It’s a new year and I feel the need to share a few oral interview tips based on successful personal experiences, especially for those who wish to try new opportunities in Q1 of 2023.
Between 2021 and 2022, I had a total of 5 oral interviews on both physical and virtual platforms to both local and international audience for both academic and non-academic opportunities. And I was privileged to have 100% success rate as I was selected for all the opportunities I was interviewed for. So, let me share for free a couple of tips which helped me personally.
Please stay with me. 😊
The design of oral interviews are fundamentally the same irrespective of the role or sector. The ultimate goal is to find out if the candidate is the best fit for the advertised opportunity. Therefore, your duty as an applicant is to leave a lasting impression that indeed you are the best candidate to be considered. While being HUMBLE about it, you must not leave the room without indicating that you are the BEST at what you do.😊
This takes me to my next point.
There are no right or wrong answers during oral interviews. There are only best replies or inappropriate responses. However, interviewers prefer candidates that are relaxed, natural and free. This gives an impression of “confidence” and “assurance”. In fact, “confidence” is a key element in decision making for it can make candidates appear better than they really are.
Therefore, you don’t want to arrive in an interview with crammed answers that make you look mechanical or look so conspicuously tensed because you are afraid of making a mistake. Inhale, exhale and just speak freely, like you are having a normal conversation and you will be fine. If you make an obvious error, apologise and remain calm.
While interviewers generally understand that it is only natural for candidates to be tensed prior to and during an interview, they expect good candidates to settle in within few minutes into the interview. That means you only have about 3 mins to act unsettled after which further awkward reactions will be taken seriously.
I personally calm my nerves by reminding myself that the “worst thing that would ever happen during this interview is that I won’t be selected, so why am I acting like the world would end if it happens?” Once I say this to myself, I always feel much better and well relaxed. 😁 Please find out what works for you. Just ensure you keep those crazy nerves under control. 😊
Let me share 3 personal oral interview experiences to buttress my points:
1. INTERVIEW FOR THE CARRINGTON YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
Interviewer: Why do you want to become a Carrington Fellow?
Me: I wish to become a Carrington Fellow because I strongly believe I embody the values of Walter Carrington himself which are sacrifice, integrity, democracy, peace and fairness. And I have demonstrated these in different capacities in the last 10 years. I therefore, consider myself a typical candidate for the opportunity.
Interviewer: You already have a PhD and you lecture at FUTA. Why do you need this Fellowship?
Me: Prior to this moment, all my achievements, including the PhD degree are personal achievements, afterall, all my certificates have got my name on it but I have not done much giving back to the society. Therefore, through this Fellowship, I hope to etch my name in people’s hearts by helping individuals desperately in need. It is also a unique opportunity for me to give back to my own people as I am a true son of Lagos. 😊 (mild laughter in the room).
Interviewer: Do you have any question for us before we let you go?
Me: Well, it’s not a question. It’s just a comment.
Interviewer: Okay. Please go ahead.
Me: Thank you. Well, this is my only chance of applying for this Fellowship as I have reached the maximum age limit to apply. Therefore, if I don’t get a positive email from you, that will be the end for me. So, I look forward to receiving the success email and having you welcome me to the CYFI network (and the 3 interviewers started laughing).
Interviewer: Wow. I love your energy and passion to join the Fellowship. Interesting. 😁😁😁😁 We will certianly get back to you in a few weeks time.
Result: I got in! 💃💃💃💃
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2. INTERVIEW FOR THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT (NUTM) FULLY FUNDED RESIDENTIAL POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM
Interviewer: What is that particular thing that bothers you about the country?
Me: The solid waste in Lagos! Every where I turn, there is waste! Waste on the sidewalk, waste on the road dividers, waste in the gutters, canals, and streets; waste every where! Since returning from the UK in 2019, it’s been a bother to me.
Interviewer: As you already know, we are looking for problem solvers in Africa, so it is not enough to identify the problem. You also need to be thinking of solutions. So how do you think the problem of indiscriminate solid waste disposal can be managed in Lagos?
Me: First, the Lagos State Government should stop seeing waste as waste but to see it as a natural resource. Rather than look for a new landfill to dump them, they should be creatively thinking of how to utilize the waste instead. And since Government has no business with business, they should probably make the environment conducive for private investors to take action because it is a capital intensive project.
Interviewer: Interesting perspective.😊 So, we noticed that you are older than the age limit set for this opportunity yet you applied. May I ask why you still applied?
Me: I did not want to be the one to disqualify myself. I wanted you guys to make that decision yourselves.
Interviewer: 😊😊😊😊😊😊
Result: I got in 🔥🔥🔥
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3. INTERVIEW FOR A FULLY FUNDED VIRTUAL MBA PROGRAM AT THE QUANTIC SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY, USA.
Interviewer: I see you already have a PhD and you are an academic in a University in Nigeria. May I ask why you think you need an MBA at this time?
Me: Apart from my academic life, I also run an online educational consulting outfit known as iLLUMANIA that provides a wide range of academic support to students, graduates and business professionals. The most successful service we render is international postgraduate scholarship guidance and support. Since it’s establishment in 2018, we have produced hundreds of scholarship winners across Africa. In honour of my contributions to human capacity development through ILLUMANIA, I got these awards behind me (the interviewer smiled 😁😁😁). So right now, I wish to scale iLLUMANIA but I lack the business knowledge to do so. I am just an academic. 😁😁😁
Interviewer: Makes perfect sense now.😁😁 So what contributions do you hope to bring to the program which your cohort will benefit from?
Me: Having obtained a PhD, I have learnt successfully how to conduct basic research from ideation to completion. This expertise will come in handy when conducting business or market research or analysis.
Interviewer: Impressive. So based on your level of professional experience, we may likely offer you an Executive MBA and not an MBA which you applied for. We suggest you accept it. Also, we will be reaching out with a final verdict on the 6th July. Do you have any questions for me?
Me: I don’t have a question. I have a comment.😊
Interviewer: Please go ahead.
Me: My birthday is actually on the 6th July so I look forward to receiving a positive response with full funding on that day as an amazing birthday gift to brighten my day. 😁😁😁
Interviewer: 😂😂😂😂😂 This is a blackmail. 😂😂😂
Me: Apologies. Not my intention at all. Just want you to know how badly I want this.
Interviewer: The interview is being recorded so I am sure the Admissions Committee is now fully aware. Thanks for your time.
Result: I got in with full scholarship
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There are several lessons that can be drawn from these interviews but I wish to draw your attention to 3:
1. Always read about a company or organisation before attending their interviews. This shows due diligence on your part and will be clearly displayed as the conversation progresses.
2. Speak freely without holding back but remain professional. This makes the interviewer perceive your responses as genuine and honest. It leaves an excellent first impression.
3. When you have an opportunity to display your knowledge on a subject being discussed, that is your chance to shine. Take it!
Always remember, the best interviews are conversational and not interrogative. And even though a lot depends on how the interviewer chooses to approach the process, your reactions can also calm the waters, making both parties feel more relaxed.
I wish you all the best.
Cheers,
~ MBM
*Babajide Macaulay ,PhD is an Alumnus of FUTA