By Poppy Atkinson-Gibson
Online interviews have begun but this time there is a twist that was most likely expected as the pandemic has continued to roll on.
This December, instead of wandering though the cold streets of Oxford, mouth agape in awe and wonder as you meet other excitable potential candidates and show your best side to the interviewers, this year offers a more static approach.
Unfortunately, interviews this year are being conducted entirely online. But not to worry everything that is expected or wished for by Oxford is the same. Interviewers are still looking for individuals with a strong min, open to reconsideration and discussion and someone who has a real thirst for learning. All of these things can still be shown over an online Zoom meeting, even if there might be a few glitches along the way.
Online interviews may well be scary since they’re so new and no other cohort has had that experience but in many ways the physical form of the interview is a secondary matter. The most important aspect is still you!
In light of that here are my tips for a successful interview:
· Think through everything out loud so that the interviewer can see your thought process
· Don’t be afraid to correct or backtrack if you change your mind- being stubborn in your view can be a bit of a turn off
· Ask questions if you’re unsure, this definitely goes for online interviews as well. If you didn’t catch what the interviewer said then ask them to repeat it, don’t try and guess because you might end up in a confused mess!
· You can’t really prepare for most Oxford interviews because they want to see how you think rather than what you know BUT having said that, make sure to re-read your personal statement as that is often used as a springboard in interviews
· Completely be yourself, tutors will know if you’re putting on an act or if you’re hiding something. It’s much better to just be yourself; relax and stay as calm as possible
Even though interviews are online this year everyone is still wishing you the best of luck and different colleges or providing different opportunities and support. St Benet’s Hall for example is having an online Q&A forum on Slido where interviewees can post anonymous questions that they might otherwise have asked in person. Don’t be afraid to use these openings to ask questions and explore as much as you can whilst not actually in Oxford.
Good luck and we’re hoping to see you all soon in the flesh!