administrative science quarterly, 1-27.
  • Peng, M. W., Sun, S. L., Pinkham, B., & Chen, H. (2009). The institution-based view as a third leg for a strategy tripod. Academy of Management perspectives, 23(3), 63-81.
  • Reynolds, P. D., Bosma, N., Autio, E., Hunt, S., De Bono, N., & Servais, I. (2005). Global entrepreneurship monitor: Data collection design and implementation 1998–2003. Small Business Economics, 24(3), 205-231.
  • Scott, W. R. (2014). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests, and identities. Sage publications.
  • Sarasvathy, S. D. (2001). Causation and effectuation: Toward a theoretical shift from economic inevitability to entrepreneurial contingency. Academy of management review, 26(2), 243-263.

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self reflection after interview essay

Nicole Jeffery's E-Portfolio

An aspiring M.ED. Graduate Student

Mock Interview – Personal Reflection

Mock Interview Personal Reflection

Interviews are one of the most interesting ways to get to know how a person deals with stressful situations and also about the job. Doing this mock interview was actually much harder than I was expecting. When I first read the assignment, I just thought this would not be a big deal and I would not be nervous. To my surprise, it was much more nerve wracking and intimidating than my initial thoughts.

I did the higher education mock interview for practice. Most of the questions I have answered time and time again, but there was one that threw me off a little bit. He asked about an experience with my most difficult student. Since I have not had experience in higher education before, I did not know what to say. I ended up talking about working with high school students when I substitute taught in between jobs. I think in a real interview they would not have liked that answer, but it was the best I could do. The mock interview made me nervous and I walked away with self-doubt, which I tend to do in a lot of interviews. I expect perfection from myself in every interview, so when I stumbled a little in the mock interview I was embarrassed. Otherwise, I thought the interview went well and I kept good eye contact and a smile on my face. I have a very warm personality, so I think I was able to keep that through out the interview even if I stumbled a little.

This exercise reminded me of my interviews with the many positions I’ve applied for in higher education. One in particular stands out to me, because the “leader” of the interview committee of six people made me so uncomfortable I felt like a complete loser after it was over. She asked me what my goals were long term and also short term. I mentioned I wanted to learn all I can about this position and use it to move into the study abroad department or student affairs. I said my long-term goal was to be the Dean of Students and she actually scoffed and then laughed at me. I was absolutely mortified. What on earth did I say that deserved the response of laughing at me? I walked out and just bawled when I got to my car. I decided on my way home that if I ever had the privilege of being on an interview committee or interviewing someone one-on-one, I will never make someone feel small or unworthy of the role. The point of an interview, to me, is to get a feel for how they would fit into the department, but most importantly share what the job is about and what the responsibilities will entail. The interview will always have standard questions, that really help keep a constant base line for interviewees answers. I tend to enjoy interviews, because I get to share a small sliver of my story and my passion with a group of people.

This mock interview was enlightening to me, because I was surprised with myself that I was actually nervous. I never thought I would get uncomfortable talking to a computer screen. All in all, it was great practice and helped me find points of weakness that I could improve upon. I want to keep practicing so when it is my time to shine, I do actually shine and go through it calm and collected.

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Reflective Interview Report

In this reflective report, I will outline and explore the experiences that I encountered during our team’s mock interview. Our team comprised of three members and each had the opportunity to be interviewed, interview another member, and be an observer. Additionally, I will examine how the experiences obtained from three roles; interviewer, observer, and interviewee. Finally, I will recommend how various players can improve their strategies in the future.

In the preparation for the interview, I had to develop active listening to deduce important information from the setup. Additionally, I had to communicate with the members to express myself. Moreover, attentiveness was essential to pick up nonverbal communication characters from the other parties.

Interviewee

I was being interviewed for the position of HR administrators in the Olympic Delivery Authority. I was prepared for the question posed by the interviewer since I was able to give an appropriate response without much difficulty. Moreover, I was in a position to expound in areas questioned. This is attributed to the fact that I had studied possible questions that could be asked in the interview in advance and I had developed some answers. However, the questioning was quite intensive as the interviewer did not feel that I gave sufficient response to some of his questions.

