Thread by @kirstygrainger

1/10 Many @UKRI_News Future Leaders Fellowship applicants are currently preparing for their interview at the end of the month. I’ve tried to put some basic #ukriflf interview advice in this thread. What would you add?

TIA & good luck to all interviewees.

2/10 first, know the interview. What have you been ask to do/prepare? For the UKRIFLF interview there is a seven minute presentation
“The Vision for my Future Leaders Fellowship” followed by questions from panel members.

Presentation covers goals and establishing leadership.

3/10 read & understand the info you’ve been sent. What does it say in the invitation to interview letter? Are there things you still need to know/raise? We have a phone number and email address - please raise/ask. Lots of candidates do.

4/10 Access any additional information you’ve been sign-posted to or is available. For example the #ukriflf published a set of EXAMPLE interview questions so candidates get a sense of the structure etc. of the interview.

ukri.org/files/funding/…

5/10 re-familiarise yourself with the scheme criteria ukri.org/files/funding/…

Panels make decisions against criteria NOT personality or appearance e.g. how confident/nervous you are or what you are wearing etc. Understand the criteria as Qs directly/indirectly link to them.

6/10

Re-read your application. You will know the detail of your proposal better than anyone else - are you able to explain it? Why are you doing X? Why are you working with Y? Why did you choose to do Z? Has anything changed since application?

7/10

Think about why you applied for a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. What does this scheme allow you to do that other schemes/routes don’t? What are the benefits of your fellowship to you, your team or collaborators, and the wider community/world?

8/10

Ask friends/colleagues to do mock interviews with you.

Sit and chat to people about your work and get them to ask you questions.

Talk to people about interviews and read about other people’s experiences.

9/10

#ukriflf interview panels want you to succeed, they’ll be supportive and try and make you comfortable and at ease. The people on panels know what it is like to be on the other side of the interview panel. They are not looking to trip you up.

10/10

This is not an exhaustive list, I’ll have forgotten something. Everyone has a different experience with interviews.

I’m hoping people might reply with additional ideas/links that might be useful.

thanks so much.