Overall, I feel like my interview went really well. I was a bit nervous going into it, the only interviews I had done were for occupational therapy programs. To prepare for the interview, I reviewed over the materials Dr. Lancaster provided for us. I also talked through basic interview questions and topics with one of my peers.
One thing that went differently than I expected was the overall atmosphere of the interview. I expected it to feel intimidating and tense, but it was the exact opposite. My interviewer put me at ease and made me feel comfortable. I was able to answer the questions she asked confidently and appropriately.
Some things that I would change if I could go through this process again would be my positioning during the interview and how I answered the questions I was asked. Some of the constructive criticism I received from my interviewer was that I really needed a solid background with no distractions. During the interview, there was a ceiling fan visible in the background, so if I could do it again, I would position myself in front of a blank wall.
Another piece of constructive criticism I received from my interviewer is that I needed to dive a little deeper when answering questions. If I had this to do over again, I would include more personal experiences in my answers to questions.
One thing that I learned during this process is that I am prepared and capable to be an occupational therapist. When interviewing for a position, I must remember to be myself and be confident, because I have been preparing for 2 years for this moment. Another thing I learned during this process is that it is okay to pause and get your bearings while answering questions. It is better to answer thoughtfully than to answer quickly.
I think this process was very helpful in preparing me for future interviews as an OT practitioner. I am thankful for the opportunity to have participated in this process.
