1. How to succeed at academic and non academic interviews
Tom Davie

2. Session objectives Explore how to prepare for an interview
Understand what employers want to know about you
Examine the different types of questions you might be asked
Consider how to put across your ‘key messages’
Prepare and practice structuring and delivering answers to questions
Session will be participative, and confidential.
Will be participative. I’m not here to tell you everything; we will learn from each other, and add to our body of knowledge as we go through

3. Types of interviews
Traditional face-to-face, including panel interviews
Telephone interviews
Skype/tablet/phone interviews
Also:
Presentation
Assessment centre activities

4. What are your concerns about interviews?
Talk in pairs for 2 minutes, feed back to front – make checklist on whiteboard

5. The key to successful interviews?
Research Prepare Rehearse Perform

6. Research: what do they want?
CAN you do the job
Do you WANT to do the job?
Do you want to do the job with THEM?
Job and organisational FIT
Research: sector, organisation, role (and if possible interviewers)
Remember to use reliable sources.

7. Prepare: what are your key messages?
The primary messages:
Your motivations/attributes
Your knowledge, skills/abilities…
Supporting messages: The added value of employing you are...
Elevator pitch...
Key message: Ask yourself: if you were hired today, and a year from now had a performance review, what’s the single most important performance measurement that you would be evaluated on?

8. Research… yourself Who are you? What makes you good at what you do?
What have you got that they want?
What are your acceptable weaknesses?
What are your areas of development?

9. Prepare: activity
In small groups and look at the job advert Highlight the key skills and attributes they are looking for Deliver each a maximum two minutes elevator pitch
Activity: break into groups, check advert. Work in groups to decide what a Newcastle PGR would have to offer for the role.

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

11. Motivation-based questions
Why have you applied for this role?
Why did you choose to do a PhD?
What rewards do you expect from your career?

12. Commercial-based questions
Why have you decided to apply to us?
What do you know about our organisation?
Who do you see as our major competitors?
What are the biggest challenges facing our organisation over the next 5 years?

13. Strengths/attributes -based questions
Which activities come naturally to you?
How easily do you pick up new concepts?
How adaptable are you to changing situations?
What gets done first on your ‘to do’ list? What never gets done?
Which activities energise you?

14. Competency questions
Tell me about a time when you’ve worked in a team that hasn’t worked to its optimum performance?
Describe a time when you’ve successfully influenced others
Give me an example of when you’ve had to manage a difficult situation.
Explain STAR structure

15. The wildcard questions
If you were a fruit, what would you be and why?
Why are manhole covers round?

16. Interview questions
In groups of 3 identify two questions in pp1 and 2 of the handout
Ask these questions to the person to your right
Feedback on how well they did
What would your nightmare question be?
Pretending they’re not there, or hoping they’ll go away, won’t help!

17. How was it being the interviewer? What was it like to be interviewed?
Rehearse: feedback
How was it being the interviewer? What was it like to be interviewed?

18. Academic Questions
Why do you want an academic career? What would success look like to you?
How does your research compare with key researchers in your field?
How will you go about getting published further ?
Who might fund your research ideas? How would you secure funding?
What could you contribute to teaching?
What benefits does your research have for the wider
community/economy?

19. Perform: creating a good impression
Know where you are going and turn up on time
Dress code
Mannerisms
Body language and tone of voice
Dress code
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?

20. Perform: the interview itself
Use your preparation effectively, to identify the best example, the best message
Think about why the question is being asked (can-want-fit)
Make sure you answer the question
Ask for clarification if necessary
Stay calm.

21. Perform: what should you ask them?

22. Perform: phone and Skype interviews
Telephone
Skype
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.
Know the technolgy 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.

23. My interview experience
Useful resources
An Academic Career
Vitae
Careers Service
My interview experience
Interview simulator

24. Concerns: revisiting our checklist

25. Science Careers Outside The Lab
Gain insights and tips from professionals working in the following areas:
Science education and STEM outreach
Patents
Science recruitment
Environmental law
Bioinformatics
Science policy
Teaching
Medical physics
Pharma & healthcare sales
Environmental consultancy
Clinical trials
Sports nutrition
Financial services
Thursday 19 April 2017, 18:00 – 20:00 Careers Service, King’s Gate
If you’re unsure about what you want to do after you’ve finished your science related degree, this event provides information and advice for new opportunities in a variety of sectors and the chance to hear from experienced professionals including Houses of Parliament, NHS and Bond Dickinson.
Book your free place at:

26. Connect with us Careers Service Join us: facebook.com/nclcareers
Follow us:
Newcastle University Careers,
find us on YouTube
Careers Service
Level 1 of King’s Gate
Drop-in: 11-4:30
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