As we approach RICS APC Final Interview Season, Doig+Smith’s Training Manager and Associate Quantity Surveyor, Dean Carrick kindly shared with us his seven top tips for candidates facing one of the most important hours in their professional life…
1. Practice, practice, practice.
If you have spare time, you haven’t practiced your presentation enough. No one “over-practices”.
2. Know your stuff.
You should do by now anyway. You should know your submission upside down and back to front, but its all the other information that you might want to double check… and check again.
3. Rationalise your fear.
If you are anxious about the day, remember the panel are your peers; they are their to confirm what your employer and counsellor believe – you’re good enough. Your perception of the situation is causing the angst, so don’t over-think it. You’ll have done at least 1 mock interview, good or bad, you know what’s coming. You’re in control of a large part of that, and of your emotions.
4. Listen to the questions.
What are you actually being asked?
5. Breathe before answering.
Use that breath to form your answer, then come out all guns blazing with an answer that shows your skills… “On this project I advised this…”
6. Do not dwell.
If you give a poor answer and are moved on by the assessor, don’t let it fester. Get ready for the next one. Make sure you react positively – you may not get all the answers right, but you will answer badly if you are thinking of your answer from 2 questions ago…!
7. Converse.
The panel want to hear what you know, what you have done, and how you have provided reasoned advice… that comes through a conversation. But don’t ramble! Get the answer out with a professional response and then embellish. The Assessor will stop you when they have heard enough (and don’t let that throw you).
GOOD LUCK!
You might also be interested in reading this APC related blog post: APC…as easy as 1,2,3?