On the question of my greatest strength, I was adequately prepared to answer since I am self-aware. The answer given was appropriate and convincing as I highlighted my strength and gave supporting examples i.e. that I have been successful in my current sales job, having always exceed my sales targets and keeping deadlines. Further, the strengths I gave to the interviewer are essential and in line with the position, I was being interviewed for, hence indicating that I could meet the organization’s goals. Therefore, this sold my abilities to the recruiting personnel. Generally, the answer I gave regarding my strength was supported by a corresponding illustration of how I have utilized that ability in the past and the outcomes.

About the question of how my greatest strength will facilitate my performance in the HR administration position, I was able to express how my strength will interplay with my roles and duties in the named position. However, I was not sufficiently prepared for this matter, as can be shown by the kind of response given. Although the interviewer had sought to know how my already named strength would facilitate my performance, I gave another strength that had not been indicated in the previous question. Therefore, the answer given was not convincing, as I did not correctly emphasize how my strengths would interplay or facilitate me to perform duties as an HR administrator. Moreover, the response indicates that I was not passably informed of the roles and duties of the position entailed.

Subsequently, I performed well in the question on myself. I gave a brief overview of myself which included all relevant information that the interview required i.e. age, education qualification, and skills, and abilities. I was sufficiently prepared and well informed on the issues that should be addressed in this question. Conversely, I did not give other information that could be relevant that pertains to this question. Also, the rejoin was quite effective since I focused mainly on explaining the current capabilities rather than long winding past that is not relevant to the position. Indeed, the response highlights the character and abilities that correlate with the position being advertised. The weakness highlighted is very damaging to the prospects of getting the job offer; therefore, to improve this in the future, I will need to state a weakness that does little or no damage to my commitments or abilities. Therefore this was a very inappropriate answer to the question. Never the less I was able to portray to the interviewer how I can handle and deal with my limitation.

Importantly, I gave convincing and well-balanced answers to my motivation and how I manage stress in the workplace. Moreover, in response to how I evaluate success, I was able to indicate that I valued the attainment of the organization’s goals plus other colleagues, which are an effective and a winning response. Finally, I outlined the skills and knowledge that I acquired while doing my dissertation topic.

In the future, I need to give prompt answers to questions that interviewers will place. Moreover, there is a need for cohesion and flow in the response that is required. Importantly, most questions asked are related to one another, hence, keenness is essential to give the right responses. Generally, the answer given to the questioning about one’s weakness should not be damaging one.

As an observer, I was able to identify and analyze the interview process, the applicant, and the interviewee. However, since the interview had a timeframe, there was a tendency of both the applicant and the interviewer to rush over the question without sufficiently addressing them. Moreover, the interviewer did not raise questions arising from the responses the interviewee was giving i.e. explain more, or how are u able to achieve that. The applicants gave their responses to the question regarding their strengths by highlighting attributes that would facilitate them to perform the duties of the job they were interviewing for, as a means to increase their chances of selection. The interviewer should be in the position to question the candidate if they feel that a response given is not sufficient enough. Besides, the interviewee should raise queries or seek an explanation if a matter is not comprehensive to them.

The interviewer was composed and relayed his questions eloquently to the candidate. Also, the interviewer was keen and observed the applicant’s non-verbal communication skills by keeping eye contact. Further, the applicants were given sufficient duration to give responses to questions. Moreover, the questions asked were clear and straightforward to the candidates. Importantly, the interviewer portrayed active listening through active listening behavior i.e. nodding. Generally, the interviewer did not exhibit signs of being impressed or displeasure during the interview which is important. The interviewer did seem to be flexible to adjust his structure question to evaluate the matters arising during the interview (Cummings & Worley, 2009, p.127). The questions used in the interview were closed-ended that required brief answers, open-ended and hypothetical questions that entailed the applicant to explain.

Also noted is the intonation used by the interviewee, it was apparent that the candidate used different voice tones when he was certain and confident about the answer to the question. At the same time, the candidates could indicate a lack of prompt responses by their tones and volume of their voices. Moreover, such information could be deduced from the nonverbal communication expressions of the interviewee. One candidate did not appear to concentrate but was rather distracted which was indicated in his responses. However, the participants were dressed professionally which indicated their seriousness of the interview.

The interviewees showed much confidence in how they used space, facial expressions, and mannerisms. The interviewers managed to keep ease during the interview and created a rapport with the candidate. Also, they had the necessary material to record the proceedings of the interview for later analysis and inference. In the future, the candidate should improve their eye contact with the interviewer. Moreover, the interviewer should encourage the candidate to express himself freely.

