Ten Tips for Reducing Interview Stress and Increasing Success

An interview can be the best or worst part of the job application process: on the one hand complete strangers are judging you on your appearance, your personality and your every word… On the other hand, it presents an opportunity to justify your CV and argue your case in person with much more control over the outcome.

Whether you like them or loathe them, everybody can use a few secret weapons to get them through the process so here they are: ten tips for doing well at interview, gleaned from the combined experience of people who know what they’re talking about.

Before the Interview:

1. Actually DO your Research

This is extremely important but all too often falls by the way- usually because you receive an interview date just far enough away that researching the company gets pushed to the bottom of your to-do list only to be remembered at the last minute.

Think of an interview as an oral exam- among the things they are testing you on is your knowledge of the company and the industry. A thorough understanding of the organisation could well give you the edge on the competition.

2. DON’T eat curry the night before

 Or Mexican or Chinese…you get the idea. Whether you’ve got a delicate constitution or an iron stomach you don’t want to risk intestinal distress the day of an interview or be worrying about the location of nearby toilets. Stick to solid, unspicy foods and carb load as much as possible as you may be too nervous to eat the next morning.

3. DO drink lots of water

 People tend to avoid doing this out of a fear of needing to visit the toilet an excessive number of times on the day but being well lubricated can really make a difference in an interview. Nerves will make your mouth and throat dry anyway and adding dehydration to that can make talking at length not only difficult but also uncomfortable, detracting from your overall performance.

4. DO make good use of your appearance but DON’T dress like a slut

 There is a psychological study known as ‘The Halo Effect’ which indicates that people subconsciously associate an attractive appearance with other positive traits such as intelligence and competence. This means it is wise to look your best- looking smart is a must anyway, but makeup and perfume or cologne wouldn’t go amiss.

However, don’t overdo it- subconscious effects are easily overridden by conscious thought and interviewers are not stupid. Overt sexuality will get you nowhere.

5. DO take the lift

 Whether you’re fit or unfit, risking turning up panting and sweaty won’t do much for your presentation or your peace of mind. So forget being healthy for one day and stay pristine. Also be aware that there may not be a working lift so leave enough time that you can ascend the stairs in a leisurely manner rather than having to hurtle up them to be on time.

In the Interview:

6. DO be positive about everything

 From the moment you enter the building everything you say should be positive and enthusiastic. Whether you’re talking to the receptionist, other candidates or the interviewer do not whine about trains, stress about personal problems or complain about your work. You never know who’s listening or who might be consulted in the decision making process so keep it positive and you won’t get into trouble.

7. DO enjoy the first few questions

 This might sound crazy, but consider this: the first few questions are almost always the easy ones, easing you into the interview format. They are also when you make your first impression. So be confident and engaging, expand your answers and act like you’re enjoying being there. This will not only help your confidence overall but means you still leave a positive first impression if it all goes wrong later on.

8. DON’T waffle

 Clearly one word answers will get you nowhere but remember most interviewers will be familiar with the technique of trying to hide a lack of actual knowledge with excess verbosity. Be concise and relevant as much as possible and only refer to relevant topics (if you’ve followed number 1 this should be easy anyway). Finally try to avoid excessive hyperbole- the company is unlikely to be perfect and considered criticism will often outweigh uninformed flattery.

9. DON’T lie but DON’T be too honest

 Lying in an interview is stupid. For a start you’ll already be nervous and so you’ll be unlikely to keep track of what you’ve made up but also THEY WILL KNOW. Consider how many people they’ve interviewed over the years- you are not going to win this psychological warfare. That being said, I was recently told a story of a guy applying to work in banking who when asked, disavowed any knowledge of- or interest in- the industry. Clearly true but also clearly a bad idea. Tweaking is all well and good and part of the process, lying isn’t.

10. DO have relevant questions

 At the end of the interview you will almost certainly be asked if you have any questions. Have some. Come up with them beforehand if necessary but make sure they are intelligent and relevant to the job and the rest of the interview. Also make sure to remember the answers- they are keeping notes and repetition of the same queries will not look impressive if you’re asked back.

So there you are: ten ways to polish your interview technique. I’ve not done all these dos and done all the don’ts and I can assure you that doing it this way round is infinitely more comfortable. I can’t promise it will get you a job but I can assure you that it will make the whole experience a little more bearable.

