What questions should I prepare for during a Skype interview?

[iammaffyou]

Does anyone have any previous experience or questions?

[Stroop_There_It_Is]

I'm not sure if I'm representative, but in my phone interviews, I was always asked:

 

- Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years? (AKA - academia, job placement, etc.)

- Tell me about x research experience from your CV (I got lots of questions about my undergrad thesis)

- Do you have research experience with X or Y?

- Are you open to researching (insert completely different topic than is listed on the POI's CV)?

- Do you have any questions for me?

 

I also asked all sorts of questions of the POI about the program, graduates, department, etc. 

 

You'll do fine!

[bezoomny bunburyist]

First question on my Skype interview:  What are your research interests?  Second question:  Do you have any questions for me?  Those are the two most common questions I have been asked for any interview, whether it be phone, Skype, or in person.

[sparrowbirdie]

I've never been asked about research interests because it's pretty much fully covered in my SoP. However, they always ask about the role I had in my research projects and future directions for each.

 

Other questions:

Why did you apply to this area of psychology?

Have you ever worked with x population? (e.g. clinical, adolescent, children, etc.)

One of your recommendations said x; can you tell me more about why they said this/what they might be referencing/what they mean?

What are your future career goals?

Where else are you applying?

Do you have any questions for me? (as other posters have said)

[ceeceeroni]

I honestly have no idea how to answer research question....do I talk about research design and what else....? Help me please!

[jd1990]

On a phone interview, I got the following questions:

 

1) Tell me about yourself.

2) What are your research interests? 

3) Can you tell me about your current project? (Currently working as a research assistant). Who funds this project? Who is the principal investigator?

4) Tell me about XXX (asked about undergraduate honors thesis, specific internship).

5) Where else did you apply?

6) Are you easily able to move to this state? (The school is across the country from where I live).

7) Where does this school rank for you compared to all of the other places you applied?

8) Do you have any questions for me? - For this I asked about the POI's mentorship/advising style, and how RA/TA positions are determined. Figured I would leave more questions for the in-person if I got it- which I did.

[jd1990]

Also, to answer to ceeceeroni...

 

I am assuming you are simply trying to answer the question "What are your research interests?" Hopefully, you at least made some mention of this in your person statement- make sure you match what you said in that. But, it's okay to not have your specific topic picked out for your dissertation- but don't be too broad as to say "Oh, you know, anything involving eating disorders." Give examples of things you've studied or worked with in the past and what interested you about it. I think it's also fair to say that you are excited to look into new ideas, and you just feel that this particular lab would allow you that freedom (if that's true, of course). Be sure to match it to your POI (not exactly, or they'll know you're lying/exaggerating). 

[ceeceeroni]

Thank you for the comment!

I appreciate it!