A Guide to Interviews

ONE)
Understand what the Interviewer wants (the Interviewer is ur client -
You are marketing urself)
3 Things
- Independent Thinking (to find and solve own problems and not
require hand-holding and spoon-feeding)
- Technical Competence and Implementation Focus (People who have a
known track record of having DONE stuff. Made things, written papers)
- Like-able personality (To get along with everyone in the department
and not behave like a psycho)

Try to guess what the meaning behind each question you are asked might
be. Most likely, each of ur answers must tick one of the above 3
boxes. So THINK before you speak out and see what "punch" u can pack
into each ans, to which box it adds weight.

TWO)
Make a Network Diagram.
On the left side of a A4 paper, write down all the projects and
activities you have done in ur life. In any order, linearity not
necessary.
On the right side of the paper, write down all the projects that the
department you are applying to has done, is doing + likely research
interests of the profs in that dept (from website and google).
Match the following. Draw visual links between the LHS and RHS.
THAT is how you add value to the department and the prof's research.

THREE)
In the network diagram, try to see what ur LHS would look like in 5
years time. What would u like it to look like? What words would u like
it to have in that crazy tag cloud?
NOW, see if there is anything on the RHS (the lab/department/prof
project tag words) that can be linked to ur "next 5 years" tag cloud.
Is there?
THAT is how the department adds value to you, THAT is your answer to
"Why do you want to join us?"


FOUR)
Be personal. Find the name of ur interviewer. Ask questions. Be HUMAN
(not a robot answering questions! noone wants that!) - and express
genuine interest in ur interviewer, in the program. Show ur enthusiasm
(of course, dont overdo it! ). Add a touch of light humour whenever
appropriate. Be honest. Dont' "globe" the personal answers. Try to
introspect and find out about yourself. (Things like "What is your
ambition in life?" "Tell me a situation where you have shown
leadership skills" " Tell me an instance where you have failed"
"Strengths/weaknesses")