 Okay, everyone will just shortly make a start. If you do have any questions, please do feel free to put them into the chat. My colleague Agnetta will be able to answer them. We'll have time at the end as well for a Q&A. So if you have any further questions that haven't already been answered by the webinar or by Agnetta in the chat, then we'll have time at the end to also discuss anything that may not have been raised. So yeah, just before we get going, welcome to this webinar on, it's called the Smash Your Interview webinar. So for some of our courses, undergraduate courses, and for some postgraduate courses as well, you will have to take part in an interview as part of the application process. So we're hoping that this webinar today will be able to prepare you for that part of the application process and answer any questions that you might have regarding the application process, how to prepare for your interviews. And yeah, how does Smash your interviews. So yeah, just before we get started, my name's Harry. I'm a student recruitment assistant with the University of Greenwich, and I'll be hosting this webinar. Welcome. Thank you very much for coming. And my colleague, Agnetta, who's also works with me in student recruitment, and she'll be answering questions in the chat. So we do have a Q&A function if you'd like to ask a question. And Agnetta will hopefully be able to answer them for you. But you can also ask questions in the chat and Agnetta will be monitoring that throughout the webinar. So without further ado, we'll get going on this. Just some quick things to go through regarding Zoom. Please do not share any personal information in the chat functions, or to any of the individuals in the meeting. Please only use your first name if you're joining the meeting. And do not share any, as I said, personal information like your telephone number, any photos address, any inappropriate language. This is a webinar to discuss information relating to interviews, anything that is completely, you know, out of the ordinary, we will be able to flag that. Agnetta will be able to see what comes into the chat. So please do keep everything appropriate. Do not directly message myself, for example, as the host, because it will be distracting me from providing the webinar. So please do keep your messages to just in the chat. And Agnetta will try her best to get through everything she can. And as I should stress this webinar is being recorded. So hopefully later on we'll be able to release some of this information onto our website and you'll be able to watch this recording later on at your own, at your own pace and your own time. Okay, this is just to do how to remain anonymous and zoom. After clicking the joining link you've already in here already, but you can put in a different alternative name. So hopefully you would have been joining without your video at the moment. And also all of your audio would have been turned off for the, for the, for the webinar as it goes on. And as I said earlier, please do ask questions or type comments into the chat. Okay, so hopefully by the end of this webinar, we would have gone over to what to expect on the day of your interview. So please actively prepare for your interview. The key criteria for selection during the selection process and some tips on best performance. And then a Q&A right at the end. Okay. So what is the point of an interview. As I said at the beginning it's not every single one of our courses that require an interview as part of the application process. We do provide, we do have an interview as part of the application process for certain courses. So this is to make sure that we are having the most suitable applicants for the courses that we provide. And that each applicant is given a fair and equal chance in securing their place. We want to make sure that the process is transparent, and it will be conducted within legal requirements. And of course we want to make sure that the best and most suitable candidates are being selected. If for example you wanted to go into something like adult nursing, midwifery, things like this. These are very professional courses where you would have to undergo placements and working in a health setting, things like this. And make sure that we are risk assessing the candidates if they will be coming out as prepared to go into a very professional environment. And whether you'll be suitable, HCPC registrants, so that's for those that will be monitored and regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council. So basically by law, people must be registered with the HCPC in many of the professions in the UK. So for example, you want to study paramedic science and you want to become a paramedic, then the HCPC regulates the best practice and standards related to that particular health service. So make sure that if you're going into those roles, into those courses, you will be able to meet the requirements set out by the HCPC. Now of course that's just health courses related, there are other courses that require interviews, and we'll go into that into some detail throughout the webinar. Okay, so interview tips. So there is a kind of new interview process. Now not every single course uses this. So for example, some of the teacher training courses, they do have an interview but they don't necessarily use choosing book. In those cases it will be likely the faculty themselves to the education faculty will reach out to you when they require you to book an interview and come in to be selected. So the book system is a new system, and to be able to allow you to book an interview slot at a time that suits you. So this is for most undergraduate and postgraduate courses that do require an interview, or an audition as part of the application process so some of the, you know design courses for example, you would need to bring in like a portfolio and things like that and that will be discussed at your interview. But