Hi everyone,

I have a PhD interview tomorrow and I'm feeling very nervous as this is all very very new to me! It's for a funded PhD position and I am not required to have a proposal for my research. So I've done all my research about the department, about the course, all the usual stuff etc.

What I'm a little worried/unsure about is that they've provided 2 articles to read through. They said there will be an informal part at the beginning then a 45 minute interview, the majority of which will focus on a discussion on the articles. I've never done anything like this before... I've annotated the articles - lots of comments, similarities/differences to what I've faced in practice, critiqued them. Is that what they will be expecting? Should I do more wider reading? I feel like if I do, I might get too bogged down in other stuff...

I'm quite confident in interview situations usually but feel like I'm entering into the unknown because it's an academic position! What I do struggle with is thinking of questions to ask them too!
Thanks!

Good luck with your interview Jenny! I also have an interview this week, but for a postdoc position, so I'm preparing too!

That thing with the article is strange, I've never heard of that before, but it seems to me you are on the right lines. I think you should read other things from the lab too and generally about the research area of the PhD.

Ask them about what other students, postdocs etc in the lab, possibilities of small group teaching, demonstrating etc, training for PhD students, conferences etc

It's probably just to check if you are capable of understanding and thinking about scientific publications. Maybe the way they do it during literature seminars. I would not worry about that. Confidence is the key in interviews. If you are not nervous then this is often just a friendly conversation were both sides learn to know each other a bit better ;)
Atmosphere in the lab, equipment (in case of natural sciences) and possibilities for further education (Courses, seminars etc.) are things I would be interested in and that I would aks them. Good Luck !

Thanks so much both of you! That's really helpful even to put my mind at ease! I'll definitely come up with some questions as you both suggested too.

Also, good luck for your interview too, TreeofLife!

How did you get on? I hope that it went well!

It did go well! I was more nervous that I usually am for an interview as this was my first academic interview but it went much better than I expected. They are interviewing all week as there are 10+ places available for the PhD so I will find out by the end of next week whether I've been accepted! *fingers crossed*

Thanks to everyone for the advice too.

TreeofLife - hope your interview went well too. Also the thing with the two articles...I think they just wanted to make sure I did my homework and I was able to critically analyse an article. They had said the majority of the interview would be taken up with a discussion of the papers but in fact it was 5/10 minutes at the end!

Hi Jennypenny, glad your interview went well! Mine did too, I think, although it's hard to tell! I could answer most of the questions they asked but they did have to prompt me a bit on some questions and one I just had to say 'i don't know' because I couldn't think of anything at all!

They also said it seems like I have done a lot of teaching etc for a PhD student, so that's good bit of feedback about my CV.

And I got the postdoc! So I must have done something right :) :)

Not sure of the start date yet.

So on my postdoc journey so far: one rejection without interview, one successful interview leading to job :)

Good luck to everyone else!

I got the PhD opportunity too! Go us!

That's great news Jennypenny! Celebrations all round!

Congratulations !

Congratulations jennypenny and TreeofLife - brilliant news all round! :)

Thanks everyone! :)

TreeofLife and jennypenny, congratulations to both of you. Wishing you success in your research