20 NCSA College Recruiting Interview Questions and Answers

The National Collegiate Scouting Association® (NCSA) is the exclusive recruiting partner of the nation’s top college coaches. They connect thousands of student-athletes each year with colleges that fit their academic and athletic abilities.

Their team of former college athletes, scouts, and coaches work tirelessly to help student-athletes find their perfect fit. If you’re lucky enough to score an interview with NCSA, you can expect to be asked a range of questions about your experience, skills, and knowledge of the college recruiting process.

To help you prepare, we’ve gathered a list of sample NCSA interview questions and answers.

NCSA College Recruiting Interview Process

The interview process at NCSA College Recruiting is relatively straightforward. There is an initial screening call, followed by a zoom interview with two managers. After that, there is a player evaluation and sample essay/sales prompts to type up and send in. Finally, there is a final presentation with another manager.

Overall, the interview process is fairly easy. The questions asked are not particularly difficult, and HR is pretty on top of things. However, some applicants have complained that they had to wait over a month to get started after accepting an offer from NCSA.

1. What do you know about the recruiting process?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the recruiting process and how it works. It also allows you to show that you have researched NCSA College, as well as other colleges you may be applying to. When answering this question, make sure to include information about what the recruiting process looks like for both students and coaches.

Example: “I know that the recruiting process starts with coaches looking for talented athletes to join their team. Coaches will then reach out to players they are interested in by sending them letters or emails. If the player is interested in the coach’s program, they will respond to the coach and set up an official visit. During the visit, the athlete can meet with the coaching staff and get to know more about the school.”

2. How would you build a strong relationship with a college coach?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your communication skills and how you interact with others. Use examples from previous experiences in which you built strong relationships with coaches or other professionals.

Example: “I would first introduce myself by sending a friendly email introducing myself, my background and why I’m interested in the position. Then, I would follow up with a phone call to speak with them directly. During our conversation, I would listen carefully to what they’re looking for in an applicant and highlight my relevant experience and qualifications. Finally, I would send over my resume and cover letter so that they can review it before making their final hiring decision.”

3. Can you tell us about your experience working in sales and how it relates to this position?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have experience in a sales role and how it relates to this position. You can use your answer to highlight any skills or abilities you gained from working in sales, such as communication, organization or time management.

Example: “I worked as a sales associate at a local clothing store while I was in college. My manager noticed my passion for helping customers find what they were looking for and promoted me to be a sales associate. In this role, I learned how to communicate with customers about our products and services and how to help them make their shopping experience more enjoyable. This helped me develop customer service skills that I still use today.”

4. Why are you interested in working for NCSA College Recruiting?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a few specific aspects of the job that you are excited about or what attracted you to apply in the first place.

Example: “I am interested in working for NCSA College Recruiting because I have always been passionate about helping students find their dream school. In my previous role as a college advisor, I saw how stressful the application process could be for some students. I would love to help make that process easier by connecting them with schools that fit their needs. I also really enjoy working with technology, so I think I would be a great fit for this position.”

5. Do you have any prior experience as a scout or recruiter?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and how it relates to this role. If you have prior experience, share what you learned from that job and how it can help you succeed in this one.

Example: “I worked as a scout for my high school football team last year. I was responsible for finding new players who could contribute to our team. It was challenging at first because I didn’t know where to look or what to look for, but after a few weeks of scouting, I got better at identifying talented athletes. Now I understand what coaches are looking for when they’re recruiting.”

6. Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure, what was the situation and how did you manage it?

This question is a great way to assess your ability to work under pressure and how you handle it. When answering this question, be sure to explain the situation in detail and highlight what steps you took to manage the pressure effectively.

Example: “In my previous role as an admissions officer at a local college, I was responsible for recruiting students from all over the country. One day, one of our lead recruiters called me with some bad news. She had accidentally deleted her entire email list of potential applicants. We were both panicking because we only had two weeks until the application deadline.

I told her not to worry and that we would figure out a solution together. I then spent the next few hours calling every student on the list to see if they still wanted to apply. Luckily, most of them did, so I was able to get their information before the deadline.”

7. Have you ever worked on a team that was not successful? Describe the situation.

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential future colleagues and how they work together. It can also help you understand what the company culture is like. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest and respectful of others’ opinions.

Example: “I was on a team once where we were tasked with creating an advertising campaign for our client. We had several meetings where we discussed ideas and narrowed them down until we came up with one that everyone liked. However, when we presented the idea to our client, they didn’t like it at all. They said it wasn’t creative enough and wanted us to come up with something better.

We ended up coming up with another idea that our client loved. I think the reason why we were able to create such a successful campaign was because we took time to listen to each other’s ideas and collaborate.”

8. How would you go about building a strong network of relationships?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your networking skills and how you plan to use them in the role. Your answer should include a specific example of how you used your networking skills to build relationships with others, including those within your organization or industry.

Example: “I believe that building strong relationships is one of the most important parts of my job as an NCSA recruiter. I would start by reaching out to professionals who are already connected to the company and asking if they know anyone who might be interested in our open positions. From there, I would reach out to these contacts and schedule informational interviews to learn more about their career goals and what they’re looking for in a new position.”

9. Are you comfortable cold calling potential clients?

Cold calling is a common practice in sales, and the interviewer may want to know if you have experience with it. If you do, they might ask you about your previous cold calls or how you prepared for them. If you don’t, they might ask you what steps you would take to prepare yourself for this type of work.