the benefit really is that the process allows yourselves to book either in person or an online, online interview. Okay, when it comes to some of the education courses for example, all of them will be taking place in person. They're not, there's not kind of choice to do them online. Now we have received a lot of inquiries about this so if you, if you have already applied for some of the courses that I've mentioned midwifery adult nursing children's nursing a lot of the health courses in particular. Then then we do say that you know you need to go on to the choosing book system and just keep on refreshing the page keep on checking for new interview slots interview times. They will be updated regularly, but we do put the onus on yourselves to just check that. It gives you a bit more power and being able to kind of choose a slot on time that works for you rather than, than the admissions team deciding that please do check those things through on our website. They will be updated regularly as I've said. So I'm preparing for the interview so where's a good place to start. Well of course I'm going to sound slightly biased and saying this but I would say the best place to start is the University of Greenwich website. Whatever the course is that you're interested in. That has an interview as part of the application process. The best place to start is the website. Read through what is expected of you read through the course content the module content, maybe even do some further reading around the subject that you might be interested in. So if it is for things as I said earlier like nursing midwifery paramedic science. These are professional programs right. And you get one chance to make a very good impression. And as part of this you will need to make sure that you are demonstrating particular skills and particular kind of characteristics I guess so you need to show that you're committed you need to show that you're motivated in this area. And you need to show that you can practically work what the course asks of you when it's full time that you will be able to do that, whether you will be able to attend the placements and pay fees and things like that this is all very important. Now of course interviews are a formal process. So you would need to of course make sure that you're dressing appropriately for these interviews, speaking formal language. And, you know, one day hopefully you will become a registered nurse midwife paramedic as I've said these are professional programs, moving into a sector that is very professional so you need to keep that in mind. So this is something that would be useful to ask yourself when you're thinking about the interview, why do you want to become a, and then what the course might be. You need to make sure that you're showing many of these features and characteristics as I've said earlier, an understanding of the field that you want to go into drive and passion, a caring nature if it's for certain health courses like nursing, where you might be working with very very young children, you know newborn children in the case of midwifery and things like this authenticity, enthusiasm and motivation. You need to make sure that you're translating your skills and experience to the course and to the program leaders and to whoever is will be interviewing you. How did past experiences for you translate into, you know, being able to manage what will be potentially quite stressful environment. You know, for example if you were going into a health setting like being a nurse or paramedic, it might be quite stressful environments you need to be able to explain how you'd be able to kind of manage these settings as well. Now I would really recommend trying out what's known as the NHS values quiz. This will allow you to kind of understand what the core values are within a kind of health profession. It doesn't take too long. It kind of asks you quite a few questions and works out roughly, so it might ask you do you like to look after children things like this then it will be able to map roughly where it thinks where would be best for you to work within a health setting for example. You can also also look on the National Career Service website. This includes real life stories from NHS staff. So give you a really great kind of insight into what goes on in the world of the NHS and things like that. Okay, so these are some of the things you might want to bring up in your interview, what you like what excites you about the particular course and role, what your core values are your skills set. Past educational experiences is really important and also past work experiences. I think this one is particularly important if you can already show that you've you know you demonstrate that you've got experience under your belt in the health setting let's say then that will be really taken upon by by the interviewers. And then personal experiences these things do do matter and they do count in as part of the interview. And if they are, if they can translate into to what the courses you'd like to do they they can't necessarily be completely abstract, they do need to be connected but they can definitely be used and will be helpful for for the interview. So I wanted to prepare. So as I said earlier, good place to start is our website. Reading through revisiting going through the course page, checking through what the kind of modules are for the course. If you wanted to go into educational health courses, then you should make sure that you check all the mandatory checks that will be acquired identification that you will need. So you will need to bring certain things along to the interview. And if you're a candidate for some of the design courses as I said animation design architecture, you will need to bring a portfolio to the interview day, and then that will be discussed as part of the interview. Okay, but you might be asking, well, what is a portfolio. It's a creative piece of work. It's a