Hi,

I have a research assistant panel interview coming up, and I was wondering if anyone can share their experience or share some tips please?

Thanks

Describe the techniques you have used in previous research that you'll be using, be enthusiastic about the project, how it aligns with your career goals etc. And act impressed with the research/facility. Good luck!

I'd also go back over key theories from your PhD studies as I got a left field question at my last interview and couldn't remember a key author!

Hello. Hope I am not too late to join in with this. During an interview, I would recommend talking about your research and yourself etc. But to also have some suggestions for the research post you are applying for - show that you have read the protocol and that you have some good ideas such as potential sub-analyses, future work etc.

Thank you, I hadn't thought of that.

How did it go, Hugh?

Hi Tudor, it went OK I think. There wasn't anything unexpected. The questions started with 'Why have you applied for this role?' which is the one you can probably prepare for most. Then they asked questions based on the personal specification provided with the job description (on research skills, subject knowledge etc). I think where I probably could have done better is to have been more sure about what my plans are in the future, and praised myself more, and put my strengths across clearly (like I'm hardworking etc).

I also found that there wasn't really an opportunity to talk about some things that I would have liked to say, but had I had more experience, I could've inserted those things when I was answering any of the questions as it is was indirectly relevant to the question asked (although not directly). I suppose the questions are very open ended; and they don't seem to ask for detail or ask follow up questions, so its really for you to present everything upfront, and sometimes you expect more upfront questions, but they don't come. The questions are scripted, they have 30 mins or so, and its unlikely they'll go off script due to time constraints.

Sounds positive. Good luck!