Thread by @WisdomAWW

Yesterday, I promised to make a #thread on preparing for the #Chevening interviews. Well, here it is: please read, like and RT.
In this thread, I'll share tips on how to have a great interview & hopefully win the Chevening award afterwards based on my own experience & research.

First, congratulations if you have just been invited for the Chevening interviews. Believe me, you have done yourself good in making it thus far. And you've just taken the first step towards a successful Chevening application.
You should be delighted!!

However, being invited for interviews is not the only step to succeed in Chevening. This is one mistake lots of people make.
That you have been invited for interviews doesn't guarantee you the award. In fact, only 1/3 interviewees eventually get selected. Have that in mind!

I knew someone who shouted everywhere how she was selected for Chevening in February. In June (after interviews), she got rejected.
So, rather than announce or bask too much in the euphoria of an invite, why not spend the next few days preparing. The first tips for success is to

1) PREPARE. Nothing beats preparation. But how do you prepare? The first resource you have is your essays. YES. It got you this far, use it to go further.
Reread your essays to remember the stories & aspirations that you wrote down. Try to note down everything that you remember:

Scenarios, details, context, whats and whys. What did you do and why? What do you want and why? Put yourself in the interviewers shoes and ask yourself questions. What questions do you think will come up. Are you ready to answer them. Eg. what was your motivation for a project?

It's 3+ months since you submitted your essays & even more since you lived the examples you wrote, chances are you're starting to forget specifics & details eg. statistics of impact. Especially if you also struggle to keep track. You don't want to say you led 10 when you wrote 8.

Also, I tell my mentees to trust what they put down in their essays. That it got you into the room is enough sign. Plus that is also what the interviewers are reading. You want them to be able to easily followup with what you're saying. Don't mix things up. You'll get them lost.

If you want to add recent experiences, let them be as a follow up. Eg. After executing (a project in your essay narrated), I followed the impact by (now state any recent resume you feel necessary). That's easy to follow.
PS. like your essays you still have to give clear examples.

2) Read your essays over again. Sure, you already read it in the initial tweets but to emphasise the point. Your essays is your best friend right now.

3) But also think of all your relevant achievements to date. Your interviews would want to know you're still making progress.

4) Research @CheveningFCDO Think about why you want to join Chevening's diverse community. The work that they do in your country & how will you contribute. Make necessary connection. There's really a lot to read on which the word limits of your essays didn't allow you to include.

At interviews, you have the opportunity to bring in those perspectives. Connect your findings to your study & career plans. Chevening loves someone who'd make a useful investment. Be that person. Think about what their Alumni are doing, what the BHC is doing, priority areas, etc.

5) Practice Practice practice. I can't say this enough. In fact, this is the best prep IMO. Practice the interviews by yourself, in front of a mirror or voice record. There's practise questions all over the internet. Time your response to the questions. How eloquent did you speak

For me, I watched a couple mock interviews so I knew how best to respond. Here's a link to one
Also, schedule mock sessions with Alumni. They're the best feedback you can have as long as they're honest with you. Make improvements based on those feedbacks.

6) Gather all the necessary documents and evidences. They don't have to ask you to show itm A friend of mine went with all the newspaper articles he'd written. Beyond this though, it gives you an opportunity to reflect on all the achievements that you've had.

7) this should've been 3 or 4. Reread on the courses &universities you chose. Why did you choose them. Think deeply on how those schools 'll bring you closer to your goals.
If you don't yet, ensure you have at least an unconditional offer in one of them. It'd show you're serious.

8) on the day of the interviews, go early. This shouldn't be said, but it had to be said. Don't let your village people make you go late. It'd make you tense.
Also dress smartly, and be confident. Represent yourself well.
I wish you the best.
Please feel free to ask any question