I applied online. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at Mad Science in Dec 2009
Interview
I saw the ad on Craigslist and went to the Mad Science website to apply. I received a phone call pretty quickly and went in for a group interview. It was a group interview and though I dressed a bit classy, there were others who were hired that dressed causal nice. We watched a video about the company and then answered a few generic questions (Why us? Why you? Your good and bad points?) and also everyone was asked a fun question just to see our responses. My was, "If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?" but others included "If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?" and "What superhero ability would you like?" We also were given a worksheet and a Map to answer how we'd get from Point A to Point B. Lastly, there was a mock class, where each applicant had to get up and say the "Three Favors" as though we were teaching. They are looking for FUN, ENTHUSIASTIC people who enjoy (or at the least don't mind) working with children. Also, most of the applicants who attended the interview were hired, however, not many stayed (they are always hiring- turnover is very high). Work is very, very part time and you're expected to drive long distances (I've driven up to 100 round trip for a day). They WILL NOT hire you if you don't have your own car. You will also need to get fingerprinted and LiveScan done- which is partially refunded after a period of time.
Virtual Group Interview where a presentation was required, followed by a second one on one virtual interview for successful applicants. Host made the group feel comfortable. A lot of information was shared about the company so you have a good understanding of the expectations of the job.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What are your best attributes that will help you engage a group of young children?
Made me feel welcomed and had me bring in an experiment to walk them through. They also showed me some experiments of their own, which made the experience very fun. The staff was so welcoming and made it easy to jump right in.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What method would you use to handle a child who was interrupting and throwing a fit during your class?
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Mad Science
Interview
2 interviews: one is a demo of an experiment in a group setting to assess enthusiasm and ability to engage kids and the other is a formal interview to assess professional skills and interest.