Interviewer

The interview was led through a set of structured questions that all the applicants were required to respond to (Lussier, 2008, p.240). The structured approach is essential so as each dimension of the interview is evaluated separately then the overall score is determined. Additionally, it helps to compare the performance of each candidate against each other. The questions that are achievement-anchored were meant to gauge the individual applicant’s knowledge and achievement. However, the probe questions did not include other follow up questions. Moreover, the interview was conducted in a quiet and conducive atmosphere to promote concentration and avoid external disturbance. The applicant was required to enter the interview room and introduce themselves and later I questioned them.

The approach was essential to ensure that I was able to inquire most of the required information regarding the applicants with only a few questions. Therefore the questions encompassed all spheres of the candidates i.e. motivations and strengths and weaknesses. However, some respondents gave very brief responses that did not give sufficient information regarding the applicant. Additionally, the clarity of some answers was not good while others did not give supporting examples for their claims. None of the structured questions asked gave me a clear picture of the candidate’s knowledge of the company or the sector. Moreover, by inquiring about the candidates’ dissertation topic I was able to comprehend the suitability of the interviewee to apply their skills in the real world. In asking the strength of the applicant I sort to analyze the strengths that could match with the requirement of the jobs advertised.

As the interviewer, I dealt way with any presumptions and biases regarding the applicant to sufficiently interview him for proper selection. Besides, the questions I used were all clear and not ambiguous to the applicants to ensure that there was clear communication between the parties. Further, the questions were brief to ensure clarity to the candidate being interviewed. The open-ended questions facilitated the candidate to give and elaborate on the issues raised in the interview room. Moreover, I lay more emphasis on recognizing what the interviewers did to attain success rather than their ideas on how to attain success. Also, candidates were given sufficient duration to answer their questions. I observed that the interviewee was prepared with answers to some questions but unprepared to tackle some others.

I was successful in obtaining the required information by also observing the candidates get more information from their non-verbal communication behaviors. This included body gestures and posture. Gladly, I was able to maintain a rapport with the interviewee throughout the interview. Importantly, as the interviewer, I was able to conceal any signs of displeasure or impression from the candidates.

In the future, I will incorporate sufficient analysis of candidates by questioning not only matters that are set out in the interviewing lists of questions, but also other queries that can give more information. Additionally, sufficient duration to conduct the interview must be incorporated to avoid rushing and omitting crucial information. For a successful interview, the interviewer should be aware of all the information said as well as how the information is said (Nankervis, et al., p.104).

As an interviewee, I was able to prepare for most of the questions asked in the interview. However, I gave a relatively poor response to a question on how my strength would help me in the job. Further, the weakness I mentioned is too damaging to my prospects of selection. Generally, I managed to answer all the questions posed with enough supporting examples.

During the interview, I observed that the interview had good listening skills and he could create a rapport with the interviewee. Moreover, the applicant showed confidence in their body language. The applicant did not indicate that there were properly informed of the roles entailed in the job. More importantly, the questions I used were well structured and facilitate proper analysis of the candidate. Further, the questions were brief to ensure clarity to the candidate being interviewed.

Feedback sheet from Mock Interviews

Notes for job candidates.

Please tick box (5 = Excellent; 4 = Good; 3 = Average/Fair; 2 = needs improvement; 1 = poor) .

Reference List

Cummings, T. G. & Worley, C. G., 2009. Organization Development and Change. OH: Cengage Learning.

Lussier, R. N., 2008. Management Fundamentals: Concepts, Application, Skills Development. OH: Cengage Learning.

Nankervis, A. et al. 2009. Effective Recruitment and Selection Practices 5e. Sydney: CCH Australia Limited.

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yours truly, katrina

A Reflection on My First Internship: 5 Things I Learned

February 10, 2017 by yourstrulykatrina

self reflection after interview essay

Now, five months after employment, I can truthfully say that taking the internship was the best decision I’ve made thus far in my college career. Although there were times I encountered some difficulties, the benefits far outnumbered the costs, and I feel that the experience empowered me to really dive headfirst into getting ready for my “real-world” career. Beyond learning how to conduct research and improve my writing skills, I’ve learned so many things about my field of study and internships in general. While I know it sounds cliché, I truly feel that the lessons I learned throughout my first internship experience will carry with me throughout my professional career. Here are just a few of the tidbits of information I’ve gathered over the past five months:

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Connect with your co-interns., know your limits., prioritization is everything, seize every  opportunity, even if it doesn’t seem like it fully relates to your major., what was your first internship experience like are you about to embark on your own let me know in the comments below.

