Explaining your research in the interview

[sp808]

I was wondering if anybody had advice on how to describe your research clearly and concisely to your interviewer. I've read that your answers should be no longer than 5 minutes - is this true? I am finding it difficult to fit the necessary background, data, and conclusions in such a short time, especially if I want to talk about multiple projects. How much detail and specifics on data is typical of these interviews? I guess the way I'm speaking about it right now is similar to how I would present a poster, just without the figures and more simplified.

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[Microglia]

I was wondering if anybody had advice on how to describe your research clearly and concisely to your interviewer. I've read that your answers should be no longer than 5 minutes - is this true? I am finding it difficult to fit the necessary background, data, and conclusions in such a short time, especially if I want to talk about multiple projects. How much detail and specifics on data is typical of these interviews? I guess the way I'm speaking about it right now is similar to how I would present a poster, just without the figures and more simplified.

Having too long an answer runs the risk of allowing the interviewer to zone out. I would take a more conversational strategy. Ask if they're familiar with the subject matter, if so, skip the basics. Then give a little more, allow for questions, answer questions, and continue. Conversations are much easier to remember than presentations.

 

[ilikeargyle]

I'd focus on just one project only; if you have others, you can briefly mention them as you explain your primary project. If they're interested, they'll ask more about them and/or interrupt you. It's typically open file, so if they're interested in a specific project they will also likely bring it up. For any interviews with an MD, I tended to skip over the clinical background of the disease(s) I work(ed) on. If the interviewer is in your field or there is some overlap, you can skip a detailed background and focus on methods/reasoning and data. Depending on the type of data/results you have, I've tended to spare specific details and describe general trends or findings. If they're curious for more, they will ask.

I was wondering if anybody had advice on how to describe your research clearly and concisely to your interviewer. I've read that your answers should be no longer than 5 minutes - is this true? I am finding it difficult to fit the necessary background, data, and conclusions in such a short time, especially if I want to talk about multiple projects. How much detail and specifics on data is typical of these interviews? I guess the way I'm speaking about it right now is similar to how I would present a poster, just without the figures and more simplified.