Let us know if you have successfully used any of the above or if you have tips of your own to share in the comments below.

(picture by twicepix via flickr)

Pounding the Virtual Pavement: Job searching online

The last few posts have all been aimed at aspirants to PhD-hood, in no small part because of our personal ambitions in that direction. However, we are aware that there are those among you that have had your lust for academia thoroughly sated by the undergraduate years and are looking to join the adult world of work.

In the current economy finding a job you like, are qualified to do, can reasonably commute to and that pays adequately can seem like an impossible dream.

However, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and when searching for a job that step is frequently the internet.

Job searching websites have become much more prevalent and significant in recent years and while their purpose may be clear, their relative merits in terms of helping you successfully find a job or career are often not.

So this week to get the ball rolling I am reviewing five of the biggest job search websites and discovering their pros and cons for you lucky readers to help you get the most out of your job searches.

Your University Careers Service

Obviously the quality of the individual site will differ from institution to institution but the main advantages of using the university careers website is that the jobs being advertised will be geared much more towards graduate applicants, cutting out the disappointment that arises from finding an ‘ideal’ job that requires several years prior experience. There are also a lot of internships, holiday jobs and non-profit opportunities advertised on university sites that can help you get that crucial experience needed for your dream job.

Good for: Graduate training schemes, internships, non-profit organisations

Bad for: vocational job opportunities, government and civil positions, arts and heritage work

Jobs found to apply for: 6

Monster.co.uk

This is one of the major players in the job search market and is a much used avenue for graduates seeking jobs. The search function is highly customisable and easy to use, allowing you to be as specific as you like with search criteria. Each search also generates a huge quantity of results, giving you lots of options and has a good range of graduate schemes.

However, the interface is not particularly engaging and the search results are hard to read as well as being interspersed with irrelevant sponsored advertisements. Much of the recruitment done of the site is through a third party agency, meaning you often get little upfront information about the company or the position itself. There is a highly corporate focus on this site which can be good or bad depending on what you’re looking for.

Good for: Corporate training schemes, graduate positions

Bad for: non-profit, arts and heritage, media and advertising

Jobs found to apply for: 1

Milkround.com

Milkround is another juggernaut of the job searching world, especially for recent graduates. The website is nicely formatted but the search options are unintuitive and restrictive, making it difficult to locate jobs that are relevant.

Search results are again nicely presented in tabular form allowing easy assessment of the basic particulars before selecting a position to read more about, however the content seemed to be sparse, providing me with only a couple of results for many searches even with extremely broad criteria.

Again this is a site that is better for corporate job seekers- there is not even a search option for government or arts and heritage jobs.

Good for: recruitment to big companies, searching for available positions at well known companies

Bad for: Pretty much anything else

Jobs found to apply for: 3 (ever)

Guardian Jobs

The guardian website is one I use quite a lot, partly because various members of my familt are frequently spotting ads in the paper itself for me to look up and partly because its such an efficient and comprehensive site. The search layout is very clear and lists the number of jobs available in each category which can be very helpful.

The range of fields and subfields is the most comprehensive I have seen on any of these sites and the job information is clear and detailed in the majority of adverts.

More negatively, there is little comparatively little focus on graduate recruitment and in many sectors the jobs are principally managerial, requiring significant experience.

Good for: Investigating jobs in a wide range of sectors

Bad for: graduate jobs, pinpointing programmes recruiting multiple individuals

Jobs found to apply for: 4

Reed.co.uk

This website is less well known at least in oral tradition at my university- it is the third link on google when you search for ‘jobs’. The format of the website is pleasant and the search function is extremely detailed, allowing you to narrow the type of job alongside its location and salary. There are a range of sectors represented, plenty of results and a range of experience levels being advertised for. However instinctively, and possibly irrationally, I did not like this site. It did not encourage me to keep using it to look for a job and there was, once again, no section for government or arts and heritage jobs.

Good for: searching for jobs locally, searching for a wide variety of jobs

Bad for: arts and heritage jobs, government jobs

Jobs found to apply for: 0

I hope this is some use to people, even if it just gives an indication of some of the sites that are out there for you to use. I would recommend the guardian site, but then I was deliberately not looking for graduate employment schemes.

Let us know about your experiences on these and other sites, especially if you have any recommendations!