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Self Reflection Essay

10 Self Reflection Essay Examples Political Leadership Project

What goes through your mind when you have to write a self reflection essay? Do you ponder on your life choices, the actions you take to get where you want to be or where you are now? If you answered yes and yes to both of the questions, you are on the right track and have some idea on what a reflection essay would look like. This article would help give you more ideas on how to write a self reflection essay , how it looks like, what to put in it and some examples for you to use. So what are you waiting for? Check these out now.

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Defining Self

A person’s self that is different from the rest. On occasions it is considered as an object of a person’s view.

Defining Self Reflection

A self reflection is often described as taking a step back to reflect on your life. To take a break and observe how far you have become, the obstacles you have gone through and how they have affected your life, behavior and belief.

Defining Self Reflection Essay

A self- reflection essay is a type of essay that makes you express the experiences you have gone through in life based on a topic you have chosen to write about. It is a personal type of essay that you write about.  It makes you reflect on your life and journey to who you are today. The struggles, the fears, the triumphs and the actions you have taken to arrive at your current situation.

Tips on Writing a Self Reflection Essay

When writing a self reflection essay, there are some guidelines and formats to follow. But I am here to give you some tips to write a very good self reflection essay. These tips are easy to follow and they are not as complicated as some might believe them to be. Let’s begin. To write a good self reflection essay, one must first do:

  • Think : Think about what you want to write. This is true for the title of your essay as well. Thinking about what to write first can save you a lot of time. After this tip, we move on to the next one which is:
  • Drafting : As much as it sounds like a waste of time and effort, drafting what you are preparing to write is helpful. Just like in the first tip, drafting is a good way of writing down what you want and to add or take out what you will be writing later.
  • State the purpose : Why are you writing this essay? State the purpose of the essay . As this is a self reflective essay, your purpose is to reflect on your life, the actions you did to reach this point of your life. The things you did to achieve it as well.
  • Know your audience : Your self reflection essay may also depend on your audience. If you are planning on reading out loud your essay, your essay should fit your audience. If your audience is your team members, use the correct wording.
  • Share your tips: This essay gives you the opportunity to share how you have achieved in life. Write down some tips for those who want to be able to achieve the same opportunity you are in right now.

How long or short can my self reflection essay be?

This depends on you. You may write a short self reflection essay, and you may also write a long one. The important thing there is stating the purpose of you writing your essay.

Writing a self reflection essay, am I allowed to write everything about my life?

The purpose of the self reflection essay is to reflect on a topic you choose and to talk about it.

Is there a limit of words to write this type of essay?

Yes, as much as possible stick to 300-700 words. But even if it may be this short, don’t forget to get creative and true in your essay.

A self reflective essay is a type of essay that people write to reflect on their lives. To reflect on a certain topic of their life and talk about it. Most of the time, this type of essay is short because this is merely to take a step back and watch your life throughout the beginning till the present time. Writing this type of essay may be a bit difficult for some as you have to dive deep into your life and remember the triumphs and the loss. The beauty of this essay though is the fact that you are able to see how far you have reached, how far you have overcome.

self reflection after interview essay

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Write a Self Reflection Essay on a time you overcame a personal obstacle.

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A Reflection on Parenting Interview essay

AReflection on Parenting Interview

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Parentingis a lifetime process that involves the provision of support andpromotion of physical, social, intellectual, and emotionaldevelopment. In my interview exercise, I selected my close friend’smother, Mrs. Chun. My interaction with Mrs. Chun for several yearshas helped me realize that she is a motivated mother, who sees herchildren as a source of strength. During the interview, Mrs. Chuninformed me that she was the last born in a family of three. Hermother treated her with love and always called her “my angel”, toemphasize the love she had for her. She was brought up in a Christianfaith where children are considered as blessings from God. Inaddition, her parents upheld the Chinese cultural values of hard workand discipline. A combination of religious, cultural values, and lovefrom her mother gave Mrs. Chun a childhood experience that every kidwould admire. These experiences made her a strong, loving, and amotivated mother that she is today.

