Preparing for Interviews

[legitlax101]

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For those of you that have had interviews how did you prepare? I have two next week and I'm pretty nervous. Any tips would help!

 

[YTAZ]

For those of you that have had interviews how did you prepare? I have two next week and I'm pretty nervous. Any tips would help!

Try to have couple of mock interviews with your friends. Also, be yourself; they have interest in you and they just need to get to know you. Always smile and show your excitement. Ask questions and try to see if the school is good fit for you.

Best of luck!

 

[owlegrad]

Try to have couple of mock interviews with your friends. Also, be yourself; they have interest in you and they just need to get to know you. Always smile and show your excitement. Ask questions and try to see if the school is good fit for you.

Best of luck!

What a helpful post! I am sending you a code for an amazon gift card; check your PMs for the info.

 

[YTAZ]

What a helpful post! I am sending you a code for an amazon gift card; check your PMs for the info.

Thank you for the gift card!! 🙂

 

[pharma012]

For those of you that have had interviews how did you prepare? I have two next week and I'm pretty nervous. Any tips would help!

Be yourself.
It's absolutely terrifying, especially when you're interviewing at such well known schools. However, if there is any institution that makes you feel uncomfortable with who you are, even slightly, they aren't worth your time nor your money. This was my mentality with my interviews and it got me into one of the top pharmacy schools in the nation. 😉

Best wishes!

 

[Soffee]

For those of you that have had interviews how did you prepare? I have two next week and I'm pretty nervous. Any tips would help!

Besides practicing answering questions (use SDN's Interview Feedback), I'd say preparing a list of questions to ask your interviewer(s) is extremely important. It mostly happens at the end of interviews (and it WILL happen!) when the interviewer will ask, "Do you have any questions for me?" Although you may be tempted to say "no" and be on your way, the question is not just a chance for you to learn more about the school, but a clever way for the interviewer to know if you are genuinely interested in their school. If you don't have any questions or only ask very simple/uninspired questions i.e. information that can be found on the school website, that is very telling to the interviewer. My favorite question to ask was "What do you like most about ______ University?" I always got a different answer, and it gives you a new perspective on the school.

Questions that make the interviewer dig for an answer are the most interesting and may make you a more memorable candidate. If the interview is conversational, make mental notes on what you'd like to further discuss. And of course, if you already have an idea of what you'd like to do (i.e. clinical, retail etc.) come up with questions about that.

Additionally, I think first impressions are very important. Put your best foot forward by smiling, practicing a firm handshake, sounding enthusiastic, grooming yourself, and wearing a well-tailored suit. (It looks sloppy and unprofessional when e.g. your suit is so big your folds have folds; you wear a short bodycon skirt just because it's black etc.) Yes, be yourself, but at the same time, if you don't dress/act professionally... how do you expect the interviewer to think you'll represent/reflect their school professionally? Keep in mind not only what you are saying but how you are saying it.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you disagree with anything or need elaborating. Good luck!

 

[oogens]

iron your shirt, lay out all your things the night before. When you shower in the morning, hang your suit in the bathroom to give it a light steam and take out the wrinkles. I drove to the schools and walked around the night before when schedule permitted (some of my flights got in too late to do this) so I knew exactly where to go and where to park, and knew how much time to allow for travel from parking to the meeting place.

Show up at least 15 minutes early. I wouldn't do more than a 30 minutes early though, they'll feel like they have to attend to you.

Have questions for them prepared. If they answer your questions during tours and breakout sessions, still ask your interviewer. Chances are they weren't with your group and don't know that your question was already answered.

Everyone's personal style is a little different. I just read the school webpage, the most recent dean's letter or whatever newsletter the school has, and skimmed for an idea of what they value most (pretty easy to tell from the website how the school invests in research, clinical practice, community outreach, etc). Check out practice questions on here, have some anecdotes prepared, don't make your responses seem to canned though. You don't want to crumble when you have to go off script when they ask you to elaborate.

