UNIVERSITY INTERVIEW COACHING

The purpose of university interviews is two fold:

1. To assess your suitability for the programme. Usually at interview such as medicine, MBA programmes or dentistry a large part of the the interview will focus on your motivation behind wanting to do the programme, followed by questions about your knowledge and interest related to programme i.e. Nursing etc. Finally questions around your knowledge of the programme itself, for example parts of the course or modules that attracted you and  you’re excited about doing.
2. The assess your whether your values and personal character align with the values of the university. Universities are very particular about the type of personalities they attract to their programmes, their students are a human manifestation of their values. This is particularly important at Oxbridge interviews, since the interview is equally about the university as it about the programme. Also in high competitive programmes just as an MBA at Harvard, Insead or London Business School. Therefore expect university interview questions about your understanding of their values and ethos. Secondly questions about the university’s history and questions about your own values and what is important to you.

The answer is yes and no, because it really depends on the university and the programme that you’re on. For example a Harvard MBA interview is amongst the most competitive, their expectations on the quality of your responses are high and they will probe you if need be. Others like medicine or teaching have far more steps from a face to face interview, to a group interview and some cases even a role play.

Undergraduate interviews, such as those that are a requirement for every student applying to Oxbridge, the interview process is less demanding however, for many it will be their first high stakes interview and therefore the interview becomes just as much about staying calm and managing nerves then simply just your responses to the questions. Our university interview coaching experience will support you in overcoming every unique challenge your interview will present.

The process of application varies from one university to another and also programme. Some programmes have greater varieties of interview types depending on the specialisation of the programme or the university. However the process consists of 4 likely interview types:

1. A face to face interview with a staff member ranging anywhere from 20 minutes to 30 minutes depending on the university. This interview will assess Purpose, Motivations and Values (PMV).
2. Along with the 1-1 interview you will likely have to do a group interview with other potential candidates.
3. Have an assessment day (typically for medicine and dentistry).
4. A role play as part of the interview process.

University interview coaching can have a positive impact on your interview performance, the guidance, training and advice can support you in getting you ready for your interview. It’s important when finding a trainer it’s of great importance that you ensure that the chemistry is good, so make sure you first talk to them before deciding to go ahead with any coaching.

It means that you have successfully met the criteria to qualify for the university interview. This could either be your A level grades, work experience, previous academic experiences or the application form or supporting statement.

Yes, if you’re planning to apply to an Oxbridge programme or a top MBA (Masters in Business Administration) School. However the university interviews are not limited to undergraduate and MBA programmes, for certain scholarships as well PhD programmes an interview maybe required.

Since university interviews have a slightly different focus to a regular job interview, the things that you need to concentrate on in your preparation also have to vary. So below we have some of our best university interview preparation tips:

1. Your Purpose, Motivation and Values (PMV) you need to know them like the back of your had because the interview discussion will heavily explore these three areas.
2. Show positive energy and enthusiasm.
3. Be specific and precise in your research, general research is great, but what makes people standout from the crowd in a university interview is that they have gone the extra mile. Therefore make sure you read some facts and figures that require some digging. It could be from reading from the Vice Chancellors’ annual speech, to works done by specific academics on the programme that you’re on, to research and studies the university might be leading on.
4.  Remember the interview is two ways, it’s very likely that you’re going to be paying for your studies at the university, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and be inquisitive to see if the programme is right for you too.

At Job Interviewology, our coaching syllabus is bespoke and tailored to your specific requirements. This ranges from the university you’re applying for such as Oxford and Cambridge or the specific programme and types of interviews you may face in within the interview process. In addition to that, what makes the programme truly bespoke is that we will also identify your specific personal requirements, whether it’s needing help structuring your answers and building your stories to answering interview questions with greater confidence and conviction. Below is a break down of the various steps of the programme:

1. A free 20 minute consultation with a experienced university interview coach.
2. Building your bespoke programme.
3. Enrolling on the programme and start the interview preparation process.
4. Final mock interview to consolidate your preparation and learning, so you’re primed and ready to go to your big interview.