How to...Write a Research Proposal in Half an Hour

It’s not ideal, you know it should take longer, that you really should have put more thought into it, but sometimes that application deadline rolls around and there you are sans research proposal. It happened to me when my deadline turned out to be a week earlier than anticipated.

I panicked and threw together a page of rudimentary ideas and theories but out of that chaos was born a methodology: how to write a research proposal in half an hour.

You will need: an internet connection, a word processor, a keen mind and a sense of impending doom.

Step 1: Choosing a topic or project

This first step is the biggie; in fact it’s most likely the reason your research proposal didn’t get written weeks ago. However, it doesn’t have to be a big deal if you think it through clearly and calmly.

Begin by looking at your current research or academic interests: is there anything that could be further developed or an area which you feel could be extended in a larger project?

For example, I study the transition to agriculture and its impact on human populations and one aspect of this that interested me and had not been well covered was the origination of social inequality.

You then need to consider if you can provide an interesting view on your chosen topic- funding bodies might not be looking for mavericks but they’re not looking for plodders either.

It can be as simple as using a different methodology or sample set to re-examine current research but an element of novelty is essential.

Finally it is important to ensure your project is feasible: nothing says ‘hastily thrown together’ like a grandiose vision with little consideration for the practical difficulties said vision would entail.

When you have you idea it’s time for step 2: actually writing it.

Step 2: Writing your research proposal.

There are several issues to be aware of here rather than direct steps to follow:

·         Be aware of your audience: it is a good idea to tailor your research to your audience, particularly if it can be easily adapted. For example, when applying for funding from a body supporting women in academia I emphasised sexual division of labour as my chief element of interest in examining socio-economic status. There is no need to pander, or completely abandon your idea but be prepared to be flexible.

·         Be vague about technical aspects but not ignorant: you don’t want to go into too much detail about equipment and experimental design even if you do know what you’ll need. However, if it is necessary to refer to aspects of technology make sure you know what you’re talking about: they’ll know if you don’t.

·         Have references: nothing solidifies a research proposal like the weight of academia. You don’t have to have time to read any of the papers you cite- unless they’re from your previous work, but judicious use of Google scholar and careful reading of abstracts can ensure you look like you know what you’re talking bout without risking looking like a fool.

Step 3: Presentation

Ok, you’re nearing the finish line and that deadline is looming, but it’s important not to lose focus.

Now is the time to proof-read as if your life depended on it, roping in friends and supervisors as available.

Important checkpoints: make sure you have your facts right- if you’ve been a bit lax with your fact checking rectify that now.

Spelling and grammar is vital- the person reading your application may not come from your field but they will be highly literate so being sloppy in this area is a mistake.

Finally make sure the proposal is well formatted: pick a nice ,clean font and good type size, set reasonable page margins, write clear headings and double-space it. It should be as easy to read as possible.

So there you have it: thirty minutes later you are one research proposal better off and hopefully one step closer to your academic future. Now all that’s left to do is to send it off.

Good luck!

Fun with Funding: AHRC

If you are an arts or humanities student and planning on applying for PhDs and funding in the UK, then the AHRC is one of your first ports of call. The AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council) are a government body that provide support for advancing research in the Arts and Humanities. The main method of application is through block grant schemes, where participating universities and their departments are given a certain number of awards to cover postgraduate research fees, maintenance, or both for any arts/humanities subject. Other routes involve applying to a programme that has already secured AHRC funding, and these are usually advertised as funded PhD programmes. Block grants are the most common route for funding in the Arts and Humanities.

To apply to the block grant, you apply through your prospective department, usually at the same time as or after you apply for a PhD place at the university. A word of warning: getting offer of a place is not a guarantee you will get funding! The two processes are completely separate. The main section of the application form is a research proposal, no longer than 500 words, on your prospective research. The advantage of applying to this scheme is that you have the possibility of researching your specific interests-- if they like your idea, the council will fund you. But it's not this easy.

Departments usually have a very high number of applications, usually double the places they have on offer, often more. Therefore your proposal must really stand out in order to get noticed. Get your current supervisor to read your draft and work on it until it as brilliant as possible. The proposal is like a sales pitch, you have to make your idea as attractive as possible, so the department you are applying to will want to fund that area of research. It is, as with university applications more generally, helpful to have your interests fit nicely with those of the department you are applying to.

