1. How to succeed at PhD interviews
June Kay Careers Adviser for FMS researchers

2. Session objectives Explore how to prepare for an interview
Hear from an experienced PhD interviewer
Understand what interviewers want to know about you
Examine the different types of questions you might be asked
Understand how to structure and deliver answers
Session will be participative, and confidential.

3. Types of interviews
Traditional face-to-face, including panel interviews
Phone interviews
Skype interviews
Presentation?
Candidate lunch?
Tour?
Has anyone had a PhD interview already or got one coming up? What is / was format?

4. Interview format - PhDs
All candidates for PhD courses will normally be interviewed - several different possible formats including:
An informal chat with supervisors, lunch and then a formal interview with 2/3 interviewers (including the supervisor).
Interviews with potential supervisor(s) and with the postgraduate tutor.
An interview day, consisting of a series of short talks to explain to the applicants the selection process and the training provided by the department and the faculty, along with the processes by which students' progress will be monitored. (Possible buffet lunch with PhD students from the department to get a peer perspective.)

5. Interview format - PhDs
A panel interview comprising a minimum of three interviewers. A postgraduate tutor who chairs the panel plus the prospective supervisor(s) and one other person.
A meeting with the director of the PhD programme, secretary to the PhD programme, potential supervisor(s), and existing PhD students.
If you are already studying with the department (i.e. MRes) you may find that you are interviewed first and then asked to fill in the necessary paperwork afterwards.

6. The key to successful interviews?
Research – Prepare – Rehearse – Perform
Most people fail to prepare properly for their job interview. Why? Lack of time, wanting to come across as natural, thinking they’re not that difficult.
We’re going to look at how to research and prepare, and then we’ll look at the day itself when you ‘perform’.

7. Research: what do they want?
CAN you do it?
Do you WANT to do it? Really?
Do you want to do your PhD with us? (will you FIT in?)
You need to research: the proposal, the field, institute, and interviewers
Talk to current PhD students. How does life as a PhD student differ from MRes?
Remember to use good sources.
Added the really part as often people in the sciences and end up doing PhDs because they think that’s what they’re supposed to do, or because their project supervisor says they have a PhD grant available.
A PhD is no easy thing, and is no guarantee of an academic career. At some point during your studies, you are going to ‘hit the wall’ and want to quit – the more excited you are about the work and the more certain you are about doing a PhD when you go in, the later you will hit the wall.
Motivation will be a big part of the interview. PhD supervisors do not want you to drop out (for your own sake as well as theirs – their careers are often linked to your success), so they will try to ensure that you’re really motivated.

8. Research – Supervisor, Department, University
Supervisor – Recent publications, successful grants, patents, awards, collaborations, impact Department - REF 2014 Score, Staff, Facilities / Equipment University – World Rankings, Athena Swan Awards, Research Strategy

9. Outputs = publications
REF 2014 – Unit of Assessment 4 = Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Outputs = publications
Impact = outside of academia => development new product, change in policy, e.g. Developing the first drug to treat the symptoms of Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease - This work paved the way for similar treatment to be applied in Parkinson’s disease dementia

10. Research…yourself
We can be uncomfortable ‘tooting our own horn’, and whilst you don’t want to oversell yourself, you need to convince them that you’re a good choice
Who are you? Most people are unaware of what makes them great
What have you got that they want? Most people don’t know what makes them valuable
What are you lacking? What are your potential stumbling blocks?
Review your past work, particularly your dissertation(s)

11. Review your research proposal or statement of purpose
Review your research proposal or statement of purpose. Go over the experiences that have prepared you for a PhD and be ready to give specific examples during the interview. Be able to explain the reasons why you applied to this program in particular. Be prepared to talk about your research interests in detail. Demonstrate that you have the required background knowledge, including knowledge of the key people in your research area, methodologies you plan to use, or studies you want to reference.

12. Your reasons for study
This will help give them an idea of your motivation and also your commitment to the course. Think through your reasons for wanting to do a doctorate before you go to an interview. For example, do you want to:
develop further specialist expertise in some aspect of your first degree or MRes subject;
develop new technical, research, analytical or communication skills and enhance your employability;
enter a profession, e.g. Medical Communication, industrial R&D, Academia, where a PhD is required / helpful.
Have an impact e.g. solve a problem, change policy, affect social change

13. Your potential for academic/practical work:
To assess how well you will cope with the requirements of the course/research. You may want to prepare examples of the following skills:
research skills;
written and verbal communication skills;
IT skills;
commitment and perseverance;
ability to use your initiative and work on your own without supervision;
problem solving skills;
analytical skills;
practical skills / work experience (where applicable).

14. Prepare: questions to ask
What do they do to promote work/life balance???
What can your potential supervisor do to advance your career?
What training development opportunities are there for researchers at dept / faculty and uni level?
How does your potential supervisor mentor students?
What sort of resources does the university have? (Libraries, lab equipment etc.)
What are their funding sources?
What is the program’s average time to degree?
Will I have the opportunity to teach/present/attend conference/patent/publish?

15. Questions: general advice
Think about why the question has been asked
Ask for clarification if necessary
Answer the question with relevant and specific evidence of your achievements
Keep to the point
Focus on positive examples and comments.

16. Prepare: structure your answers
Why do you want to do a PhD? Why here?
What skills have you got?
Tell us about your research project
What are the most important issues/challenges in this field? How will this research contribute?
Tell me about a time when you have had to overcome a challenge (STAR technique)
What are your strengths & weaknesses?
What do you want to ask us?
Unpick STAR. Remember that the interviewer wants to learn about how you think, so don’t just tell them what you’ve done, tell them how and why.

17. Perform: the interview itself
Use your preparation effectively, to identify the right example, the right message
Think about why the question is being asked (can-want-fit)
Make sure you answer the question
Ask for clarification if necessary
Handle your nerves in the moment.

18. Perform: creating a good impression
Dress code: match up or step up
Turn up on time (what does that mean?)
Manners: mind them with everyone
Body language and tone of voice
Any cultural differences?
Dress code – a bit smarter than for the ‘job’ itself
Turn up on time (WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?).
Be polite/don’t assume/perform from when you leave your house/be respectful
Body language (likeability; cultural differences; tone of voice)
What does enthusiasm and engagement look like?
Cultural differences – ask the room (often a multinational audience)

19. Perform: skype and phone interviews
Telephone
Stand up? Sit down?
Speak clearly and slowly
Don’t interrupt
Have a pen and paper
Dress as if it was face-to-face (?)
Have water
Be concise.
Skype
Know the tech and how to fix it if it goes wrong
Clean, professional surroundings
Head and shoulders
Minimise background noise
Solid colour outfit
Look at the lens.
ASK - The audience often have good tips from their own experience.

20. My interview experience
Useful resources
An Academic Career
Vitae
My interview experience
Interview simulator

21. Further Help Careers Service Level 1 of King’s Gate
Drop-in: 11am - 4:30pm
No appointment, 15 mins
Mock Interview
– referral to pre-booked, longer appointment,
usually with June Kay

22. Recruiter Perspective – Dr Jeremy Brown, Senior Lecturer