Preparing for Interviews
~ QUOTE OF THE DAY~ "Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it."-Bruce Lee
An interview is probably one of the most nerve racking aspects of applying for doctoral programs. Often times, the formality of an interview overshadows the importance and opportunity to learn from the experience. Interviews should be more than just making a good impression. Students need to hone in on their message and intention for attending an interview. A good strategy is to discuss your strengths and demonstrate flexibility to learn about areas that you are less familiar in subject matter.
First, I recommend that any student prepare for an interview by doing mock sessions with a trusting colleague, professor, advisor, or friend. Interviewers will ask you the standard questions on interest, fitness of program with particular student, your research interests, and so forth. However, every interview will ask you a question that will take you by surprise. Every school is different on the nature and category of the surprise question(s), but students can avoid too much of a curve ball by extensively researching the program's interest and mission, contacting former students and/or applicants who sat through the interview process, and finding practice interview questions from trusted organizations, and universities.
Researching The School
This sounds obvious! Yet, students are so busy when trying to apply to multiple schools that they may begin to cut corners. Students may find themselves trying to prepare for interviews without really knowing what the interviewer is looking for in an applicant. Keep in mind that any organization wants to know that students care about their area of expertise. If you were interviewing potential job candidates to counsel someone with dementia, would you choose a clinician who is clueless about the topic and the organization? Probably not. Thus, you have to think about the interview in that light.
Are you a good fit for this Clinical, Counseling, or Industrial/Organizational Psychology program? Then, it is up to you to help the interviewer connect the dots between your expertise and their training opportunities. The main point is not only to know about the organization and professors, but an applicant preparing for an interview should map out a portrait of themselves as a befitting candidate for the program. Additionally, discuss how you go above and beyond the requirements of the program. Interviewers want to know that students have outside interests beyond just the confinements of the program.
Contact Former Students and Applicants
To some people, this sounds like a crazy idea. I am sure there is apprehension about this step because it involves contacting strangers. Well, a student can send an email or call a former student and/or applicant, while only giving them your nickname or first name. When contacting former students, you are not necessarily seeking a long time friendship. Make it clear that you are interested in learning how the interview and application process works at that school. The best way to do this is to contact several students. There is a chance that some will not reply, so contacting multiple students will increase your chances of getting a speedy response before your interview. Also, contacting several students will help you identify interview questions or methods that another student forgot to mention to you.
Finding Practice Questions
Most universities offer students practice questions for graduate school in psychology. If not, websites like Psi Chi and APA offer interviewing tips for psychology students applying for graduate school. After searching these types of sites, a student can always look at outside universities via the web for additional interview questions.
I cannot stress how important it is to practice your interviewing skills. Anxiety and brain fog can hit any student no matter their level of intelligence. Students can even forget facts that they know about themselves during an interview because the pressure begins to cloud their mind. I remember when I was interviewing for a doctoral program. A question was asked that I could have answered a million ways, but I had to take a second to think about my response. What I chose to do was to take a deep breath and focus on how I have already proven myself on paper. When I recalled how I have the credentials and experience, I began to calm down. Actually, I did very well on the interview.
A lesson I learned from interviewing is that you will always focus on what you did wrong more than what you did right; however, you must learn to give yourself credit for what you are doing that works. Do more of what works. Leave the pressure behind. Do not let the pressure rob you of an open opportunity. Remember, if you feel that you bombed an interview, keep in mind that there are other schools that you can apply to for your doctoral or masters level training.
Be Yourself
While preparing for interviews, do not worry so much about making an impression that everything about you comes off as a facade. You do want to make a good impression, but you want to represent the best of who You are as a person, researcher, and student! Also, do not inflate or fabricate your accomplishments to sound professional or experienced because interviewers are going to ask you to speak about those experiences. In fact, if you list a certain role at an organization, most programs are going to be diligent in checking out your academic, internship, and work history. The point is-DO NOT LIE ABOUT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS. EVER.
Honesty is the best policy. Stay true to yourself, while still putting your best foot forward. Think about it-if you have to fabricate or exaggerate 50% or even 80% of your credentials and experiences, then you may be in the wrong academic sector. Before going on an interview, take a deep look at reality. If you are prepared to go into this level of academia, then great. If not, then take the time to learn where you do belong.
Links for Interview Questions and Tips
http://www.psichi.org/?page=182EyeWin14aSleigh&hhSearchTerms=%22interview+and+questions%22
http://www.psichi.org/?page=152EyeWin11dLai&hhSearchTerms=%22interview+and+questions%22
http://www.psichi.org/?page=121EyeFall07cOudeker&hhSearchTerms=%22interview+and+questions%22
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/grad-school-guru/201105/interviewing-part-2-doing-the-talking
http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/career-services/students-alumni/content/pdfs/2013%20psychology%20interview%20questions.pdf
An interview is probably one of the most nerve racking aspects of applying for doctoral programs. Often times, the formality of an interview overshadows the importance and opportunity to learn from the experience. Interviews should be more than just making a good impression. Students need to hone in on their message and intention for attending an interview. A good strategy is to discuss your strengths and demonstrate flexibility to learn about areas that you are less familiar in subject matter.