Mrs.Chun claimed that she has many rewarding aspects of being a parent,but one of them is more important to her. Mrs. Chun feels thatchildren gave her an opportunity to avoid being a self-fish woman andlearn how to care for others. Children are tender and vulnerable tomany risks (such as diseases), which leave parents with no otheralternative, other than taking care of them. However, the reward thatone gets for being a parent comes with an equal share of challenges.For example, it is very difficult for a parent, especially a motherto balance between parenting and a career. In the case of Mrs. Chun,she stated that she had to stop pursuing her teaching career for someyears to take care of her first son, who is currently my closefriend.

Mrs.Chun held that she did not change her overall parenting style indifferent developmental stages. However, she had to adjust a fewpractices in order to help his son achieve what he was expected toaccomplish at different stages. She is an individuated parent who isable to express love, support, and involvement in issues affectingher child. For example, she gave a positive attention and affectionto her son when he was a toddler and a young child. During theelementary stage, Mrs. Chun had to support her son inacademic-related tasks, besides some activities of daily living, suchas making his bed and washing his hands. However, she had to adjusther parenting techniques when her son reached the adolescence and theyoung adult stages. Mrs. Chun confessed that it became more difficultto guide her son who was trying to make his own choices andexperiment with things. She had to give him some leeway and focus onshowing him reasons, instead of just warning him about various riskybehaviors.

Mrs.Chun claimed that she would change two things if she could have achance to parent again. She could give her son some freedom andengage her in making decisions that affect his. She believes thatengaging her son in the process of making decisions could haveempowered him to be more independent and responsible by the time hereached adolescence. Secondly, Mrs. Chun held that she could avoidpointing at the negative behaviors only, and focus more on rewardinghis son’s positive behavior. This could have helped her manage herson’s behavior through reinforcement.

AlthoughMrs. Chun was exited for being a parent, she wished that someonecould have told her that parenting requires a lot of time, whichforces parents to forego some of their dreams. Mrs. Chun held thatsuch an advice would have helped her plan in advance. She could havefinished her college education before having the first kid. Thiswould have helped Mrs. Chun pursue her career and take care of herchild at the same time.

Oneof the memorable pieces of advice that Mrs. Chun received from hermother is the significance of being a positive role model to kids.This helps parents guide their children by being good examples tothem, instead of modeling their behavior through a word of the mouth.This is because children learn more from what they see than what theyhear. From the interview, Mrs. Chun stated that she could advise thefuture parents to focus on becoming more cooperative, instead ofbeing competitive. This means that parents should involve theirchildren and explain to them why they need to engage in certainbehaviors and avoid others.

Fromthe interview, I learned that parents learn different parentingskills through different strategies, including the personalexperience and advice from older parents. It is also evident that allparents wish the best for their children, but they have to punish andwarn their kids in order to help them achieve a balanced development.Additionally, involving children in the process of making decisionsthat affect their lives is not a weakness on the parent of parents,but a way of empowering kids. Therefore, Mrs. Chun is a wonderfulparent who learned through experience and accepts the mistakes thatshe made.

Clinical social worker: "With the Trump Bible, one must consider dementia"

"a person who isn't cognitively impaired should be doing a cost-benefit analysis", by chauncey devega.

Fascism is a type of political religion. Donald Trump is preaching the religion of fascism.

History has repeatedly shown that fascism and other forms of political religion almost always end in widespread violence and destruction. With his promises and threats of “bedlam” and a “bloodbath,” Trump, the dictator in waiting, has basically guaranteed such an outcome if he “wins” the 2024 election. And that outcome is perhaps just as, if not more, likely if he were to be defeated by President Biden.

"Trump has turned Holy Week into an opportunistic carnivalesque grift."

Over the last few months, Donald Trump has escalated his claims of god-like prophet-messiah status. He has declared that “Jesus Christ” and “God” chose him to win the presidency and defeat President Biden in the 2024 election. He has promoted a video online declaring that “God made Trump” – again elevating himself to near superhuman status as a force of destiny and divine retribution against his and the MAGA movement’s enemies. The corrupt ex-president has taken to comparing himself to Jesus and just announced that he is selling his own Trump-branded version of the Bible with “exclusive” content. Even for those of us who are not Christians, Trump’s behavior is obscene and absurd to the extreme.

