{"id":18184,"date":"2017-08-10T08:25:51","date_gmt":"2017-08-10T13:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/?page_id=18184"},"modified":"2024-07-29T11:38:01","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T16:38:01","slug":"grad-school-interviewing-skills","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/grad-school-interviewing-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Grad School Interviewing Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Preparing for the Interview<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Who are you, what are your strengths & are you prepared?
\nPractice Interview<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 What to bring & how to dress
\nDuring the interview<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Types of questions you\u00a0will be asked
\nAfter the Interview<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Thank you letters<\/p>\n

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<\/h1>\n

<\/a>Preparing for the Interview<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Get to know yourself, the field, and the institution<\/em><\/p>\n

VISA<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Becoming aware of your strengths, weaknesses, past achievements and future goals will help you convey to the interviewer that you know who you are and what you want to accomplish in the future.\u00a0 Evaluate your\u00a0V<\/strong>alues,\u00a0I<\/strong>nterests,\u00a0S<\/strong>kills, and\u00a0A<\/strong>bilities (VISA).\u00a0 This will help you determine how you would like to present yourself to the interviewer.\u00a0 With your VISA in mind, consider your short and long-term goals and how they match up with the institution(s) to which you are applying.\u00a0 Take into consideration the institution\u2019s mission statement and the aims of the specific program, making sure that they fit with your personal aspirations.<\/p>\n

Strengths & Weaknesses<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Before the interview, pick at least three examples each of your strengths and weaknesses which you feel are most representative of you and your experiences and which you can best relate to the program.\u00a0 It\u2019s important to remember that interviewers realize you are not (or have not) always been perfect.\u00a0 If you can demonstrate how you have grown from your past experiences, you will show the interviewer your ability not only to overcome challenges but also to learn from your mistakes.\u00a0 Through recognizing your areas of weakness and emphasizing what you have done and are continuing to work on you can transform your weaknesses into strengths.<\/p>\n

Accomplishments<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Recall specific situations, whether in a job, internship, volunteer position or during your schooling and how they helped you develop the skills necessary to succeed in your chosen field.\u00a0 Maybe it was contributing to a published paper, or perhaps you devised a new social media marketing strategy during your internship. Ask yourself, how will this program help me build on my past achievements?\u00a0 Formulate a list of\u00a0transferable skills<\/a>, qualities, and character traits that you demonstrated in these situations.\u00a0 Interviewers are looking for examples of instances when you set a goal and did whatever it took to achieve it.<\/p>\n

The Benefit Statement<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Though it can be difficult to sing your own praises, this is a time when you can set your modesty aside for an hour or so and really sell yourself.\u00a0 Think about what makes you unique and prepare yourself to answer questions such as, \u201cWhy are you the best candidate?\u201d and \u201cWhy did you choose this profession?\u201d\u00a0 Often, interviewers will ask, \u201cTell me about yourself?\u201d as an icebreaker and a way to allow you to paint a personalized picture of what you can offer and how you view yourself and your experiences.\u00a0 To answer this question, it is helpful to prepare a\u00a0benefit statement<\/a>\u00a0of about 45-60 seconds in length which will highlight your academic accomplishments, related experiences, and other involvements.\u00a0 This is an opportunity to get the interviewers hooked and wanting to know more about your background.\u00a0 Prepare a summary of your skills and qualifications and your interest and any relevant experience in the field.\u00a0 Be calm, confident, and concise in order to generate well thought responses and avoid sounding too rehearsed.<\/p>\n

What is the field?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Interviewers will often ask specific questions relating to current issues, trends, and challenges within the field and where you stand on particular topics.\u00a0 Be knowledgeable not only about the \u201chot topics\u201d of your area but also where the institution stands on the issues.\u00a0 Form your own opinions based on the information and evidence you find but be able to articulate your understanding of all sides of the argument.\u00a0 Make sure that your responses demonstrate that you\u2019ve thought about these issues and know enough to have formed an opinion but also that you are open to other possibilities and further information in what may be a changing field.<\/p>\n

Websites of\u00a0professional associations<\/a>\u00a0are a great place to find information about current trends or issues in a given field.\u00a0 These are organizations comprised of professionals from and students interested in specific fields which provide opportunities for networking and exploration activities and the chance to attend conferences and events, all at a discounted student rate.\u00a0 To find professional associations in your interest area, search\u00a0WEDDLE\u2019s Association Directory<\/a>\u00a0which lists the organizations by category and links you to the individual association\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

How well do you know the institution?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

As mentioned before, it is important to know where the institution stands on current issues.\u00a0 This can be done by reading local publications, such as school newspapers and articles on the institution\u2019s website.\u00a0 Staying informed about what is happening on campus and in your area of interest will allow you to demonstrate to the interviewers how well you would fit in with their program and ideals.\u00a0 If you know that faculty will be interviewing you, try to find information about any research they have done or read publications by faculty who will be (hopefully!) teaching you in the future.<\/p>\n

Use the\u00a0Online Alumni Directory<\/a>\u00a0to search for Oles who were or are enrolled in the program, or ask for help from an admissions counselor at the school to get in touch with current students and speak with them about the interview process and what they think of the academic program and any aspects of student life you may be curious about (social life, student organizations, quality of the professors). Use the Piper Center \u2019s\u00a0Informational Interviewing<\/a>\u00a0resources to connect with alum and\/or current students and see if they would be willing to share information about their experiences with the interview process and the school itself.<\/p>\n

Finally, do your research on the basics of each institution and take notes to bring with you about the curriculum, class size, mission or focus of the program, and what makes this institution different from others you are considering.\u00a0 Knowing the specifics of the institution before the interview will show the interviewer that you are invested in this process and will allow you to ask more in-depth, meaningful questions in the short amount of time that you have.<\/p>\n

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<\/h1>\n

<\/a>Practice Interview<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After doing your preparatory research, it would be very beneficial to schedule a practice interview with one of the Piper Center \u2019s professional staff members.\u00a0 You can do this by calling x3268 or stopping by the office (TOH 270) between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday to schedule.<\/p>\n

This interview will mimic the real interview, and we will use the time to discuss the interview process and your strengths and weaknesses with interviewing.\u00a0 During a practice interview you have the option to be recorded and then view your interview and critique it with the staff member so that you can see how you appear to the interviewer and more easily pick up on any nervous habits or distracting speech patterns.<\/p>\n

Treat this practice interview as a real interview. This means\u2026<\/h4>\n