Once you have your graduation time coming ahead of you nearer, the excitement to get into the world of psychology further gets you going, and look forward to what it plans to offer to you. The preparation for your master’s entrance begins and all sorts of theories and books are read and revised time and again. But, in addition to the exam, you must also clear – the final interview!
The thought of appearing and clearing the interview can always be stressful. But practice makes the person…in your case a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and the list go on. We are listing out a few most common questions asked in the interview that you must be prepared for in advance.
But before we start, here is a little tip to keep in mind:
The Interviewer is not here to assess only your theoretical accuracy or technical knowledge, but your overall disposition, your attitude, and how you present yourself or your ability to answer well the situational questions and especially related to your choice of specialization. So go ahead and start preparing firstly with the basic questions that are most frequently asked.
Here are some common interview questions that you must always be prepared to answer-
“Please introduce yourself.”
This is a staple question of every interview ever or even a normal conversation starter with a stranger (of course asked differently) but the end goal remains the same, to give a clear but concise sneak peek into your personality and here, relate it to why and how psychology plays a part in your life that you want to pursue a career out of it.
“How did you become interested in Psychology?”
Here is a chance for you to pour your love into the subject. Be honest and genuine in your answer about what made you first interested in the subject. It could also be a personal encounter with a family member who is in the same field or general curiosity evoked during school years or just the mere amazing fact that there’s a whole set of theories and full-fledged science explaining why humans behave the way that they do.
“Why do you want to pursue Psychology?”
Your ‘Why’ behind first taking up the subject Psychology and now the choice of specialization should be very clear to you and communicate the same to the interviewer. One of the most important things that an interviewer is looking for is sincerity and genuine interest in the subject. Your answer must be able to communicate your commitment to the subject and your future goals towards it.
“What are your Strengths and Weaknesses?”
This is the most asked question and one of the trickiest ones. The interviewer here is checking how much are you aware of yourself, your behavior, and its effects on others around you. Talk about the strengths that are related to your choice of specialization and even when talking about your weakness portray them in a positive light and what steps are you taking to overcome them constantly.
“Why do you want to take admission to this University?”
This question assesses your knowledge about the University and the course it offers. It usually lets the interviewer know that you have spent some time researching them and puts them in a high-value position. You must always be prepared with your in-depth research about the university, its curriculum, and what it provides that genuinely attracted you in the first place.
“What are your other interests?”
Here is the chance for you to reveal a little bit more about yourself and what activities and interests keep you going. If you say you like reading books, the interviewer might ask you a follow-up question on the recent one you read or your favorite author, hence always make sure you are not just making up the answer to this question. Your interests tell a lot about your personality apart from the academic one and reflect how you can be an asset to their university.
“What made you interested in this specific specialization in Psychology?”
The most important question and the foundation of the whole interview process.
The interviewer asks this question to learn about your interests and passion in this specific field of your choice. Make sure to communicate your current knowledge about the field and give them a glimpse of your both short-term and long-term career goals in it. You can always add how the course and curriculum the university provides perfectly align with your professional plan. That just simply legitimizes your answers on why they should choose you and why did you choose them!
“Why should we select you over other candidates?”
…Because I am the best out of them all and they are not. That is not how you answer this question (no matter how much you want to!) Simply saying I am the best can never be enough, you need to walk them through the why– your academic achievements, any past internship experience, your strengths, and the unique skills you possess that make you worthy of the opportunity.
As you come to the end of the interview, you might be presented with a closing question which you must always end up answering inquisitively as it creates a lasting impression on your interviewer. That golden question is:
“Do you have any questions for us?”
If you don’t it is advised to start preparing a bunch of relevant questions about the university, your course, or the general curriculum. This shows your genuine interest in the university and what it has to offer to you. It makes you look like an engaging, inquisitive, foresighted, and dedicated person to help them set you apart from the crowd. This also helps you in making the right decision when choosing the university that fits your goal and vision.
Example:
- “How does a normal campus day for a master’s student look like?”
- “Are there any internship opportunities offered along with the course?”
- “What kind of research opportunities are available at the university?”
- “What kind of career and placement services are provided at the university?”
Interviews can really be daunting and make you nervous. But the only thing you must always keep in mind is to take a deep breath and show up as your most presentable and dedicated self. These were the few most common questions that are often always asked in interviews. They might also add up with the follow-up question to your answer, hence make sure to be prepared to answer them as well.
The whole journey of getting into your dream university is stressful, but a little more effort and preparation could really take you far ahead in the game. If you are someone who is also thinking of applying abroad for further education, you can click here to read the blog to ease the process for you.
Good luck with that interview!
Blog By : DEEBHA SITHTA
