The final countdown...

Hi everyone,

Interviews start in only 3 days so things are very hectic round here. I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind messages for Kathy and for those who have already confirmed their attendance for interview. I have started emailing those people who we have not received confirmation from.

I also wanted to draw your attention to the fact that over the last couple of years we have become aware of a growing tendency among candidates to exchange quite explicit information about the contents of interviews while waiting for subsequent interviews and wanted to make you aware of the consequences of sharing interview information to other applicants.

It is quite impossible for interviewers to come up with completely original questions to ask every candidate, nor is this desirable since making comparisons would then become very difficult. Therefore some question reuse is inevitable.

However, experienced interviewers can readily tell whether a candidate has thought through an answer for themselves or is merely repeating something someone else has told them. If a candidate appears to be doing the latter, then the interviewer may choose to probe the candidate’s understanding deeper, usually with disastrous consequences for the candidate. Or the interviewer may simply disregard this “evidence” entirely. In a 20 or 30 minute interview wasting the interviewer’s time in this way is not advisable.

We also have evidence of some candidates deliberately telling other candidates the wrong answers to questions in order to improve the former’s chances at the expense of the latter.

It is, of course, perfectly acceptable to answer questions of the form “What was your interview with Dr X like?” but, as explained above, it is counterproductive to exchange detailed information about the questions you were asked in your interview with other applicants. Please do not be tempted to do so.

On a different note, when you come for interview please can I ask you to complete a short survey (available for collection in the Porters' Lodge) about your experience so that we can ensure we provide the best service as possible to future applicants.

Thanks and good luck!