Now that the UCAS deadline has been and gone, hopefully interview invitations should start to follow soon (that’s if they haven’t already!).

After the initial joy of being invited to interview, the panic may start to arise. What will they ask? What should I know? What do I wear?

To help keep the panic at bay, here are AOLL’s top tips for interview preparation:

1.     Location – This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s something that could be easy to overlook. The interview is at the uni. You know where that is. Easy. Be careful though, lots of unis have different campuses, so be sure to check which campus you need to be on. They can also be massive, so make sure you know exactly where on campus you need to be. What’s the name of the building? If you know that and get lost on the day, you’ll at least know the name of where you are looking for if you need to ask for directions.

2.     Time – Again, sounds simple, but if the campus is big it could take a while to get to your final destination. Factor that in, as well as giving yourself plenty of time to find somewhere to park as you can’t guarantee there’ll be parking on campus.  It might be easier to get to the university by public transport, in which case you need to factor in delays. Do whatever you can to make sure you arrive in plenty of time and not in a rushed, harassed state. Remember: first impressions count.

3.     Knowledge – Your interview is your chance to show a much deeper knowledge base than the 4,000 characters you had to play with on UCAS allowed. With that in mind, don’t stop reading around your subject and chosen profession once you have sent off your application. Use the time between submitting your application and your interview to deepen your knowledge as much as you can. Read journals, articles and keep yourself up to date what what’s going on in your chosen field.

4.     Enthusiasm – It can be hard to convey your excitement for the course when nerves start to creep in, so it’s important to remember that admissions tutors are looking  for candidates who show a genuine passion. Don’t be afraid to bring up issues that are meaningful to you if you have the opportunity to weave this into your answers.

5.     Communication – One of the key skills for many healthcare roles is communication and the interview is their chance to test your skills. As well as how well you can articulate your thoughts, they’ll be looking at how well you listen. You could even interview as a group, in which case the way you communicate with other interviewees will be scrutinised – especially if you are applying for a course designed to propel you into person-centered role.

6.     Honesty – You may find that admissions tutors ask questions about things you have included in your personal statement, so it’s wise to remind yourself what you put in there beforehand, and be prepared to back up any claims you made!

7.     Openness – You may find an interview throws you a curve ball with a question or activity you’re really not expecting. If you end up in this situation don’t panic. Remember that you are there because they liked your application, so be open to whatever direction in which the interview travels.

8.     Attire – You may be given a dress code in your interview information, but if not, choose something you are comfortable in and that won’t distract you, or the interviewer, from why you are there.

9.      Ask Questions – It’s worth having a few questions you can ask the interviewer up your sleeve incase they give you that opportunity. Just make sure it’s not a question where the answer is available from their course web page or prospectus.  A question should show your curiosity and eagerness to learn, not the fact that you didn’t read the information they have already sent you. Awkward.

10.   Smile – Finally, imagine you are in your dream role and are about to walk in to a client or patient for the first time – what are you likely to do? Hopefully you’ll smile. Show the interviewers that you have the friendly demeanor that’s required for healthcare professionals. Even if your palms are sweating and your legs feel like jelly, remember to smile and you’ll likely get one back and that will go a long way to put you, and the interviewers at ease.

If you have got interviews lined up already, we wish you the very best of luck. Don’t forget to let us know how you get on!