If you’ve chosen to study at postgraduate level, you shouldn’t need proof to show how passionate you are about the subject. But here we are again – interview time So how do you nail those successful postgrad interviews?
This isn’t your first rodeo. At this level, you will have done some kind of interview for your undergraduate study. However, this time might feel a little different.
When applying for undergrad, you were probably in a class of people all applying for university at the same time, going through the process together. This time, you’re applying alone, and it can feel daunting.
Give yourself the best chance at interview stage with the following tips:
Pay Attention to Interview Instructions
On receiving your (often emailed) invite for your interview, read each section carefully. If there are links to websites, follow them, you will probably find ‘how to’ or ‘helpful tips’ pages that you will find invaluable.
See also: How To Decide What To Do After University
Do Your Research
In my last interview, the requirement was a five-minute presentation, with images. HOWEVER, this wasn’t specified in the invitation. Had I not trawled through the university website, I wouldn’t have seen this, and would have looked a bit daft going into the interview.
The moral of the story is, do your research. Universities, even specific subjects, often have a webpage of ‘suggestions’ that might, reading between the lines, mean the difference between securing a place on the course and not.
If you are able to namedrop that you’ve read the literature of a lecturer at your desired university, this is a clear indication that you are very focussed.
Show Off!
Although so much of your interview success will stem from preparation, there is obviously the element of putting that preparation into practice.
In undergrad interviews, there is often the feeling of being afraid to ‘show off’ your skills, particularly in the new world of higher education. However, at postgraduate level, the competition will be higher and so showing off isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Indeed, successful postgrad interviews could live or die by that confidence.
Your hard skills are there for all to see – we know you had a first-class degree, but what did you actually gain? What soft skills? What examples do you have? In your work placement, how did you provide appropriate assistance in [] scenario?
University interviewers now want to see how your skills have been and can be applied to their course.
Ask for Interview Feedback
This is something that is now a popular part of the interview process for candidates. If you have an interview that you aren’t successful in, interviewers often expect you to ask for feedback. This will allow you to refine your technique and better understand what is expected of you.
Whatever postgrad course you choose, however you’ve done in previous interviews, keeping a clear view of your end goal is vital to best convey your passion.
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