First, I recommend that any student prepare for an interview by doing mock sessions with a trusting colleague, professor, advisor, or friend. Interviewers will ask you the standard questions on interest, fitness of program with particular student, your research interests, and so forth. However, every interview will ask you a question that will take you by surprise. Every school is different on the nature and category of the surprise question(s), but students can avoid too much of a curve ball by extensively researching the program's interest and mission, contacting former students and/or applicants who sat through the interview process, and finding practice interview questions from trusted organizations, and universities.
Researching The School
This sounds obvious! Yet, students are so busy when trying to apply to multiple schools that they may begin to cut corners. Students may find themselves trying to prepare for interviews without really knowing what the interviewer is looking for in an applicant. Keep in mind that any organization wants to know that students care about their area of expertise. If you were interviewing potential job candidates to counsel someone with dementia, would you choose a clinician who is clueless about the topic and the organization? Probably not. Thus, you have to think about the interview in that light.
Are you a good fit for this Clinical, Counseling, or Industrial/Organizational Psychology program? Then, it is up to you to help the interviewer connect the dots between your expertise and their training opportunities. The main point is not only to know about the organization and professors, but an applicant preparing for an interview should map out a portrait of themselves as a befitting candidate for the program. Additionally, discuss how you go above and beyond the requirements of the program. Interviewers want to know that students have outside interests beyond just the confinements of the program.
Contact Former Students and Applicants
To some people, this sounds like a crazy idea. I am sure there is apprehension about this step because it involves contacting strangers. Well, a student can send an email or call a former student and/or applicant, while only giving them your nickname or first name. When contacting former students, you are not necessarily seeking a long time friendship. Make it clear that you are interested in learning how the interview and application process works at that school. The best way to do this is to contact several students. There is a chance that some will not reply, so contacting multiple students will increase your chances of getting a speedy response before your interview. Also, contacting several students will help you identify interview questions or methods that another student forgot to mention to you.
Finding Practice Questions
Most universities offer students practice questions for graduate school in psychology. If not, websites like Psi Chi and APA offer interviewing tips for psychology students applying for graduate school. After searching these types of sites, a student can always look at outside universities via the web for additional interview questions.
I cannot stress how important it is to practice your interviewing skills. Anxiety and brain fog can hit any student no matter their level of intelligence. Students can even forget facts that they know about themselves during an interview because the pressure begins to cloud their mind. I remember when I was interviewing for a doctoral program. A question was asked that I could have answered a million ways, but I had to take a second to think about my response. What I chose to do was to take a deep breath and focus on how I have already proven myself on paper. When I recalled how I have the credentials and experience, I began to calm down. Actually, I did very well on the interview.
A lesson I learned from interviewing is that you will always focus on what you did wrong more than what you did right; however, you must learn to give yourself credit for what you are doing that works. Do more of what works. Leave the pressure behind. Do not let the pressure rob you of an open opportunity. Remember, if you feel that you bombed an interview, keep in mind that there are other schools that you can apply to for your doctoral or masters level training.
Be Yourself
While preparing for interviews, do not worry so much about making an impression that everything about you comes off as a facade. You do want to make a good impression, but you want to represent the best of who You are as a person, researcher, and student! Also, do not inflate or fabricate your accomplishments to sound professional or experienced because interviewers are going to ask you to speak about those experiences. In fact, if you list a certain role at an organization, most programs are going to be diligent in checking out your academic, internship, and work history. The point is-DO NOT LIE ABOUT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS. EVER.
Honesty is the best policy. Stay true to yourself, while still putting your best foot forward. Think about it-if you have to fabricate or exaggerate 50% or even 80% of your credentials and experiences, then you may be in the wrong academic sector. Before going on an interview, take a deep look at reality. If you are prepared to go into this level of academia, then great. If not, then take the time to learn where you do belong.
Links for Interview Questions and Tips
http://www.psichi.org/?page=182EyeWin14aSleigh&hhSearchTerms=%22interview+and+questions%22
http://www.psichi.org/?page=152EyeWin11dLai&hhSearchTerms=%22interview+and+questions%22
http://www.psichi.org/?page=121EyeFall07cOudeker&hhSearchTerms=%22interview+and+questions%22
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/grad-school-guru/201105/interviewing-part-2-doing-the-talking
http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/career-services/students-alumni/content/pdfs/2013%20psychology%20interview%20questions.pdf
