Research Fellow interview!
Hello forum :)
Invited for interview for a part time Research Fellow position at my local university. Delighted to be shortlisted, but starting to feel a little nervous! The interview isn't until mid June, so I've got a few weeks to prepare. The interview includes a 10 minute presentation....eeek. I'm starting a one day a week Research Associate position at another local university, so hoping to juggle both positions. If successful, I'm going to leave my non graduate job in mental health.
I would be grateful for any tips for the Research Fellow job ! :) (other than follow the job description and person spec closely!).
In November, I applied for a Research Assistant position at the same department, but I was rejected after the interview. I'll probably receive the same interview panel and types of questions, so perhaps may swing the balance in my favour?
Keeping my fingers crossed!
hi Pineapple30
great news! thanks for sharing! I haven't received the same interview panel before--so I can't give you any advice from experience--
but--do you think it would help if you tried to remember the stuff that you went through during the 1st interview--
--and sort of make it better for the 2nd one based on that?
I hope you get the post :-)
love satchi
I GOT THE JOB!
Obtained a two year contract for a Research Fellow position in my PhD topic at a local university. Not sure how I managed to beat the competition, but I managed it somehow! :)
Going to juggle this role with my other 1 day a week Research Associate position at my PhD university....
Absolutely delighted :)
Congratulations Pineapple301!! I found you post while searching for advices/experience post with respect to postdoc interview, as I myself received an interview invitation days ago. I'm absolutely surprised when knowing that I am on the shortlist, for I am in fact from a different (but of course relevant) field. The interview will be 10 + 30 min presentation. The first 10-min one will be demonstrating how /why I am (the most) suitable person for the position. The latter 30-min presentation is is the main part, which I assume I should present my PhD work as well thought on the recruiting project, my career plan, etc. I'd be very much obliged if you can offer me some tips/advices! Thanks very much!! - T
Hey,
Sorry, I've just seen this message. Thanks for the congratulations messages folks!
My interview was similarly split into two halves. First, a 10 minute presentation on a specific topic relevant to the position. Second, a 30 minute panel interview.
1. Presentation
I spent over a week preparing for this presentation (!). Probably a little overkill on interview prep, but I really wanted this job! The panel thanked me for the level of work I put into my presentation.
- I researched the background on the presentation topic and also collected research articles from members of my interview panel.
- In my presentation, I applied one of my models from my PhD thesis to structure findings from previous research. I then grouped previous findings in relation to one of my PhD models. (The interview panel really liked this model!).
- Prior to the interview, I looked at the job spec and tried to implement some of the job spec points into my presentation. The job spec included knowledge of specific methods, participant recruitment, ethics and approaches. In my presentation, I briefly defined and discussed the challenges, merits and approaches with specific methods, ethics, recruitment and approaches.
- I also included key themes and discussion points raised by members of the interview panel and recent relevant issues.
- I was allocated 10 minutes and delivered my presentation in exactly 10 minutes. Definitely check the clock and keep within the time limit.
- I also followed their guidelines to the letter- number of slides and handout pages.
2. Interview panel
- Prior to my interview, I closely followed the job spec and in the interview, I discussed examples of client and research work experience which closely matched each and every one of the job spec requirements.
- As I spoke, I looked at each panel member and tried to come across as experienced, calm, confident, friendly, reflective and approachable.
- I acknowledged my limitations (ie first Post Doc) role, but also that I was very keen to get involved with various work opportunities and highly motivated to take on this new challenge.
Luckily for me, the above worked! :)
Best of luck! :)
Hey Pineapple, I don't stop by much here any more but came across this and had to say a HUGE congrats! Your whole slog is finally paying off- you deserve this so much!!! Loads of luck with it! I've just moved onto my second post-doc and really loving it, after a crappy first post-doc I've fallen in love with research all over again! Big hugs & take time to celebrate! KB xx
Hello forum,
Lots of things have happened over this year!
Well following on from my PhD dramas and eventually completing and graduating with my PhD, I'm pleased to say that I've just accepted a full time Research Fellow position at a London based university. Yay. I will be resigning from my current research fellow position.
I hope this shows that obtaining an R&R verdict isn't the end of the world. IT IS possible to obtain postdoc jobs! :) My R&R verdict has never come up in any interviews so hope this helps any PhD candidate out there fearing the future because of major corrections or R&R verdict.
Looking forward to completing my practitioner doctorate next year......
Keep going PhD folks............
Dear pineapple
Can you please suggest what your strategy was to submit strong letters of refernces? Who wrote them for you and did you get any support from the examiners? How did you convince your referees to write one for you even though you were rewriting? My supervisors are supportive, infact, today I am submitting my first post doc application and my supervisor already submitted a reference for me. But, my university won't allow contact with the externa l so I cannot submit theirs. Does that matter?
My situation is a bit like yours only difference seems is that I am just starting to work on my R and R but also simultaneously applying for both postdocs and junior faculty positions. It's good to know that in the interviews, the R and R will not matter, although, I am going to be diplomatic and not necessarily try to be honest to my academic networks because news spreads quickly and you never know who will land up interviewing you.
