UCL students got the chance to practise and refine their interview technique at this interactive event with alumni volunteers who offered their expertise on excelling at interview.
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Top Interview TipsWe were pleased to welcome 10 alumni volunteers, spanning several sectors and industries, back to UCL to provide valuable guidance.
In small groups, current UCL students were paired with alumni for a 40-minute practice interview. This wasn’t a typical mock interview, however! After each answer, students were given feedback and a chance to interview their interviewer in return, getting the opportunity to see how an experienced interviewee would approach the same questions and learn simple tricks to elevate their answers.
The event was part of our UCL Connect programme of professional and personal development events and resources, which offers UCL students and alumni the chance to tap into the rich knowledge and skills of UCL’s global alumni community.
Head to our alumni professional development webpage for more UCL Connect eventsStudents were able to practise putting the STAR – Situation, Task, Action, Result – method into action, drawing on examples from their studies and work experience to give well-crafted answers.
The opportunity for students to gain instant feedback as the interviews progressed was invaluable. Gerard Jones, Head of Alumni and Supporter Relations (Programmes) said, “Typically, when you ask for feedback after an interview, the response can be brief and fairly generic. This event offered students a rare opportunity to get instant personalised feedback, and the chance to reset, retry and rephrase as many times as they needed.”
The interviews were followed by a networking session which offered the opportunity for students to learn more about alumni’s career journeys and discuss their own career goals in detail. With lots of connections on LinkedIn and generous offers of future guidance made, it was wonderful to see the power of the UCL community flourishing in real time.
Top interview tips
When students were asked what their key takeaways from the practice interviews were, some common themes emerged:
Relax
The interview panel wants you to succeed; they are not trying to catch you out. Take a moment at the beginning to take a breath, smile, and relax.
Bring notes
Taking notes with you into the interview can be a great way to ensure you remember all the fantastic examples of your best work that you want to discuss. While reading directly from your notes like a script should be avoided, some concise bullet points can help to keep your answers relevant and on track. And don’t be afraid to take notes during the interview, too. Jot down key words from questions as they are being asked to give yourself a guide to follow if you get stuck.
Pause
It is completely fine – in fact, it is encouraged - to take a moment to think before you answer questions. This will help you avoid rambling. If you get stuck at any point, you can pause and ask for the question to be repeated. Remember, the panel wants to see you succeed.
Interview your interviewer
Interviews are a two-way street. Just as the panel are assessing your suitability for the role, you should also use interviews as an opportunity to find out if the role and organisation are the right fit for you. Be sure to prepare some questions in advance to ask your interviewers.
Positive and Purposeful
Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive. Students and alumni alike felt they had gained valuable insights from the chance to get to know each other.
“It’s great you’re putting these events on. They’re a gift to the students. I’d have loved to have something similar when I was an undergraduate here”
“I found it so inspiring. I’m glad I came!”
Several alumni commented that they were impressed with the positive and proactive attitude students displayed, taking time on a dark February evening to develop their professional skills and set themselves apart in a competitive graduate job market.
Interested in volunteering?
This event would not have been possible without our alumni volunteers generously giving their time and expertise. If you are interested in helping us run events like this in future, please fill out our UCL Alumni Volunteer Expression of Interest Form.
Whether you’d like to be paired with a student for a one-off event or you are interested in longer term mentoring, we offer a range of volunteering opportunities to suit your interests and availability. Get in touch at alumni@ucl.ac.uk to find out more.