body of work that will show off your kind of imagination, your current skills, ideas, and many other things as well. Of course, we, you know, we don't expect that you would have already mastered animation of already mastered, you know design and things like that. If you can show that you've already got a passion in that field, and that will really translate well when you're explaining your portfolio during the interview. You might show sketches, drawings, photography, craft work, 3D work, whatever it is that is suitable for the course that you've applied for. Generally, it will contain physical, it can contain these things for just a physical digital interactive work or screen based work. So if it's animation, for example, you might want to show more screen based work. If it's an architectural course, you might want to show more physical or written work or sketches and things like that. Okay, if you are going for one of these design courses, then you need to make sure you bring your portfolio with you on your interview day. If you are based outside of England and have been asked to send that in, then you used to do so at least three days before your interview date, and you would email a design admissions team. So let's just design underscore admissions at Greenwich.ac.uk. Online interviews are only available for those who do not live in England though, so if you are, you do reside in England, then you would be expected to come in person for these interviews. And how you would need to save it. So you can see the format there. So for example, if you were John Smith and you were doing animation, that would be the kind of portfolio, how you'd need to save it. Include your name, your UCAS ID, your applicant ID, the course you're applying for, and then you have the opportunity to discuss this during the interview. Okay, so some of the things that you would want to include in the portfolio. Now these aren't necessarily just the only things, but these are things that would be really suitable for the portfolio. So drawings, as I said earlier, any sketches that show your kind of passion for the field that you'd like to go into photography. Of course, you know, the eye is very important when it comes to architecture. Whether it comes to making and designing things, you might want to bring in a 3D artifact that you've made a model, metalwork, woodwork, even clothing potentially. If it's design technology, then your portfolio would not just consist of those things. So you might have to bring in other things as well. And then disciplinary skills. So this depends on the specific course you're applying for. But it includes what that shows some sort of potential for developing your chosen area. So it would be really fantastic if you came to your interview and you'd shown that you'd thought outside of the box. So potentially a new concept if it's something architectural, if it's something design related animation related and maybe you found an area that's not been touched upon before. That would really show that you've gone kind of above and beyond already. And the interviews are really, really like take to that. Okay, so this is just specific guidance depending on your course. So as I said, depending on these courses, then you need to make sure you prepare your portfolio, according to the instructions set out for your course. So you can find a lot of this information on the website. You should also be given some of this information as well. Okay, so before your interview, there are a few things you need to make sure that you're doing. So obviously this depends on whether your interview is online or in person. So if you're online, you should you should receive an email invite before your interview. And it will be a link for you to join a kind of Microsoft Teams meeting. Before you settle with that, I would definitely recommend giving yourself a lot of time before this to make sure if you've got internet connection issues, whatever it is, it might be that the teams meeting takes a while to load make sure you give yourself plenty of time. So if you're using a PC or laptop for the online experience, it's really, you know, not kind of a good image if you turn up trying to do an interview and you're on your phone or something. It just doesn't doesn't work as well and it doesn't look as professional and it doesn't look like you're taking the interview as as seriously. So if you want to make sure that you you do use a PC or desktop or laptop. Make sure you are in a quiet place, you don't want to be doing an interview in a noisy cafe or in, you know, in a public park where there's people running around you or whatever it is need to make sure you're in a quiet place. So again, you don't want the kind of background to be, you know, you in in a shop or something like that. You need to make sure that you're in preferably your home or a quiet part of a library or something like that and make sure you're in a quiet setting. And as I said, make sure you give plenty of time to set up your device login and prepare if you think. You know, 10 minutes before, of course, you, you know, you, you might be feeling nervous before the interview. But that's why if you take 1015 minutes make sure you've got water with you as well. And just have a kind of 1050 minutes to just, you know, breathe and get ready for the interview. Make sure all of your sound and video work, you don't want to start the interview and realize that your headset doesn't actually work because no one's going to be able to hear you. So if that is is fully prepared and of course be well dressed and comfortable. You know, I can't stress this enough, although it is an online interview, you will still be expected to, to look professional. So dress dress just as you would if you were turning up to an in person interview. Now on top of that, I would definitely recommend making sure you're in an area with good lighting. This would make sure that your picture