Overview

Would you like a shot at a $1,000 scholarship, while gaining invaluable career preparation along the way?

TMU Career Services presents The Master Interview – a campus-wide interview competition for all undergraduate students of any major that will take place over the course of four successive phases this fall. Each phase building upon the previous, preparing students to compete in the competition finale to determine who will win The Master Interview – a final live interview before a panel of judges and an audience of peers. The grand prize? A $1,000 scholarship!

All participants who complete phases 1-3 of the competition will receive:

• A copy of Called to Lead, by Dr. John MacArthur
• A $25 gift card
• Professional headshots,
• One-on-one mentoring from industry-specific professionals
• Resume and cover letter consulting

Registration is free and begins on Monday, September 19.

Registration closes on Monday, October 3.

Upon registration, participants will receive competition instructions and be paired with industry-specific mentors who will provide personalized feedback for the duration of the competition to help cultivate interpersonal, professional, and practical interviewing skills.

Students will complete the following phases:

Phase 1) Application, Resume, Cover Letter | Due by 5pm, Friday, October 7

• Select a job description from Master’s Connect, TMU Handshake, or any community or company job board.
  • It can be a job you are actively applying for, a position for which you would like to apply in the future, or simply a position you would like to use for the competition; however, it must be a legitimate position with an existing job description. See Career Services if you need assistance with identifying a position.
  • Your application will consist of the three questions below. Please respond to each of the following in 1-2 paragraphs per question:
    • Tell me about yourself.
    • Why did you apply for this position?
    • What is your long-term career goal?
  • Submit your job description, application, resume, and cover letter.
    • Email these items to or drop them off in person to Career Services on North Campus.
      • You may submit your materials at any time prior to the due date.
      • It is recommended that you schedule a resume/cover letter consultation before submitting your application. Career Services offers free resume and cover letter consultations. You can email us at or stop by our office on North Campus to schedule an appointment.
      • See rubric below for details about how your application, resume, and cover letter will be evaluated.

Phase 2) Elevator Pitch | Due by 5:00pm, Friday, October 14

• Your elevator pitch will be a 60-90 second, in-person, pitch addressing one of the following from the application prompt:
  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Why did you apply for this position?
  • What is your long-term career goal?
• Meet with your mentor to prepare for your elevator pitch.
  • Together with your mentor, review the job description you selected, as well as each of your responses to the application prompt from Phase 1. Listen carefully and take notes on the feedback you receive to strengthen your responses to the prompt.
    • Choose the question you will answer.
    • Please note you must meet with your assigned mentor prior to your elevator pitch.
  • Schedule a /bookings/">15-minute meeting with Career Services to complete your elevator pitch.
    • You may complete your elevator pitch at any time prior to the due date.
    • See rubric below for details about how your elevator pitch will be evaluated.

Phase 3) Mock Interview | Due by 5:00pm, Friday, October 21

• The company was impressed by your application, resume, cover letter, and elevator pitch, and has decided to bring you back for the second round of in-person interviews to determine if you are the candidate they want to hire.
  • Your mock interview will be conducted as a 20-25 minute follow up interview to your elevator pitch.
• Meet with your mentor to prepare for your mock interview.
  • Unlike your elevator pitch, you will not know the questions the interviewer(s) will ask for your mock interview. Prepare for this interview with your mentor as you would for any professional job interview. Be prepared to answer questions about your skills and background, the job, and the company.
    • Please note you must meet with your assigned mentor prior to your mock interview.
  • Schedule a /bookings/">30-minute meeting with Career Services to complete your mock interview.
    • You may complete your mock interview at any time prior to the due date.
    • See rubric below for details about how your mock interview will be evaluated.
  • Following your mock interview, you will receive a copy of Called to Lead by Dr. John MacArthur, and your $25 gift card.

Phase 4) The Master Interview Competition Finale | Wednesday, November 2 at 7-9pm

• Congratulations on making it to the final round! The pressure is on. You have approximately one week to prepare for The Master Interview – the final live interview before a panel of judges and an audience of peers.
  • The Master Interview will be conducted as a 20-25 minute final interview.
• Meet with your mentor to prepare for The Master Interview.
  • Just like your mock interview, you will not know the questions the panel will ask. Prepare with your coach as you would any final interview. All questions are on the table.
    • Please note you must meet with your assigned mentor prior to The Master’s Interview.
  • The winner of The Master Interview will be decided by the interview panel:
    • 1^st place – $1,000 scholarship*
    • 2^nd place – $250 gift card
    • 3^rd place – $100 gift card
    • 4^th place – $75 gift card
    • An additional $100 gift card will be awarded to the candidate with the highest score as decided by the audience.

*For seniors in their final semester, graduating this fall, an alternative prize may be necessary.