On this, Amanda Marcotte told this powerful truth in a recent essay here at Salon :

The teachings of Jesus Christ were always a poor fit for Republicans. They're just way more into decimating Social Security than they are into loaves and fishes. What Trump offers when it comes to Christianity is what he offers his followers in every other aspect: permission to stop pretending to be good people. His gift to them is his shamelessness. Through Trump, his followers can realize their fantasies of being unapologetic bullies. This is the same schtick as MAGA members who claim to be "patriots" while attacking the rule of law and democracy. Trump tells them what they want to hear: You can be a Christian without compassion…. Replacing the real Bible with Trump Bibles is a too-perfect symbol of what has happened to evangelical Christianity. The mistake is in believing Trump's followers are confused or ashamed about their devotion to a  godless creep who laughs at true believers . In Trump's hands, the Bible is not a text for prayer and reflection, it's just a weapon. It's much easier to beat people down with a book if it's closed.    

Ultimately, once God is invoked, and a malign actor such as Donald Trump anoints himself as a type of prophet, messiah, or Chosen One, there can be no compromise, negotiation, or consensus politics within a real democracy. Religious crusades (or specifically with the union of Christofascism, Trumpism and today’s Republican Party and larger “conservative” movement as a form of political religion), almost by definition are winner-take-all all to the extreme. Such extremism is an existential threat to American democracy and the good society.

In an attempt to better understand Trump’s Christofascism and the threat to democracy, I recently spoke to a range of experts.

These interviews have been lightly edited for clarity and length : 

Katherine Stewart  is the author of “ The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism ."

Most of the people who follow Trump don’t expect him to behave like a religious person. They are not going to hold him to account for his heresies or irreligious pronouncements, because they don’t truly believe he is religious anyway, and they don’t care. For them, religion is far less about religion than identity, so they have no interest or concern about whether Trump is blasphemous or not. For a good number of those who lend their support to the Christian nationalist movement, professed faith in the literal word of God is little more than performative. To be sure, some do have familiarity with some parts of the Bible, but their religious identity has become entwined with signaling in-group membership and loyalty to their chosen leaders.

What is curious is how some people still insist on interpreting politicized religion through an individual lens: as men’s and women’s search for meaning or as an effort to grapple with the mysteries of the cosmos. We need to be clear: For leaders of the Christian nationalist movement, along with many followers, the politics comes first, and the religion is tailored to its needs like a cheap suit.

As far as Trump himself is concerned, these statements are just further evidence of his bottomless self-pity and narcissism. It would be nice to think that we live in a world where that would cause people who claim to support religious motives to think again, but for too many Trump supporters that is just not the case.

Add in how Trump is now profiting from the sale of Bibles and it is a masterclass from a grifting insurrectionist demagogue on how to win votes by conflating a fundamentalist religion in which he does not believe with a Constitution he has attempted to undermine. Patriotic bombast in a profit-making package.

Robert P. Jones is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller " The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future ," as well as " White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity ."

For the approximately two-thirds of Americans who identify as Christian, this is Holy Week, a solemn time of participation in worship services that evoke self-evaluation and repentance ahead of the holiest day on the Christian calendar, Easter Sunday. In the midst of this sacred week, the presumed Republican candidate for president, Donald Trump, has committed acts that in any other era would have created an outcry among serious Christians across the spectrum.

On Holy Monday, Trump compared himself to Jesus in a Truth Social post. This was not a one-off comparison. They echoed the claims he has made in other settings, such as his speech to white evangelicals at the National Religious Broadcasters annual meeting last month. There, Trump evoked the theological language of substitutionary atonement to describe himself as their savior. Trump claimed, "I’ve been very busy fighting and, you know, taking the, the bullets, taking the arrows. I'm taking 'em for you. And I'm so honored to take 'em. You have no idea. I'm being indicted for you…."

"Trying to hawk a $60 Trump Bible may be an indication of the poor judgment of early dementia exacerbated by narcissism that in the end may boomerang back on him." 

