Coaching for success for Oxbridge interviews

Professional coach, Melissa Mehta of Impetus Coaching, put our top students through exercises and activities that ensured that our Oxbridge and medicine students had fun while also preparing for demanding interviews. Starting off with a team exercise where students had to untie a human knot, students spent the rest of the day considering ideal candidates and what motivates the interviewer. Under the headings ‘wise owl' ‘smart cookie' and the ‘wow factor' students undertook a range of active and thought-provoking exercises relating to the interview process.

Students practised answering questions in small groups and used the feedback sandwich method of constructive feedback. The feedback from students was specific and constructive, and supplemented by the facilitator's feedback. After reviewing this section, the students discussed techniques for improving their performance at the moment of being asked a challenging question. They each constructed an anecdote to illustrate the personality trait that would most benefit their future college. Students also discussed questions such as how to handle fear and manage adrenalin levels, and how to build self-belief.

After another full interview practice session, and a timeline exercise the students wrote letters to themselves to remind them of the learning and confidence they took from the workshop and encourage themselves to future action. The letters were posted back to the students at a later date.

Students gain enormously in confidence and skill through these coaching days and we look forward to another equally beneficial and enjoyable preparation day in November 2012. All IB2 students at St. Clare's have interview preparation as part of the comprehensive careers and higher education programme and have the opportunity for mock interviews in their chosen field.

Liz Reece, Careers and Higher Education Adviser

March