Top tips for preparing for a fellowship interview

Ahhhh, the famous and elusive fellowship: a secure funding programme that will aid your professional development, build your leadership skills and look great on your CV.  Submitted a project proposal and awaiting interview? Or perhaps you’re just considering next steps after your PhD and want to brush up on your interview technique? Below are a few interview tips from Professor Alan Silman, who came to speak to the Early Career Research Network (ECRN) in October.

1. It’s a level playing field

If you have made it through to interview stage, congratulations! During the first round of selection, proposals are often scored against each other – but by the time it comes to the interview, it’s a level playing field and all candidates are considered equal.

2. Don’t be intimidated by the panel

Often an interview panel will be large, sometimes 8 or more interviewers. However, only a few will have read your proposal in full and be asking you questions. Try to be confident, project your voice and make eye contact with the person who asked the question. Don’t be put off by the interviewer’s body language; just because they don’t smile, it doesn’t mean you’ve not answered the question correctly.

3. Answer the question

Yes, that age old tip that we’ve been given repeatedly since we were children: make sure you answer the question. Don’t keep talking until you’re told to stop or go off on a tangent – be succinct and direct. You can signal you’ve finished by placing your hands in your lap. When the interviewers are ready, they will ask the next question so don’t worry about filling the silence. If you don’t know the answer, be honest and say so.

4. Prepare a short introduction to your project

It’s common that the interviewers will ask you to start by introducing yourself and your project in 2 or 5 minutes, for example. It’s good to have short, ‘elevator-style’ pitches of your proposal prepared in your head in case this happens, so you can start confidently.

5. Don’t get too defensive

6. Demonstrate that you are a leader

A fellowship programme is as much about your development as a researcher and a leader as it is about the proposal itself. Be prepared to answer questions on your leadership skills, what you want to get out of the fellowship personally and why you’re ready to move from a team member to a team leader.

7. Any questions?

Try to get an answer before the interview.

If during the application process, you have a question about the fellowship programme, don’t wait for the interview to get it answered. Get in touch with the coordinator and they will help you with any questions you have. That way, if the panel asks if you have any questions at the end of your interview, you can say “no, thank you, I have already spoken to X about Y and had my questions answered”. This demonstrates that you have considered the fellowship programme carefully and sought out the right person in advance. If you genuinely have a question, do of course ask it, but avoid raising administrative queries as it’s unlikely the interview panel will know the answer.

8. Practice, practice, practice

The best way to prepare for an interview is to practice. Speak to your supervisors and the team around you to see if they will help with interview practice. The Research Design Service at NDPH can also advise on project proposals and mock interviews – please contact Sophie Hyndman if you are applying for a fellowship to find out how they can support you.

You need to convince the panel that you are the right person, with the right proposal, at the right place (institution). A few practice questions:

Person

• Why are you the right person to deliver this research project?
• How has your publication record impacted on this area of research?
• Have you been involved in any successful collaborations?
• What makes you a potential leader?
• Where do you see yourself and your field of research in ten years time?
• What are your longer term objectives and how will this fellowship help to achieve them?

Project

• Why should this research be funded now? Is this proposal timely?
• What are your research objectives and why?
• What skills are required to meet this research objective?
• How does your project demonstrate value for money? Why is it important?
• What significance will this project have on the wider field?
• What are the potential commercial opportunities or social benefits to this research?

Place

• Why is this institution the best for place to conduct your research?
• Would any other institution be better placed to host this project?
• Do you need access to special equipment or facilities?
• What opportunities are there for collaboration within your group/department/institution?
• How will this institution aid your professional development?

The Early Careers Research Network would like to thank Professor Silman for taking the time to talk to us. Professor Silman is Professor of Muscoskeletal Health at NDORMS. His current research interests are mainly in the field of comorbidities, their relation to health care outcomes and the use of big data to address these issues. Previously, he was Medical Director of Arthritis UK, where he was responsible for their strategic direction and grant-giving process. He has a particular commitment to supporting younger investigators in developing their scientific writing skills and learning how to succeed in achieving research grant awards.