help with pgce uni interview

[hugoboss]

Hi - i've got an interview with a Uni to do PGCE secondary school teaching in bus stud. Willow74 in particular was very helpful with advising me re getting an interview. I wonder if Willow and/or anyone else has any top tips to help me with my interview which is in 2 weeks time?! I have 40 mins with a tutor talking about course content (eek!) and 50 mins group interview. Anyone got any tips? also - what should i wear? thanks a lot!

[cassimer]

Hi!
I'll start with the easy bit - dress smartly, preferably a suit. A must for most interviews, particularly for a uni course where you need to look responsible, mature and reliable. Make it more interesting with a bright top etc, but go for smart.

The content interview is easiest to prepare for. Look at the course content, and be prepared to talk about any relevent work experience you have had which might help you contribute to class work. Read thoroughly the course content material available, and if possible speak to other students, so you know whats coming. They are just looking to see if you know about the topic, have properely researched the course, and if you would make a good student.

Harder is the group discussion: make sure you listen hard, but also contribute (a bit of a skill). Always clever to talk in that first quiet moment where everyone is waiting for someone to start it all off. Try to open up the debate, include others in the team, and be open to suggestions. If the group stage has a task you have to work through, make sure you keep an eye on the time as that makes you look good, and keep track of any decisions.

Mostly relax! These are not meant to be very difficult interviews, so talk about what YOU have done and achieved and have fun!

Good Luck!

[hugoboss]

Thanks so much cassimer what great advice. If you don't mind: what are the group interviews likely to be about?

 

i'm a girl by the way- would a suit still be a must? Maybe a suit with a pink top -not necessarily a shirt?

thanks again

[IndieSinger]

hugoboss - Click here. Just to warn you - my PGCE interview took 4hrs 10mins!

[hugoboss]

Thanks IndieSinger! I knew I'd seen a similar question somewhere on here!! those links should be helpful. Yeah, the uni have warned the interview may take up to 5 hours. scared sh1tless now!!

i think preparation is the key. It's gonna be a busy 2 weeks coming up!

[magicdice]

hello! firstly, good luck! relax, enjoy yourself, and i hope it goes well.

secondly, for my various uni interviews (just for a regular BSc course) loads of people told me to wear a suit or dress smart, but i found it better to wear something smart that i was comfortable in, so i ended up wearing smart jeans, heels and a nice sea-green jumper. but in retrospect, nobody really cares what you wear, just wear something you feel confident in.

best of luck, and keep us posted on how it goes!

[willow74]

heh told you that you'd get an interview.  i am really pleased for you !! 

i think we covered the main interview tips for the PGCE on indiesingers posts but as others have said the main key is preparation.  They are not expecting a suave candidate full of charisma.  they are expecting someone who is prepared, confident and has a real genuine passion for wanting to work in education.

Clothes wise - be smart, yet confortable.  you dont wanna be stuck wearing something so foreign to you that you feel twitchy. 

the very best of luck mate

[ilovetohelp13]

Wear something comfortable but presentable. Try these interview tips from Payscale.com. See http://bitly.com/Zh2jdR