PhD interviews

So, I applied to do a collaborative doctoral award with the AHRC (essentially, a funded PhD on a pre-determined topic), and I've now been asked to an interview.

I was just wondering if anyone had any particular advice, tips, etc. Obviously knowing the topic backwards is going to be a good start, but beyond that...?

My area is English Lit (though advice from those in other fields is most welcome), and they've told me the interview will be 25 mins long. I'm pretty much expecting 25 minutes of grilling on my academic credentials and my take on the project. Does that sound about right?

The PhD is at my current university, which means that I know at least two of the panel reasonably well. One is my MA dissertation supervisor - whom I find quite difficult to get on with. One is the convenor of my MA course, who's never taught me, but who is always very friendly and helpful to me. There are four in total on the panel (this terrifies me - where do I look when I answer questions?).

Oh, and, as a side note, is it just me who hates being interviewed by people of their own gender? I realise interviewers are meant to be dispassionate about such things. But, I'm female, and I would much, much rather be interviewed by men than women: in my experience they're much less aggressive and much less likely to seem judgemental in such a situation. It's nothing to do with the difficulty of the questions posed, more their attitude.

Reply 1

The Boosh

17

lol my g/f has the same view at times - rather men interviewed her.

I wish I could give you advice but all I can say is goodluck! Ive been lucky with getting on courses without interviews and my funding was through open competition so the university only had to decide on the applicant they wished to put forward (by strength of a written proposal) rather than by interviewing them. No doubt they will discuss what you put down in your application and will want additional things other than what is on the application (can you look at the phd guide book on what skills they think you develop during a phd - skills that are different to your masters - if that makes sense, and say you are strong in these areas?). Ive been looking closely at doing a professional doctorate in clinical/educational psych. and all the websites stress that interviewers want to know what you have learned and not just what you have done - that makes things tougher in my opinion but try reflecting and looking through course/module guides to show that you have developed critical reflection, academic subtlety, awareness of complex relationships and knowledges, time management skills and you really really need to show ability for original thinking (this is a big one for a phd).

When is the interview?

Good luck!!

Reply 2

passthesaltplease

5

zigguratted

There are four in total on the panel (this terrifies me - where do I look when I answer questions?).

I think, in a way, that a panel with four people is worse that say 12 because you have to engage and build a rapport with each one, so try to have a friendly chat if you have a chance before the interview, maybe saying 'Oh, I hear you're on the panel for X interviews. I'm so nervous , giggle'

I think the one mistake that people make when being interviewed by women is to think that they don't like having their ego's stroked. My best tactic in this sort of situation is to play one off against the other. So if you get asked a question where you know one of the other interviewers is an expert in the area, speak back to the person that asked you the question but send a smile and some eye contact the way of the person you know is an expert.

The best thing with eye contact is to speak back to the person who asked you the question, but be sure to smile, speak confidently and 'acknowledge' the entire panel with sweeping gazes as you speak.

Hope this helps!

Reply 3

etherised

OP

1

Thanks for the advice / moral support.

And, yeah, I guess I do at least have the advantage that I know the interviewers' specialties pretty well. Of course, this just feeds my worry. I'm slightly concerned that one of them's going to chuck a left-field feminist question at me (can't see how it'd be relevant, but when has that ever stopped anyone?). I like the idea of playing them off against each other though! And, hmm, good point about talking up skills as well as knowledge.

Though, gah, I'm so cross right now. The guy who'll be the primary supervisor for the PhD has just sent out an email to the shortlisted candidates without BCCing it. So now we all know who the others are. Surely that's not ethical? Or, just bad form? Whatever happened to anonymity? And I'd been so careful about not telling people I was applying, dammit!

Reply 4

passthesaltplease

5

zigguratted

So now we all know who the others are. Surely that's not ethical? Or, just bad form? Whatever happened to anonymity? And I'd been so careful about not telling people I was applying, dammit!

Oh bugger! Dirty looks in corridors here you come! Btw you could always use that to your advantage by deliberately swinging your interview into areas where you know you are strong but the others are weak.

Reply 5

etherised

OP

1

passthesaltplease

Oh bugger! you could always use that to your advantage by deliberately swinging your interview into areas where you know you are strong but the others are weak.

heheh. I like it.

One more question: any suggestions for what to say to the inevitable end-of-interview question, 'Now, is there anything you'd like to ask us?' Besides 'So, how long are you going to keep me hanging on in a state of nervous anxiety before you tell me if I've got the position?', I can never think of anything to ask.

Reply 6

Epoch157

zigguratted

One more question: any suggestions for what to say to the inevitable end-of-interview question, 'Now, is there anything you'd like to ask us?' Besides 'So, how long are you going to keep me hanging on in a state of nervous anxiety before you tell me if I've got the position?', I can never think of anything to ask.

It's always a good idea to have a couple of ideas for questions ready. But apparently you should never, ever, talk about money or benefits that you might get out of the position (although I guess that applies more to jobs than PhDs).

Try and think of things about the research that won't necessarily come up in the actual interview (can't think of anything offhand 'cos it's late and I'm tired). I dunno, I guess one thing might be to ask how much of a creative input you'd have into the research? If you know the area, and know the literature, might be a good idea to come up with one or two novel ideas and ask if/how it would be possible for you to incorporate them into the bulk of the PhD.

