If your students have been invited to university interviews, this article will provide some straightforward tips to highlight to them. These tips could also be applied to a job interview or an apprenticeship interview.
1. Understand the type of interview they’re attending
This could be a one on one or panel interview, and they could be interviewed alone or in a group. It could consist of a chat, a question and answer format, or a task-based assessment. Students should put time into understanding the format of the interview, which could put them at ease on the day.
2. Prepare answers to common questions
Interviews are a great chance for students to discuss their background, achievements and ambitions, and demonstrate why they’re a perfect fit for the course. Students should use the STAR technique (situation, task, action result) or a similar method to evidence their responses. They should use university websites and prospectuses to research the specific institution, and forums like The Student Room will likely feature advice from current students on past interview questions. Advise students to re-read their personal statement and allow them to see their UCAS reference, as tutors may ask questions based on these.
ACTIVIY IDEA: Ask students to think about what key skills they’ve got, how they might be asked a question about these skills, and how they would answer it. This can be initially laid out in a skills tree - the root is the skill (communication, teamwork, independence), the branches are a time when they used it, and the leaves are the reason why it’s needed during the course.
3. Prepare questions for the interviewer
As with a normal interview, this provides an opportunity for students to show their interest in and enthusiasm for the course. They could ask about a specific module, the teaching or assessment styles, or opportunities for a year in industry. If they know the name of the interviewer ahead of time, students could also start a conversation about their specific area of research.
4. Plan the practicalities of the day
If in person, the student will need to think about parking or public transport and the time it takes to get to the venue. If online, they will need to make sure they have the correct meeting link and an account that works with the meeting platform (e.g. Zoom, Teams, Google Classroom). Some students find it unnerving to look at themselves in an online interview, so this could be practiced too. Regardless of location, students should also think about first impressions when planning what to wear.
Most universities are happy to answer questions about any of the above, so please encourage students to reach out if they’re unsure of anything. To contact Swansea, students can email study@swansea.ac.uk or make an undergraduate enquiry.
