How to Deal with a Bad Judge
From Stepping Up
| What Judges Want |
| Stepping Up Guide |
Every now and then, we get one of these - a judge that just seems to have it in for us. No matter how hard we try, they just aren't happy with what we do, or how we we answer our questions. Most judges aren't like this, but there is one in every bunch. From our experience, here's what we've come up with:
Contents |
General Tips
- Stay focused: Don't get thrown off by judge that seems to not like what you're saying. or is bombarding you with completely random questions. Answer the questions but then stick to your project and the details of your research - don't be phased!
- Stay Excited: While this may be hard with someone who looks as if they want to poke their eyes out instead of listen to your project, but remember the excitement that you put into your work and try to convey that to your judges as much as you can.
- Be polite: Always be polite to your judges, no matter how they treat you. Nothing says "don't place me well" better than being rude.
- Interact with your judge: This is not a presentation - it's an interview. Be sure to ask your judge if they need clarification, or if they'd like to hear about some part of your project in greater detail.
Specific "Bad" Judges
There's a few impossible judges that we run into time and time again. Here are some tips in dealing with them:
The Too-Many-Questions Judge
This judge doesn't let you get a word in edgewise. S/he starts asking questions right from the start and doesn't stop until the interview is over! You can feel as if you're not getting your project across clearly and not giving the answers that the judge wants.
The solution: A judge like this has usually read over your project board and/or report before they've interviewed you - so they already know the basics of your project. Answer their questions as best you can, but if there's a part of your project that you want them to focus on, highlight this in your answer to the questions. For instance, if they ask you about your motivation to do your project and you want to highlight your new experimental method, your answer could be something like:
"I was motivated to research this topic due to the lack of conclusive studies in the past to such a prominent problem. In my background research, I found that the past studies have relied on an old method which has caused ambiguious conclusions. I felt I could do better with a new method I've proposed that significantly limits the problems that were faced by the previous method."
Bang! You've now answered the question that was asked and you highlighted the part of your project that you wanted to! For this to work, you have to be creative and know beforehand what you want to highlight.
What not to do: Never refuse to answer or ignore the questions asked by the judge.
The I-Want-to-Stump-You Judge
The solution: This judge is usually trying to test the breadth of your knowledge and how much you've really thought about the implications of your project. Sometimes, the judge just wants to see that you recognize the limitations of your project. In either case, answer the questions to the best of your ability - but when they get to something you don't know, don't be afraid to say that you don't know. But never leave it at that - try to answer the question with your experience in the subject and from the results of your project. If you really have no clue, throw out the statement, "That's really beyond the scope of my research."
What not to do: Never lie to a judge or try to make up an answer to something you just plain out don't know.
The Did-You-Really-Do-Your-Project Judge
This judge will ask you questions to try to figure out if you really did your work, or if it was just your mentor. They'll ask you such questions as "How'd you know about that?" or "Where'd you get this formula from?" If they're particularly bold, they'll ask you such questions as "What part of this project did you do?"
The solution: Often, the judge seems to be confused that someone so young was capable of doing such work, and will automatically assume that it's just your mentor's doing. This is a good thing, not a bad thing - so long as you can convince this judge that it was actually your work. Some solutions to this include mentioning your mentor specifically when you talk about a procedure that they helped with, and take ownership of the procedures that you specifically worked on. Also, refering to your references when you talk about specific bits of your project that you got from somewhere else. Most importantly though, if this continues, detail specifics about your procedure and motivation for each step that only you would know.
What not to do: Obviously, don't try to hide or minimize the fact that you received external support. Don't get upset or defensive - this is usually a sign that you have something to hide. Relax and answer the questions calmly.
The I'm-Not-Showing-You-Any-Emotion Judge
The solution: This judge is usually trying to remain as impartial as s/he can be. Or, sometimes, it could just be plain out too early in the morning for the person to show any facial expression. Ask for feedback in a tasteful way. Such questions as "would you like me to go into more detail about this?" or "are you familiar with this?" are great ways of getting feedback without accusing the judge of being a gargoyle.
What not to do: Don't ask bluntly for feedback. Such questions as "How am I doing so far?" or "What do you want to know about my project?" rarely go over well.
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