Anything that makes you look bright and enthusiastic, I guess.

Good luck!

Reply 7

passthesaltplease

5

zigguratted

heheh. I like it.

One more question: any suggestions for what to say to the inevitable end-of-interview question, 'Now, is there anything you'd like to ask us?' Besides 'So, how long are you going to keep me hanging on in a state of nervous anxiety before you tell me if I've got the position?', I can never think of anything to ask.

I always try for a funny story/ you're going to like working with me/ I'm not going to go 'umm... no' type of comment. Its even come to "I thought of a really witty comment to end this interview, but I seem to have forgotten it - well I'll tell it to you when I see you next month.".

Reply 8

jo131278

2

hi,

i have an interview 4a phd in job satisfaction/workforce mobility of pharacists.
now i am from a management/hr background both undergrad and postgrad.
what sorta things do u reckon i will be asked as i know nothing about pharmacy and its in the school of pharmaceutical sciences?????????
i do know alot about management, jobsatisfaction, motivation etc etc etc
also, how mant ppl get asked2 interview- loads or not many????....... what do we think the competition will be like????????

any info wud b gr8
thanks,
jo.xxx :smile:

Reply 9

passthesaltplease

5

jo131278

hi,

i have an interview 4a phd in job satisfaction/workforce mobility of pharacists.
now i am from a management/hr background both undergrad and postgrad.
what sorta things do u reckon i will be asked as i know nothing about pharmacy and its in the school of pharmaceutical sciences?????????
i do know alot about management, jobsatisfaction, motivation etc etc etc
also, how mant ppl get asked2 interview- loads or not many????....... what do we think the competition will be like????????

any info wud b gr8
thanks,
jo.xxx :smile:

I doubt they would interview more than 20 applicants/place - even that sounds pretty high (but I am assuming it is fully funded, if not they would probably interview everyone who applied).

I think it would be a huge mistake to not brush up on your knowledge of pharmacy, you would need to include at least some relevant cross-references.

I would suggest you go around and chat to pharmacists in your town (just do some brief interviews), see what they think the relevant issues and complaints in the industry are. Speak to people accross the board: Women/Men, working in Boots/working in hospital dispensery etc.

Reply 10

etherised

OP

1

For mine only three of us were interviewed. I think there was some quite ruthless culling at the application stage. But, on the other hand, I rather doubt that there were even 20 applicants in the first place.

I would guess that in most cases they probably wouldn't interview as many as 20 unless it were for more than one position.

I most certainly agree with passthesaltplease about familiarising yourself with the field. Did you not have to do some research about it in order to make your proposal in the first place? But anyway, once you know a bit about it, and have an idea of specific issues there may be regarding job satisfaction/workforce mobility for pharmacists, you should be able to relate that back to your own experience. Try and make a virtue out of the fact that you've come from a different area - maybe that gives you a new perspective that might be helpful?

Reply 11

Derek_The_Hamster

3

zigguratted

Did you not have to do some research about it in order to make your proposal in the first place?

Not sure about pharmacy specifically, but certainly in the sciences it's probably less common to make a research proposal than to do so - certainly my DPhil application was just a case of applying to work on a specific project, rather than coming up with my own idea *, so my research on the background was minimal - I applied for a few projects at the department and they matched me up to the one they felt I was best suited to, if I'd researched in depth for it I'd never have passed the exams I had the week before the interview :wink:

.

* Given my project involves extensive satellite time courtesy of NASA, there's no way I'd ever be able to raise enough money to do what I wanted if I came up with it myself, anyway :wink:

Reply 12

nikk

15

passthesaltplease

I always try for a funny story/ you're going to like working with me/ I'm not going to go 'umm... no' type of comment. Its even come to "I thought of a really witty comment to end this interview, but I seem to have forgotten it - well I'll tell it to you when I see you next month.".

I think this is the worse thing you could possibily do. It sounds very unprofessional and child-like, and likely to leave them thinking what an idiot you are. In a formal interview, you should be acting professionally. That isn't to say you can't show a sense of humour if the opportunity arises naturally, but you certainly shouldn't be coming up with corny comments.

Reply 13

passthesaltplease

5

nikk

I think this is the worse thing you could possibily do. It sounds very unprofessional and child-like, and likely to leave them thinking what an idiot you are. In a formal interview, you should be acting professionally. That isn't to say you can't show a sense of humour if the opportunity arises naturally, but you certainly shouldn't be coming up with corny comments.

If you naturally have a good sense of humour and are good at setting up a rapport with interviewers then go for it. Otherwise I would agree with Nikk, you don't want to sound trite.

Reply 14

jo131278

2

well i have a date thru 10th july so that gives me a little time to do a little reading, and it will be a little as i am concentrating on my dissertation :smile:

i might read up on the methodology that they will be using as it is pretty new i think so it might be gud2 know a little about that at least!!!!!!!!!!

jo.xxxxxxxxxxxx

Reply 15

jo131278

2

does any1 know of any gud books on PhD interviews??????

PhD interviews

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