The Interview
Once you've completed and turned in your application materials to your desired institutions, some programs have one more step: the interview.
This is simply an opportunity for you to bring your talents and
attributes to life, and for both parties to learn more about the other.
Not every program incorporates interviews into their application
procedure, so be sure to check with someone in the admissions office of
your schools to find out.
Phone vs. In-Person
Whether you
interview by phone or in person largely depends on the program as well
as your distance from the school. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
In-Person
- Treat this as an all-day interview. From the moment you step
on campus until the moment you leave, you are being interviewed?by
instructors, by office staff, and by current students. Take every
interaction as an opportunity to demonstrate what a quality addition
you would be to their program.
- Plan for moments of refreshment. These kinds of
interviews have the potential to last all day. Brush up on your dining
manners. Pack a snack in your briefcase or purse so that when you have
a moment you can take a break and refuel if need be.
- Dress professionally. This lets others know that you
are serious about being a successful contributor and understand the
professionalism of graduate school and the field.
On the Phone
- Be mindful of your posture. While your physical appearance
carries no weight in phone interviews, your verbal presence is perhaps
doubly important when body language cannot reinforce or communicate
your thoughts and strengths. To add a confident tone to your voice,
still dress professionally (to help your own mindset) and stand when
you conduct your phone interview.
- Communicate with roommates. If you have more than one
phone in your apartment, be sure to communicate to your roommates that
you will need to be uninterrupted for that particular hour.
- Silence any background noise. Have a friend or neighbor take the dog for a walk. Turn the TV, music, cell phone, and pager off.
- Be aware of your voice quality. Speak loudly enough to
be heard and articulate yourself clearly. Also, avoid raising your
voice in tone at the end of statements to prevent them from sounding
like questions. When your voice lifts up it may communicate uncertainty
instead of demonstrating your confidence and abilities.
- Be careful with your own silence. When you need a
moment to think, say this out loud. Without being able to see your body
language, the interviewer may be unclear as to whether or not you heard
and/or understood the question.
For Both
- Build rapport. You will be working very closely with the
faculty of the program; therefore a "good fit" is extremely important.
Be sure to build a rapport among the people with whom you interact,
presenting yourself as a confident, willing-to-learn but capable
student.
- Research. It is likely that the faculty of that
program are published in the field. Read their research, particularly
of professors whose research areas are of interest to you and/or with
whom you will be interviewing. Also be aware of any values, goals, or
aspects of the program that make it stand out from any others. This
will help you demonstrate your fit for the desired program.
- Prepare. Have 2-3 points you'd like to communicate to
the interviewer(s) and look for opportunities to express them. Also
have some questions you'd like to ask. Don't forget to ask about
assistantships or other practical experience learning opportunities.
- Practice and read about interviewing!
Helpful Resources
The Career and Community Learning Center in 135 Johnston Hall can help
you prepare for the interview through the following services and
resources: Previous / Home
|
|
 |
|
