5 Essential Interview Tips for Graduate School

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Want to know the interview tips for graduate school that are essential to have a good experience? These are the top five tips that I think help make sure you have a great interview day.

You will go on several interviews throughout your graduate school career. Aside from an actual graduate school admissions interview, you will go on practicum interviews, internship interviews, postdoc interviews, and then job interviews! Interviewing can be nerve racking and exhausting, but it can also be an exciting way to meet future colleagues, network, and learn about a lot of different programs and workplaces. I am giving you my top five interview tips for graduate school are below!

You are going to learn all about interview tips for graduate school from how to do initial research, the importance of asking questions, and how to take care of yourself on the big day.

After making note of these interview tips for graduate school you will be ready to tackle any interview that comes your way!

This post is all about interview tips for graduate school.

Interview Tips For Graduate School

1. Do Your Research

You should know a lot of information about where you are interviewing and who you are interviewing with. This will allow you to ask informed questions and shows that you interest in the program. For example, it is important to look into the research areas of the faculty who are on your interview schedule. You can also spend time reading about the department and any recent changes or initiatives they are workin on. This will show genuine interest in the program and the people you meet and shows that you are serious about their program.

2. Be Yourself

When you get to the interview stage, often interviewers are looking to see if you are a good match for their program and if you are a nice person. So being as natural and at ease as possible can help ensure your true personality shines through! Be prepared for the “tell me about yourself” questions. Maybe share a little about where you are from, where you went to college, how you became interested in research, and why you are interested in their program.

3. Ask Questions

Often you will be interviewing with several faculty members a day when interviewing for a position. Make sure you are asking targeted questions to each person. Perhaps you want to know more about their research program, or their clinical background—ask them about it! I always like to ask general questions about the program to several different people (faculty, students, etc.) as you may get different answers. This is all very informative. For example, if you are interested in the program’s diversity programming, that is definitely a question to ask people at all levels to see if you get consistent or inconsistent responses.

4. Dress the Part

I recommend getting a good interview suit—one that fits well and you feel comfortable in. Also make sure that you are comfortable in the shoes you choose to wear because you will likely be walking a lot.

I prefer darker colored suits for interviews, along with neutral make-up. I prefer to wear simple jewelry (i.e. pearls or a simple chain necklace and stud earrings).

5. Take care of yourself

Interviews are typically really long days where you have to be “on.” So be sure that you stay hydrated and stick some snacks in your bag if you are like me and start to fall apart if you get hungry.

This post was all about essential interview tips for graduate school.

What are you all’s favorite interview tips/tricks?!