One thing must be stressed before I continue: competition is fierce. Due to the high number of people continuing in postgraduate research, there are many outstanding people fighting for a small number of places. Departments can get 2-6 fully funded positions, it depends what subject you do and which department you are applying to.

I'm sorry to say, your chances are considerably increased if you have a top-notch academic record. This means first class results throughout your undergraduate degree, or a distinction for your masters, preferably both. I know it's tough, but there are so many good people applying for the same position as you with these requirements that if you have even the highest of 2i's, you are at a disadvantage. Trust me, this is from personal experience! Don't let this put you off, however. Some people with 2i's do get funding, it's just less common.

The application process is long-winded, and deadlines for submission of proposals start from February. Once your form is in, you may then be invited for interview. Departments rank candidate applications in order of suitability, and then interview the top ten applications, say. After interviews they then rank these candidates again, and suggest the people who are most suitable for an award to the AHRC. This process takes months, and you may fall at any hurdle. It's not a failure if you don't get even to the interview stage. You're application was probably very good, but as I said, competition is intense.

This post is based on my personal experience of the block grant scheme. I hope it helps those of you who are thinking about AHRC funding, so you know what to expect. Any comments or other experiences are certainly welcome!

Until next time,
Kate

Fun With Funding: The Fulbright Award

Fulbright HQ Battersea

If you’re from the UK and have ever expressed an interest in studying in the US or vice versa, chances are you will have come across the Fulbright Commission.

The organisation funds students who wish to cross the Atlantic for academic purposes of all kinds; it is extremely prestigious and extremely competitive.

I am writing this on the train home from London, having handed in my application for this award in person at Battersea power station. This- clearly- was not my original plan, however I discovered on Friday that I needed to send them a hard copy, missed the post on Saturday, discovered that no courier service was working on bank holiday Monday and finally took it myself on the day it was due.

This experience was discouraging to say the least, but it has inspired me to share what I know of the application process with all of you, so that should you ever decide to apply, you can learn from my mistakes and hopefully be more successful.

First off, if you are applying for Fulbright, or thinking of doing so, and you haven’t graduated with a 1^st class degree, set up a charity in Africa to help starving orphans, fronted a Broadway musical, started your own company researching sustainable energy or been junior ambassador to China, prepare to be made to feel extremely inadequate by the recent award winners section of the website.

If you do soldier on through to the application form itself, you will be faced with a dizzying array of questions, from the simple (name, address etc.) to the not so simple (which universities do you want to apply to  and why) to the downright confusing (how have you achieved your current objectives- disregarding the impossibility of having achieved something you are still currently aiming for of course.).

The most important elements are the personal statement, your research objectives and your GRE scores. That last requires a post in and of itself so I won’t address it here but for the others you need to provide a clear and detailed discussion of your research objectives and your reasons for wanting to pursue them (despite that fact that many faculties in the US prefer students not to have a fixed doctoral project) and a ‘narrative statement’ describing your career up until this point, highlighting significant factors that have influenced your educational or professional development.

When you have cobbled together something vaguely plausible for these two sections, you come to the part where you upload your exam transcripts.

And then, if you’re me, you get stuck on this step for a week and a half.

It’s not that I’m blaming the website, but faffing about with such a trivial thing when they wanted a hard copy anyway simply detracted from the amount of time I spent on the important, potentially approval-deciding aspects of my application.

Assuming you make it through the application process and successfully submit your application- both virtually and in paper format (although hopefully without having to provide your own courier service) and they don’t reject you out of hand, you then have to prepare for the interview.

A session with my handy neighbourhood careers advisor and a perusal of feedback received from the students who went through the process recently , threw out the following topics for interview questions:

How do you see yourself as equipped to fulfil and ambassadorial role

Give and example of a situation where you have demonstrated leadership

How do you give back to the community?

What is your commitment to the Fulbright program and its objectives?

How would you resolve a political problem currently affecting the US?

(These are a sampling of my favourites and best illustrate the feeling of hopelessness with which I came away from the Careers office.)

This article is more of a what not to do when applying to Fulbright than anything else, but I hope I have provided at least some useful information to those of you considering applying. If you have any further questions about any of this, feel free to ask them in the comments and if you have been successful in your application, I would love to hear all about your scheme for saving orphans and using them as a form of renewable energy to power your think tank for solving the middle east problem.