Example: “I am comfortable making cold calls because I find that most people are receptive when I introduce myself and explain why I’m calling. However, I always make sure to research my target audience before making any cold calls so I can tailor my message to their needs.”

10. Give an example of a time where you were able to resolve a conflict between two people.

This question is a great way to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to resolve conflict. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about the situation and how you resolved the conflict.

Example: “In my previous role as an admissions counselor, I had two students who were both applying for scholarships that required them to write essays. One student plagiarized their essay from another source, which was discovered by our writing software. The other student’s scholarship was revoked because of this action. I met with both students and explained why one student lost their scholarship. I also offered to help them rewrite their essay so they could still apply for the scholarship.”

11. What is your preferred method of communication: phone, email, face-to-face?

This question is a great way to determine how you prefer to communicate with your team and the hiring manager. It also allows them to see if you have any preferences that may not align with their preferred method of communication.

Example: “I find phone calls are my favorite form of communication, as I feel it’s easier to convey tone and emotion through voice rather than text. However, I am open to using email or video conferencing software like Skype or Zoom for communicating with my team members and managers.”

12. How would you handle a difficult client?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and challenges. Use examples from your previous experience to show that you have a plan for handling challenging situations.

Example: “In my last position, I had a client who was very demanding. They would call me several times a day with questions about their account and often asked for special treatment. At first, I found this difficult because it took away from my other work. However, I learned to set boundaries with them by explaining that I could only answer certain questions over the phone and others needed to be answered in person at the office. This helped me get back some of my time while still being helpful to the client.”

13. What kind of schedule flexibility do you need?

Employers ask this question to make sure you can work with their current hiring needs. If they are looking for someone who is available during the day, but you need a job that allows you to work at night, it’s best not to apply. Instead, look for companies that offer flexible schedules and try to find out what kind of schedule flexibility they offer before applying.

Example: “I am currently working as an adjunct professor at a local community college. I have my own class schedule, so I don’t need to be available during any specific time. However, if your company has a set schedule, I would be willing to adjust mine to fit in with yours.”

14. Would you be willing to travel for this job?

Traveling is a common part of many college recruiting jobs. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re willing to travel and that it won’t be an issue for you. When answering, try to show that you are flexible and can adapt to different situations. Explain how you would handle the challenges of traveling.

Example: “Yes, I am willing to travel for this job. In my previous role as a recruiter, I had to travel quite often. I always made sure to plan ahead so I could get enough sleep before interviews. I also brought healthy snacks with me to keep myself energized throughout the day. Traveling isn’t something I’m afraid of, and I think I have the skills necessary to succeed in this position.”

15. What is one thing you think we could improve upon at NCSA College Recruiting?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to get an idea of your critical thinking skills and how you would approach making improvements in your role. Your answer should include specific examples of what you think could be improved, as well as steps you would take to implement those changes.

Example: “I think one thing we could improve upon at NCSA College Recruiting is our communication with students. I’ve noticed that sometimes it can take a while for us to respond to questions or concerns from students, which can make them feel like they’re not important to us. If I were given this opportunity, I would work on improving our communication by creating a system where students can submit their questions through email or social media so we can respond more quickly.”

16. How do you prioritize tasks when you have multiple deadlines?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you manage your time and responsibilities. Use examples from previous experiences to explain how you plan your schedule, organize your tasks and meet deadlines.

Example: “I use a calendar app on my phone to keep track of all my assignments and due dates. I find that this is an efficient way for me to stay organized and ensure I’m meeting all my deadlines. In my last internship, I had multiple projects with different deadlines, so I used color coding in my calendar to separate each project. This helped me prioritize which task needed to be completed first.”

17. What do you think makes our company unique compared to other companies in the industry?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your knowledge of their company and how you can contribute to its success. Your answer should include specific details about the company that make it unique, such as its mission statement or values. You can also mention any research you did on the company before your interview.

Example: “I think what makes NCSA College Recruiting unique is its commitment to finding talented students who are passionate about pursuing careers in cybersecurity. I’ve noticed that many other companies in this industry focus on hiring candidates based on their technical skills rather than their passion for the field. This is why I am excited to work here because I know we will be able to find students who have both the necessary skills and interest in cybersecurity.”

18. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest. Employers want to know what you’re good at and how you can improve your weaknesses. When answering this question, think about the skills that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Example: “I am extremely organized and detail-oriented, which makes me great at managing my time and staying on top of deadlines. I also have excellent communication skills, so I’m able to work well with others and explain complex ideas clearly. My weakness is that sometimes I get overwhelmed by large projects. To overcome this, I break down tasks into smaller ones and set realistic goals.”

19. If hired, how long do you plan on staying with the company?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re in it for the long haul. They want employees who are committed to their work and will be around for a while. When answering, show that you plan on being with the company for many years. Explain why you chose your answer and how it fits into your career goals.

Example: “I would love to stay at NCSA College Recruiting for as long as possible. I have always wanted to work in sports marketing, so I am hoping to use this position as a stepping stone to my ultimate goal of working for a professional sports team. I know that there is a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I’m ready to put in the effort.”

20. What do you think should be done to make high school sports more inclusive and accessible?

This question is a great way to assess your knowledge of the current state of high school sports and how you would like to see them improve. Your answer should include specific ideas for improvement, such as increasing funding or creating more opportunities for students who can’t afford to play on their own teams.

Example: “I think that one of the best ways to make high school sports more inclusive and accessible is by providing free transportation to games. This would allow more students to participate in sports without having to worry about getting there themselves. Another idea I have is to create a program where schools provide uniforms to students who need them.”