Also bring a pen. One place provided pencils, and that was weird. Another time I forgot my pen and had to ask to borrow one, which doesn't look good.

brush your teeth, drink water/avoid sugar until your interview so your breath isn't awful, don't chew gum.

 

[legitlax101]

Try to have couple of mock interviews with your friends. Also, be yourself; they have interest in you and they just need to get to know you. Always smile and show your excitement. Ask questions and try to see if the school is good fit for you.

Best of luck!

Try to have couple of mock interviews with your friends. Also, be yourself; they have interest in you and they just need to get to know you. Always smile and show your excitement. Ask questions and try to see if the school is good fit for you.

Best of luck!

Thanks! I plan on doing some mock interviews today!!

 

[legitlax101]

Be yourself.
It's absolutely terrifying, especially when you're interviewing at such well known schools. However, if there is any institution that makes you feel uncomfortable with who you are, even slightly, they aren't worth your time nor your money. This was my mentality with my interviews and it got me into one of the top pharmacy schools in the nation. 😉

Best wishes!

Thanks!! I will try my best to be myself!

 

[legitlax101]

Besides practicing answering questions (use SDN's Interview Feedback), I'd say preparing a list of questions to ask your interviewer(s) is extremely important. It mostly happens at the end of interviews (and it WILL happen!) when the interviewer will ask, "Do you have any questions for me?" Although you may be tempted to say "no" and be on your way, the question is not just a chance for you to learn more about the school, but a clever way for the interviewer to know if you are genuinely interested in their school. If you don't have any questions or only ask very simple/uninspired questions i.e. information that can be found on the school website, that is very telling to the interviewer. My favorite question to ask was "What do you like most about ______ University?" I always got a different answer, and it gives you a new perspective on the school.

Questions that make the interviewer dig for an answer are the most interesting and may make you a more memorable candidate. If the interview is conversational, make mental notes on what you'd like to further discuss. And of course, if you already have an idea of what you'd like to do (i.e. clinical, retail etc.) come up with questions about that.

Additionally, I think first impressions are very important. Put your best foot forward by smiling, practicing a firm handshake, sounding enthusiastic, grooming yourself, and wearing a well-tailored suit. (It looks sloppy and unprofessional when e.g. your suit is so big your folds have folds; you wear a short bodycon skirt just because it's black etc.) Yes, be yourself, but at the same time, if you don't dress/act professionally... how do you expect the interviewer to think you'll represent/reflect their school professionally? Keep in mind not only what you are saying but how you are saying it.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you disagree with anything or need elaborating. Good luck!

Great advice! Thanks! In this case, I'm a girl so I'll make sure my pant suit is nice and crisp haha. I've been thinking of a few questions to ask the schools. Thank you!

 

[legitlax101]

Thanks!

iron your shirt, lay out all your things the night before. When you shower in the morning, hang your suit in the bathroom to give it a light steam and take out the wrinkles. I drove to the schools and walked around the night before when schedule permitted (some of my flights got in too late to do this) so I knew exactly where to go and where to park, and knew how much time to allow for travel from parking to the meeting place.

Show up at least 15 minutes early. I wouldn't do more than a 30 minutes early though, they'll feel like they have to attend to you.

Have questions for them prepared. If they answer your questions during tours and breakout sessions, still ask your interviewer. Chances are they weren't with your group and don't know that your question was already answered.

Everyone's personal style is a little different. I just read the school webpage, the most recent dean's letter or whatever newsletter the school has, and skimmed for an idea of what they value most (pretty easy to tell from the website how the school invests in research, clinical practice, community outreach, etc). Check out practice questions on here, have some anecdotes prepared, don't make your responses seem to canned though. You don't want to crumble when you have to go off script when they ask you to elaborate.

Also bring a pen. One place provided pencils, and that was weird. Another time I forgot my pen and had to ask to borrow one, which doesn't look good.

brush your teeth, drink water/avoid sugar until your interview so your breath isn't awful, don't chew gum.

Thanks! Im a girl, so I'll make sure my outfit is just right. I'll be sure to go I've mission statements, deans letters, etc... Would you advise bringing a notebook to take notes? Or is that too much?