is clear. You know, the interview want to make sure that they can see your facial expressions because that can also show them quite a lot about who you are as a person. If you're smiling and how you're responding to questions is really, really useful for the for the interviewers. And try to make sure that the lighting is in the correct kind of direction, so that you do not just appear with like a shadow of your face or whatever it is. And make sure that you are looking into the camera so just as you were in an in person interview, you would be trying to keep eye contact. You want to make sure you're doing the same thing in an online interview as well. On top of that, if you were to be doing this in person, it will be a similar set of things you need to make sure you prepare. But in this would be slightly different in the fact that the email invite will go into your email inbox. Sometimes we get applicants that they can't find their invites and make sure you check all of your spam and your junk just in case. Before you arrived, if you're attending one of the health courses related interviews and it will all be at Avery Hill campus, and a lot of the and as well a lot of the, you know, education courses as well. So those will take place at Avery Hill campus in the Mary Seacole building. So I would actually really recommend if you know exactly when your interview date is maybe come and have a look at the site a few days before or even a week before. Familiarize yourself with where the buildings are because you don't want to turn up with, you know, 10 minutes to spare and you don't know where Mary Seacole is or you don't know your way around. Of course there will be you know security around can help you but just make sure you give yourself plenty of time in preparing for for the interview. If it's in person, taking into account whether it's, you know, travel disruptions train strikes things like that take all of that into account when you are going for your in person interview. As I said make sure you turn up with plenty of time to spare. If you have official documents for inspection at your interview, I'll go into more detail on this in a minute and prepare yourself for what will be a panel interview, so you will be answering questions, but to multiple panelists. So one just be one to one, it'll be one to maybe two or more people okay. Bring a bottle of water. And again make sure you're well dressed and comfortable. As I said you will need to bring in a few things for the actual interview process you will need to present certain documents as part of the interview process. So your passport or driving license, of course if you're going into something like paramedic science, you want to become a paramedic, then you will need to of course have driving license. So these are the things as well so if you're a home applicant, UK born need to make sure you bring a current valid passport or UK driving license. And others also apply. And I should say if you didn't know already, the majority of our health courses are not open to international students as a result of visa requirements. So if you are, say an EU student, you need to make sure you have settled status. We can go into more detail in this maybe in the Q&A section if you have questions or, or, or you're not sure how exactly that process works. I would also say, when you're doing that research on our website. If you scroll right to the bottom and it will usually have a section about whether the course is open to overseas applicants. But again, if if you can't find that or you're not entirely sure exactly which courses are open to international students or not, then please do feel free to get in touch with us or go through our contact details at the end if you don't already know how to get in touch with UK student recruitment. Okay. So as I said, you need to bring an ID that must be valid in needs to be in date. And an original document with proof of your legal name. So to ensure that you actually meet their professional requirements of the course. We might take a screen screenshot. So this might be for example if you're doing an online interview that need to take a screenshot run authentication. It's not stored against your record. And that's held during appropriate kind of early period retention period. And then please make sure you have correct documentation prior to interview. And if you're unable to provide that, then the interview and I'll be able to continue with your interview. Okay, so this is really important. You really need to make sure that you're turning up with all of the documentation required. So this is just additional information depending on the course that you've applied for if it's be a social work be a primary. You must also present your letter of invitation evidence of a change of name so if you've got marriage certificate deed poll if applicable educational certificates to make sure you bring them or have copies of them that you can bring to the and a passport size photograph again for your record. So this is what it comes back to what I was saying earlier on at the webinar that these these are a lot of these are very professional programs right a lot of some of the design courses they're accredited with very very kind of well renowned institutions. Right likes like Reba for example the Royal Institution for which architecture is a really renowned institutions, whether it's with Miff, with miffery nursing paramedics paramedic science. You know these are courses that will hopefully set you up to move into a help setting in the NHS, potentially in the private sector depending on what you've what you've applied for. Okay, so you need to make sure that you've prepared yourself with all of this documentation. If you're not able to bring these things or you forget them or whatever that whatever happens, then of course the interviewers aren't going to look at that as someone who is passionate is motivated and is