On Holy Tuesday, Trump began hawking a $60 “God Bless the USA Bible," posting this message on X: "Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless The USA Bible.” The book binds, within its brown leather cover, the text of the King James Version of the Bible (preferred by white evangelical Protestants) along with the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a handwritten chorus of Lee Greenwood’s song, “God Bless the USA,” which Trump regularly plays at rallies. This new venture — that includes a royalty deal collected through the same company handling his $400 gold sneakers — is a tangible, monetized embodiment of Trump’s white Christian nationalism.

That Trump has turned Holy Week into an opportunistic carnivalesque grift is not surprising given his character and the financial crunch he is facing from his legal troubles, but it should be appalling. Christian theology has a word to describe those who claim the attributes of Jesus for themselves and who treat sacred things with contempt and disrespect. It’s blasphemy. And the failure of Christians, especially white evangelical Christians to whom Trump is pandering, to speak out against such disgrace during the holiest week of the Christian year is a measure of their captivity and complicity in the denigration of both Christianity and our nation.

Paul Djupe is a political scientist at Denison University and the editor of the Religious Engagement in Democratic Politics series at Temple University Press. He is also the co-author of "The Full Armor of God: The Mobilization of Christian Nationalism in American Politics"  and co-editor of the new anthology,  "Trump, White Evangelical Christians, and American Politics."

It’s Christian holy week, so what better time than to keep the persecution narrative fully stoked? In a recent Truth Social post, Trump allowed a supporter to suggest that his legal plight is comparable to Jesus’s suffering on the cross . This has been Trump’s play since running for president in 2015: appealing to Christians who feel out of power with a promise to restore them to their believed rightful place. But Trump’s centrality to this narrative has changed drastically. Early in his presidential bid he was seen as the Christian Right’s bully – their protector in politics. As legal and political pressure mounted, Trump became the story, the proxy for how a fallen world treats Christians. He was called anointed by God and he even toyed with the idea in 2019 that he, himself, was the Chosen One.

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In the last year, with indictments piling up, he has been reinforcing his martyrdom, suggesting that he is “taking the arrows…for you and I’m so honored to take them, you have no idea.” He will continue to draw comparisons of his plight with Jesus’s persecution through to the election. He doesn’t stop there, but paints an apocalyptic scene in which his enemies are coming for Christians (“The radical left is coming after all of us.”) and only he stands in the way of broadscale persecution or even a “bloodbath.” There are so many problems with this language, but the most problematic is that the expectation of persecution serves to justify extreme measures to protect their basic rights and liberties up to and including violence. Such connections are being reinforced all over the Right, such as by Charlie Kirk who recently said, “If this election doesn’t go our way, the next day we’d fight.”

Hal Brown is a clinical social worker and was one of the first members of the Duty to Warn group. He has extensive expertise in working with multiple personality disorder (now called dissociative identity disorder) and police stress.

It has always puzzled objective observers, both mental health professionals and others, how many of Trump's lies, exaggerations, and acts of self-aggrandizement were done with him knowing full well that he was pandering to his cult, and how many he actually believed. If he believed even half of them, he'd be considered delusional. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, let's say all of this was performance art. Now with the Trump Bible, one must consider dementia as a cause since ⅓ of all people with dementia end up experiencing delusions. If you listen to his 3-minute spiel for the Bible where Trump seems to deviate from the teleprompter and ad lib you can see indications he actually believes some of what he is saying. For example, does he really think he has many Bibles in his house? His sales pitch for Trump Bible where he meanders into stream of consciousness suggests he may be delusional.

If Trump has even the slightest notion that he is some kind of Jesus-like deity he has become unmoored from reality. Whether this is due to psychosis, dementia, or a combination of the two can't be determined without a complete neuropsychiatric assessment that would include not only extended interviews with Trump and much more extensive testing than the MOCA test but also Melania who presumably would interact with him in unguarded moments and could be asked for other signs of dementia.

Another aspect of early dementia is an increase in signs of poor judgment. Poor judgment can sometimes precede memory loss. It isn't as extreme as somebody wandering off from a facility in the winter wearing only their pajamas. Somebody who is always garrulous and tends to go off on tangents when speaking may do this more frequently. They often lose their train of thought when speaking. People with early dementia can demonstrate a pattern of inappropriate decisions or actions which will ultimately be self-defeating based on their personality but not realizing that there will be predictable consequences that will hurt them.

