Job Interview Secrets for After Your International Relations Postgraduate Diploma

Strong job interview skills will help you transition from your QMUL PGDip to career success

After the satisfying achievement of completing your International Relations Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) online, you will quickly be faced with new and challenging opportunities. Whether you are embarking on a new career in international relations, or are trying to reach a coveted promotion after years in the sector, job interviews are often the last and most challenging hurdle that stands between an ambitious, qualified candidate and the career move they want.

Keep reading to learn a few ways that you can make the most of job interviews after completing a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations from Queen Mary Online.

Know the Strengths of Your Online International Relations PGDip

Before you go into your interview, take some time to reflect on how the advanced, specialised knowledge you acquired during your PGDip may be applicable to the position. If, for instance, you are interviewing with an internationally-oriented government department, review your course materials on foreign policy so that you are ready to explain the relevance of your expertise.

Be ready to demonstrate to employers that your qualifications are relevant to the job

You can also use your PGDip to demonstrate your professional prowess and soft skills, not just your academic capabilities. Studying online alongside other career obligations is a great way for you to demonstrate your ability to multi-task, manage your own time, work independently, and stay self-motivated in the pursuit of challenging goals. These are experiences and skills that will be valued by many employers, and highlighting them during your job interview can be an excellent way to pique the interviewer’s interest.

Do Not Neglect the ‘Classic’ Interview Questions When Preparing

While it is important to highlight the strongest, most unique points on your resume – such as your  online International Relations PGDip – you should be careful not to do so at the expense of your basic interview preparations.

Standard questions such as “Tell me about yourself,” or “Describe your greatest strengths and weaknesses,” or “Where do you see yourself in five years?” can be just as important to employers looking for international relations experts as they are to any others.

Make sure you have thought out your answers to these questions beforehand so you are not caught off guard, and make your answers unique! If you avoid empty platitudes and mention specific examples from your education or past work experience to provide context to what you say, you will be more memorable to the interviewer, which can be critical when they are deciding who to call back.

Use Your International Relations Postgraduate Diploma to Ask Informed Questions

It is one thing to say during an interview that your International Relations Postgraduate Diploma has given you transferable skills, but it is another to concretely demonstrate this during the job interview. One way that you can do this is by using the specialised knowledge you have gained during your programme to ask informed questions during and at the end of your interview.

For instance, if you are interviewing for an organisation that deals with foreign aid or philanthropy, you could ask a question about how migration patterns affect demand for the organisation’s services, and how this plays into the role for which you are applying.

Asking informed questions during your interview can showcase your enthusiasm and attention to detail

Generally, it is good practice to ask questions about the job and the hiring organisation in order to show that you are genuinely interested in the work and that you have done your research. By incorporating your international relations expertise into this process, you can make this positive impression while simultaneously demonstrating that your qualifications are relevant to the job for which you are being interviewed.

Are you looking for qualifications that will impress employers and interviewers?

Contact QMUL Online to learn more about our flexible International Relations Diploma.