Interviews

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Interviews

• How to reach the promised land
• Some practical tips

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Types of Interview

• Oxbridge/General Academic
• Medicine, Vet etc
• Careers/job

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Oxbridge/General Academic

• Passion
• Teachability
• Potential
• Mental agility
• Critical thinking
• Intellect

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Medicine/vet etc

• Vocational choice, commitment
• Stamina,
• Interpersonal skills

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Career

• Loyalty
• Leadership
• Communication skills
• Team work
• Problem solving
• initiative

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Strategy

• Planning
• Preparation
• Confidence not arrogance
• Enthusiasm
• Positive thought

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Think puppy !

• Enthusatic
• Inquiring
• Eager to learn
• Boundless energy
• Wet nose waggy tail
• Not
• Lacking in sparkle
• Lack of enthusiasm

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Preparation

• Read prospectus/job info thoroughly research
  company/institution
• Not ask questions that are answered in the
  prospectus/job info
• Highlight areas, put post its in, take it in with
  you
• Oxbridge esp useful hints on website re
  interviews

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Preparation continued

• Look up profile of whos interviewing you
  interests, strengths etc
• Familiarise yourself with strengths (and
  weaknesses of department)

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Interviewer

• Many could be new to it they may be as nervous
  as you !
• They are all different age, sex etc
• They will have prejudices foibles
• Most are susceptible to having their egos
  massaged. !

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Creating a positive image

• Where you sit
• Appearance
• Behaviour
• Articulation

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Where you sit

• Dont sit too close
• Give yourself space you can talk to 2 people
  far more easily
• Use a blink to break eye contact
• You can use your hands
• You dont invade body space
• Push the chair back under

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Appearance

• Play it safe make them remember you not your
  tie, etc
• Dont over do jewellery, perfume
• Hair most of us feel better after having our
  hair done !
• Clean, tidy but above all feel comfortable

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Behaviour

• Make effective eye contact
• Greet with a handshake
• Smile but go into serious face if discussing a
  serious topic !
• Not too rigid
• Dont slouch
• Use hand gestures if appropriate (enthusiasm)
• Confidence not arrogance !

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Articulate

• Voice not too fast or you gabble
• Pause think sip water !
• Use pauses, 10 to 20 secs
• Ask interviewer to clarify if you need to
• Dont be too quiet or hestitant
• Do nt overuse works
• Avoid ums, arhs, yeahs, like etc

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Verbal Communication

• 7 communication by word
• 38 by cadence tone
• 55 by body language 7 facial impressions

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Common Failures

• Not answering Questions in enough detail
• Not displaying enough enthusiasm
• Being too vague modest about personal skills.
• Using pretentious language or inappropriate
  jargon
• Appearing sloppy or too relaxed

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Do s

• Say positive not negative things about yourself
• Spend time thinking about your strengths
  background
• Re read your personal statement/application
  make sure all points are covered
• Identify various examples to justify your claims
• Arrive in good time to compose yourself

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More donts

• Leave it too late to do your research
• Tell the world about your interview
• Get too wound up or frightened focus on what
  you will do when you succeed.

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Interview

• A good start up will always help
• A hard interview does not mean things are bad
• Any easy interview does not mean things are good
• Although both could !
• Have your own questions ready
• A good exit is also important !

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Questions answers

• Try not to say I dont know ask for
  clarification/more detail, can I have a sheet of
  paper etc
• Take you time to think
• Stress the positive
• Dont lie the odds are you will be found out !

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Your questions

• Have about 10
• Use about three
• Use them to
• Clarify things or gain extra information
• Convey information about yourself that is new or
  they have not mentioned
• Massage their egos youve managed to answer
  most of the things I wanted to ask etc