Decision-making includes three components: courses of action, uncertain events and consequences. When you consider Trump's decision to market a special Bible just before Easter there are his narcissism and money-making inspired aspirational reason for doing this which has to be contrasted with foreseeable negative ramifications. A person who isn't cognitively impaired should be doing a cost-benefit analysis asking themselves whether the benefit will outweigh the cost. They should be able to weigh how uncertain the consequences of an action are. Trump with his narcissism would find it hard under normal circumstances to accept that there might be a final straw where one of his attempted grifts backfires on him, after all he's gotten away with so much. Trying to hawk a $60 Trump Bible may be an indication of the poor judgment of early dementia exacerbated by narcissism that in the end may boomerang back on him. 

Rick Wilson is a co-founder of The Lincoln Project, a former leading Republican strategist, and author of two books, "Everything Trump Touches Dies" and "Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump - and Democrats from Themselves."

There’s no doubt Trump is a snake oil salesman trying to make a quick buck selling overpriced Bibles to unwitting Christians during the holiest week of the year. But it’s also a clumsy attempt to sell himself as a God-fearing Christian because he’s rightly terrified that his criminal case for paying off a porn star and the E. Carroll lawsuit are making evangelicals rethink their support for him. It's just another example of Trump showing he’s willing to do or say anything to make a buck or grab a vote.

about this topic

  • "Hastening his deterioration": Dr. John Gartner on impact of court trials on "Trump’s fragile brain"
  • Lost in the malignant normality of the Trumpocene
  • "They’ve told me he’s Jesus": Unpacking Trump's empty pseudo-religion

Chauncey DeVega is a senior politics writer for Salon. His essays can also be found at  Chaunceydevega.com . He also hosts a weekly podcast,  The Chauncey DeVega Show . Chauncey can be followed on  Twitter  and  Facebook .

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  1. Self-Reflection: Describing Your Personality in an Interview

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    Let the interview soak in a little bit…no need to start writing your reflection right at the conclusion of your interview. There is a word guidance of 300-450 words for the Post-Interview Reflection. How to approach your answer. Since you only have 24 hours after your interview to prepare the essay, you might be tempted to write out your ...

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  4. A Guide to Writing a Genuine HBS Post-Interview Reflection

    The reflection is not a formal essay, but more like an email.The free format may be refreshing to some, whereas others may worry at the thought of having an unrestrained open space to reflect.Take Notes Post Your InterviewImmediately after your interview you want to jot down key takeaways from your experience. Recall the questions you were ...

  5. Seven Important Tips for Your HBS Post-Interview Reflection

    Keep it cordial, and be sure that it is well written, grammatically correct, and professional. 6. Be succinct. Don't repeat any information that was conveyed in your application. The HBS adcom already has that on file and has reviewed it. And don't repeat what you said in the interview.

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  10. How to Write About Yourself in a College Essay

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    4 CareerPreparation: A Self-Reflection after an Interview CareerPreparation: A Self-Reflection after an Interview Todaywas an important day for me, since I had an opportunity to put mycareer skills and competencies to test. I attended an interview forthe position of the Administrative Executive offered by SLS BearingsPTE LTD. The interview gave me an opportunity to discover …

  12. How to Write a Reflection Paper: Guide with Examples

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    Download. Reflection, Pages 5 (1105 words) Views. 2756. During my interview, I was very relaxed in my interview and didn't look anxious at all. I was a little nervous when I started the process, but it was easier than I thought it would be. I am dedicated to providing outstanding customer service and have a positive disposition.

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    Ruch identified four types of reflective learning: 1. technical rationality and level of knowledge 2. practical personal assumptions and beliefs 3. process focus on conscious and unconscious (psychodynamic) development of reflective self 4. Critical challenges. Premium Social work Sociology International Federation of Social Workers.

  22. A Reflection on Parenting Interview essay

    4 AReflection on Parenting Interview AReflection on Parenting Interview Parentingis a lifetime process that involves the provision of support andpromotion of physical, social, intellectual, and emotionaldevelopment. In my interview exercise, I selected my close friend'smother, Mrs. Chun. My interaction with Mrs. Chun for several yearshas helped me realize that she is a motivated mother, who ...

  23. Clinical social worker: "With the Trump Bible, one must consider

    Now with the Trump Bible, one must consider dementia as a cause since ⅓ of all people with dementia end up experiencing delusions. If you listen to his 3-minute spiel for the Bible where Trump ...