DCO Slots - How Vital Are Interview Scores for Selection?

[3onaMatch]

Crowdsourcing: If you competed for a DCO slot, what were your scores and we you selected?

I know interview scores are very important, but how important exactly? If one does only fair on the interview, or say, receives a 7 or 8 due to flubbing a question or two, is there any concievable way they could still be selected on the strength of their other package materials? Or is a middling interview score an automatic disqualifier?

I know this has been discussed before, but I'm just skeptical of the conventional wisdom that only 9's and 10's are acceptible. I'm interested in hearing anecdotal information.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Crowdsourcing: If you competed for a DCO slot, what were your scores and we you selected?

I know interview scores are very important, but how important exactly? If one does only fair on the interview, or say, receives a 7 or 8 due to flubbing a question or two, is there any concievable way they could still be selected on the strength of their other package materials? Or is a middling interview score an automatic disqualifier?

I know this has been discussed before, but I'm just skeptical of the conventional wisdom that only 9's and 10's are acceptible. I'm interested in hearing anecdotal information.

Check out the respective IWC DCO board threads - you can find your answers there.

 

[3onaMatch]

Check out the respective IWC DCO board threads - you can find your answers there.

Thanks for the tip. I've done a pretty exhaustive amount of research. I realize the standard position seems to be that only 9 and 10's merit serious consideration. I'm just curious how accurate that truly is. It seems to sharply contrast with the "whole-person" evaluation method that is purportedly used. I am curious if there have been cases where a mediocre interview score was offset by a strong resume and LOR's. Is that even possible?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Thanks for the tip. I've done a pretty exhaustive amount of research. I realize the standard position seems to be that only 9 and 10's merit serious consideration. I'm just curious how accurate that truly is. It seems to sharply contrast with the "whole-person" evaluation method that is purportedly used. I am curious if there have been cases where a mediocre interview score was offset by a strong resume and LOR's. Is that even possible?

While it’s not 100% reflective, yes interview scores are important. Especially for a very competitive board.

 

[3onaMatch]

While it’s not 100% reflective, yes interview scores are important. Especially for a very competitive board.

Copy. I see the logic: in the very common scenario where multiple applicants are highly and otherwise-equally qualified on paper, the interview score can be used as a determining factor.

It's just frustrating that that's the reality of such a rigourous and time-consuming process. I mean, a resume notes one's performance over the span of years. Coupled with LOR's and other materials--these speak volumes to a person's intellect, capability, and character. Meanwhile, an interview is a snapshot of someone's performance on a random day, for 30 minutes, over an awkward Zoom call.... Just strange that there would be so little room for error there. And the arbitariness of the score calculation is despiriting.

Without revealing too much, I will say that I have applied mutliple times. One interviewer one time gave me a 10. Another interviewer, who could not be troubled to turn their camera on (I was literally talking to a black screen), gave me a 7. Another time, I interviewed with someone over the phone while they were apparently attending some kind of formal function. I don't know what score they gave me, but they were very cheerful and positive about the whole thing.... Anyway, wheee! This is all so gloriously fun.

Thank you for your input.