Interview Guidance

Where the Interview Fits In

The interview is an important final step in the application process of many competitive fellowships. The interview offers an opportunity to present yourself in person and supplement the profile that you’ve already submitted on paper. While every interview is different— with a wide variety of formats and perhaps an even wider variety of potential questions— there are some steps you can take to ensure that you are as prepared, confident, and relaxed as possible come interview time.

Be bold. Swing for the fences. If you get an interview, you only get one shot to be memorable. Be yourself. Make them feel something. Engage them.

Annee Lyons (COL’18), 2018 Marshall Scholar

How to Prepare

• Re-read your application. Be prepared to talk in more detail about your work and experiences.
• “Tag” your experiences, identifying the themes or issues that they might speak to. It is not uncommon for interviews to involve behavioral questions that ask about challenges, failures, leadership lessons, etc. By reflecting on what each of your experiences have entailed and what you took away, you will have a number of specific anecdotes that you might draw upon.
• Take stock of the five to seven most important aspects of your candidacy as they relate to the fellowship, and consider what you would say about each of them. You probably will not be able to hit on all of those components in the interview itself, but by knowing what you need to talk about and how, you will be ready to present a more complete picture of your candidacy during the interview.
• Know the ins and outs of the fellowship program itself, familiarizing yourself with its structure, criteria, and objectives. Be prepared to discuss how your experiences and goals align with those of the program.
• Be ready to communicate your plans during and after the fellowship succinctly and clearly. In what ways will this fellowship be invaluable for your academic and professional development? Where do you see yourself in 10 or 20 years?
• Practice, practice, practice! CRF offers mock interviews, and your faculty mentors may offer support in helping you work through the more technical questions in your field. Also have friends ask you questions, paying attention to your tone, speed, body language, and use of filler words (such as like, um, uh, etc.). If possible, talk to people who have been interviewed for the same fellowship before— the CRF may be able to offer examples or advice from past applicants.
• Come prepared with specific questions. Occasionally, interviews will conclude with the opportunity for you to ask one or two questions. Having thoughtful questions will show that you have done your homework and that you are excited to engage with the program.
• For Zoom or virtual interviews, carefully choose a quiet and well-lit setting (you do not want to be in shadow!!). Before the interview, check to make sure that the video platform is working properly and that you can be clearly seen and heard.
• Dress appropriately. A suit or jacket and tie for men, and suit and/or dress for women are typically good options.

Talk about your application with people who haven’t read it to increase your comfort discussing it and your candidacy. Even these casual conversations will force you to get to the heart of your application.

Sinclair Blue (SFS’20), 2019 Truman Scholar

During the Interview

• Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Punctuality is crucial, not only to avoid stress, but also because interviews are often conducted back to back.
• The interview begins the moment you walk in the room and lasts until the moment you leave, including any informal discussion before or after the interview itself. At the beginning, greet each interviewer individually with a handshake, maintaining friendly eye contact.
• Authenticity is key! Be open and candid about your experiences and your motivation for applying. The interviewers have already seen your application, transcript, resume, and past work— this is your chance to fill in any gaps and present yourself as a full person, to communicate your passions and enthusiasm for the program. Be honest, and lead a reflective conversation about yourself, your interests, your background and hopes for the fellowship.
• Be aware of your body language. Project confidence, maintaining eye contact and strong posture. Be aware of— and avoid— fidgeting or tics, and use varied hand motions, as it benefits your conversation.
• Take cues from your interviewer(s). Treat the interview as a discussion and not simply a back-and-forth Q and A, staying focused and engaged with interviewers’ questions and mindful of their tone. Don’t allow your answers to become defensive, especially as interviewers will often take on the role of devil’s advocate. Show respect for any opposing views as you articulate your own.
• Keep your answers concise and precise, answering each question fully without rambling. Use specific, concrete examples whenever possible and filter broader personal strengths through specific experiences and goals.
• Use professional language, but don’t force an unnatural, overly formal tone.
• Don’t present yourself as an expert on a topic if you are not one.
• There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you don’t know an answer. Provide any facts or context that you do know relating to the question, and this might be the opportunity to articulate the benefits of the fellowship— it will provide you with the training and opportunities to deepen your knowledge base on such issues. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the interviewers for clarification.
• Remember that the interviewers want to hear your answer, not what you think they want to hear. The interviewers are interested in how you are thinking through particular questions/issues, so treat such questions as a thought experiment, not as a test.
• After the interview is completed, be sure to thank your interviewers for their time and the opportunity for the discussion.

Lean into your quirks.

Erika Bullock (COL’17), 2019 Knight-Hennessy Scholar

Real Talk:

Most importantly, take a deep breath, relax, and remember to be yourself. No matter how much you prepare, it’s important to keep in mind that you will undoubtedly face the unexpected. You should be ready to be flexible and adapt to whatever direction the interview takes.

Remember that you were selected for an interview for a reason— be confident in your application and your abilities, and know that the selection committee is excited to hear about your background and goals. Ultimately, this is a chance to have a stimulating conversation with people from interesting backgrounds that likely have a plethora of compelling experiences themselves. You’ll have many more interviews throughout your life, and know that more interview practice will do nothing but help you be more prepared in the future!