determined with this course. Okay, so please don't do do take that into account make sure that you, you bring all of this documentation with you. Now, of course I'm not expecting that you would remember literally everything that I've said that you need to bring. But you can find a lot of this information on the website as well. Okay, I'm just going to double check the chat so the chat is is okay at the moment. So please do feel free to use the chat. If you, if you need to find some information, Agnetta will be free to to find some of the links maybe for you. So feel free to use it. If it's a specific course, then again Agnetta will be able to help you with that. Okay, so during the interview. Let's focus on the question. Okay, a lot of people when they prepare for interviews, they turn up with a preset view of what how the interview is going to go. Although probably ask me these questions so I'll prepare as if they're going to ask those questions. I would say that's a common mistake and will come on to common mistakes in a minute. Prepare, as I've said, read around the subject. Do further reading on the NHS website as a health course. Do further reading maybe for example if it's architecture. Read about the Reba read about the Royal Institution for British architecture. Do further reading focus on the question so do not prepare with a question in mind prepare for whatever question might be asked. Answer what is asked. Okay. So do not, you know, turn up thinking what it's a nursing course or it's midwifery course so they're going to ask this, they might not. They might ask something very personal related, you know, not, you know, delving in deep but they might ask something to kind of judge your character. These are things that you also need to prepare. So, you know, don't don't turn up and say I've got no experience or something like that, for example, turn up and with with as much evidence of your strengths possible. If you are someone who for example hasn't got a lot of work experience under your belt, then you can still show all I've been proactive in looking for this kind of work experience. I've started volunteering I've started doing this this will show that you are motivated. Do not be afraid to ask for clarification or to come back to a question. Okay, I think some people panic that when a question's been asked they have to. Oh, I've got to find the answer immediately. Okay, we're all human we understand that people are under stress and and there's a lot of a pressure pressure around interviews. I do take your time asked for clarification if you if you're not 100% sure if the if the question is making sense. Then they do feel free to do that and they will respect that a lot more rather than trying to answer it kind of frantically okay. And have some sensible questions ready for the panel. Okay, if you come having done research. Maybe you've read an online kind of article around the area maybe you've read something specific about children's nursing. And you say well I was reading this the other day about children's nursing. Is that kind of the work that I might be doing or you know make sure that you've come prepared questions. Because again that will really show that you're, you've got the motivation you've got the passion there already. And of course, smile and be nice. Okay, so, you know if think of for example if you're going into healthcare. If you were going to the hospital you'd want to be treated respectfully you want to be treated by a nurse who is very nice and is looking out for your best interests. So that's something that they'll be looking for when it comes to the interview stage for the for the course. Okay. So for more information as I said we do have a few links that you can check out on interview preparation. So please do if you need to screenshot that or whatever feel free. You can just literally go to our main website gre.ac.uk and then just go to how to prepare interviews okay. So I've gone through the main things you need to make sure that you, you do bring to the interview in terms of documentation I've gone through what you need to do during the interview. So I'm also going to give a few tips on common mistakes things that you should not do during the interview. Okay, so make sure you've come prepared if you've come with not enough preparation. The interviewers, the academics for example they will be able to see that they'll know if you've maybe not read around an area, especially if they say what what area within children's nursing you interested in and you're not sure. You know that they might be able to see that you're not particularly decisive around particular things. Okay, so make sure you have prepared. Please make sure as I said, right at the, you know, earlier on, try not to be late, try not to look disorganized these are things that again will not translate well when it comes to the course itself. And also to to the environment of a health setting. Okay, if you if you're late to an interview, there's something for something that is quite a serious profession professional program as I've said, then the academics might say well if they're going to go into an NHS setting, or they're going to go into professional setting in teaching or in design animation things like this. It's not, it's not particularly good characteristic to have. Okay. So you need to be punctual. And this is the reason why at the beginning I stressed, try to try to give yourself as much time as possible. Try to plan your journey, you know, not everyone lives near every whole campus and I don't think any of us would expect that you would just live around the corner. But make sure you plan your route, check it a week before, maybe test the route, make sure that okay so I've tested it it takes me about an hour without traffic things like that test all these things in advance. So make sure you know a few days before and the day before that you're still checking that the route is all fine. Okay, because we know that they might be trained disruptions and things like that. Take all of that into account. Now of course that is when it comes to in person, but it goes the same when it comes to being online. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Get dressed all of that kind of stuff. Okay. So that answers right so if if there is an open question. Right so the question that doesn't just expect you to say yes or no, something that expects you to go into more detail. Then a common mistake is to give maybe like a one sentence answer. It doesn't necessarily show that you have the kind of passion and the care for that course. Okay, and that's what the, the admissions tutors and the academics will be looking for. They'll be looking for someone who is is genuinely really interested as shown so much passion has done further reading has proven that they've got some work experience and personal experiences. Let's say for example you've not got work experience. Some applicants think I've not got five years and as a health assistant or something like that. Then then use a personal experience. Oh, you know, there was a time where you looked after your, you know, your parents, your grandparents or your, your siblings. Okay, these are examples of you with a caring nature with compassion. So take those things into account as well. And on top of that, long rambling answers so there's a there's a kind of middle ground you need to find an in between something that's not, you know, a kind of five second answer, but also not 10 minute, a 10 minute answer is to be concise, work out, you know, maybe two or three really good examples for example and kind and try to keep to them. Of course you don't have to not just limited to that. But try to keep things as concise to the point, use the best examples to answer the question. So you might think well I've got these three examples, but use the best one that will make sure that it fully answers the question. So if you've dealt with a scenario how you've overcome a challenge. These are things that will also be that we really looked upon in in a positive way. And over rehearse questions answers sorry so I said this again right at the beginning. If you've, you know, already written down they'll ask me this, and then they ask you a question and you give a pre rehearsed answer. So you're not going to have answered the question. And it shows a kind of lack of flexibility. It shows that you've, you've not maybe thought outside the box, and things like that so to make sure that you, as I've said, read as much as you can around the subject. So try not to turn up having read, you know, maybe only a few a few things and you're only using those as your things to talk about okay so try not to over rehearse things. There is a certain kind of flexibility that's expected as I said. And again, what I mentioned earlier, not answering the question. So make sure you really focus us for clarification. And then they'll, they'll be happy to help you maybe reword the question for you and things like that. Nervous self sabotage so this is a really important one. Of course it is tricky, you know, not everyone is you know immediately. You know used to just doing interviews or used to being in an interview environment. What you need to do is to turn up kind of preparing to fail with that as your mindset. You need to make sure that you've got a positive outlet. Okay. And, and make sure that you do, you know, find a way maybe if you're interviews in a few weeks find a way that you can help manage your nerves test ways that might be able to help you de stress before before something before a particular and then you can get into the swing and more of a routine of being able to deal with those environments. Okay. Okay, so what happens next. So, you get a conditional offer made by UCAS. And then you need to meet your conditions by the end of August. Depending on the course you will have to do a DBS check and an occupational health assessment. So your DBS if you've already got one for example then that will be another thing that will need to be checked in terms of whether it's in date. It needs to be in date and of course it depends on what level your DBS is at, if you've only got one that allows you to, you know, unless it doesn't allow you to work with children then you would need to kind of get an updated DBS and all of that will be done as part of the application process. And if you're unsuccessful then you can ask for feedback when you interview. Okay, so to do that you would need to get in touch with us, ask for feedback. If you're unable to help you out. If you're unsuccessful and you want to know more about your kind of application then you would get in touch with decisions at GRE.ac.uk. Okay, next steps right. So, we've got a few things coming up. We've got a few webinars that I think you'll, you'll hopefully enjoy. We've got a postgraduate open evening coming up on the 5th of April. So definitely sign up to that if you're interested in postgraduate study. And then definitely go on to the webinar part of our website. And you can find all of the upcoming events on there. I really recommend signing up to those as well. And let me just double check. So some of the things that you might have actually missed. We had an open day recently. So you might have just missed that. But I'll just go through. Follow us on all of our social media. And so our Facebook on our Twitter, Instagram and on TikTok. And then as I said earlier at the beginning, if you wanted to contact us, then it will be the UK student recruitment team or the course inquiries team. You can give us a call on 0283319000 or email course info at GRE.ac.uk. Okay, so we've got about 20 minutes or so for questions and answers. So I'll just go through to this slide for now. And I'll just stop the recording for now. But if you have any questions that haven't been answered, please put them in the.