How will online Pharmacy interviews work?

The School of Pharmacy will be conducting all interviews online. It is important that you read the frequently asked questions to find out more about how the interviews will work and what you need to do to prepare.

Applying to Pharmacy

What do I need to do to prepare for my interview?

  • Check that your desktop/ laptop webcam, microphone and video call connection work well in good time before your interview. Please do not use your mobile phone.
  • Check that your laptop has been charged before or during the interview.
  • Make sure your Zoom call details (from your interview confirmation email) and your UCAS ID are saved somewhere safe.
  • Create an account on www.Zoom.us and ensure that Zoom is installed onto your device. The interview link will not work if you are not signed into Zoom. You will need to edit your name so that it shows your full name and your UCAS ID – just in case someone of the same name or a similar name is in the same interview slot as yourself. You can do this by going onto your profile in Zoom and clicking ‘edit’.
  • Ensure that you have valid photo ID, such as a passport (expired passports or driving licenses are acceptable) with you ready to show us on the day.
  • In the lead-up to your interview, you may also find it useful to practice speaking with people of different ages about pharmacy as a career - both face-to-face and online. Consider why you wish to enter the profession.

What do we expect from you, at the interview?

  1. Join the Zoom call on time but allow 45 minutes for the whole interview process. Join about a minute before and wait to be admitted. Remember, there will be other candidates and you will be admitted by the administrator, for your ID check, as soon as possible. If you are late, we may not be able to interview you on that day.
  2. Dress as you would for a face-to-face interview.
  3. Ensure the room you are using for your interview is quiet and has a good internet connection. If you are at school, ask for a quiet room, and ask your school IT technician to be on standby should you experience any technical difficulties.
  4. Do not record the session. The questions we ask will change each day so recording the interview will not benefit your peers.
  5. If you do not have a photo ID, please do let us know at least one week before your interview so that we can verify you in another way. If we cannot verify you, we will not be able to interview you on that day.

How will my interview work?

  • Your interview will take place via Zoom. The whole interview session will be no longer than 45 minutes, although you will only be answering questions for around 15 minutes of this time.
  • Candidates will be allocated an interview slot within the 45 minutes, and we ask that you are patient and allow for 45 minutes in total for the interview. Candidates will be sent confirmation and reminder emails. These emails will include a dedicated Zoom link, ‘Meeting ID’ and ‘passcode’ for the time (which is the beginning of the 45-minute slot) and the date they are allocated. Please keep these details safe. Please check your emails, including your spam folder daily for your interview confirmation and reminder emails.
  • When you join Zoom, you will be held in a waiting room and the administrator will check your photo ID and check your name has been edited to show your full name (as on your application) as well as your UCAS ID. Please avoid ‘blurring’ your background as this makes it difficult to conduct your ID check. In addition to this, only original passports (including expired) and other forms of acceptable photo ID will be accepted – paper copies of your photo ID or images on a smartphone are not acceptable. It is important that the person we verify is the same person who has applied to us.
  • The interview will be conducted by an academic and will be recorded; however there may also be an observer present in the room.
  • Once your ID has been confirmed you will then be transferred into your own private breakout room. You will see a button inviting you to join the breakout room. Please click the ‘join’ button as soon as you see it. Here you will be asked to wait patiently for the interviewer, who will assign you to their room once they are ready. You will, again, see a button to ‘join’ the interviewer’s room and again, please click on this button. Often, the ‘join’ button will appear at the bottom of your screen. Your interview will then begin.
  • We ask that you are patient as there will be other candidates being interviewed on the same date.
  • You should use this time to ensure that you are ready and prepared for your interview. At the end of the interview, you will be asked to leave the call by ending the meeting. You do not need to go back to the waiting room.

What happens if I do not confirm my acceptance of the interview slot by the date given?

  • You will need to ‘confirm’ acceptance of your interview slot by a certain date. If you do not confirm your acceptance by this date or deadline, you will lose your interview opportunity and your application will not be considered any further. You must check your emails, including the spam folder of your inbox on a regular basis.

When will I hear about the outcome of my interview?

  • A decision on your application will be communicated to you within one week of your interview. This may be delayed slightly when the University closes for Christmas and Easter.

I need to cancel and rearrange my interview, what do I need to do?

  • We will only consider rescheduling an interview for a very strong reason, such as illness, hospitalisation or attending a funeral.
  • Due to the volume of candidates we are interviewing, rescheduled interview dates will either not be permitted, or given at very short notice.
  • If you do need to reschedule or cancel your interview slot, please email us at PharmacyEnquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

What if I am running late for my interview?

  • We recommend that you log into your Zoom call one minute before your interview, to ensure you start on time. Please note that arriving late without good reason could mean that you lose your opportunity to have an interview.
  • If you do have a good reason, we may have to reschedule your interview.

What if something disrupts my interview on the day?

  • If anything minor disrupts your interview on the day, such as a dip in internet speed or a loud noise coming from outside, then the people interviewing you will make this clear on their mark sheet, which may assist us when we begin making decisions on applications.
  • If something major disrupts your interview on the day, please email us as soon as possible. We would need to confirm this with your set of interviewers and reschedule your interview to a different time with a new set of questions.
  • We recommend that you check your internet speed, webcam and microphone prior to your interview so that you can rectify any issues that may arise.

What if I do not have a quiet space at home or the correct technology to participate in the interview?

  • Please talk to your school about using a quiet room there for your interview and ask your school IT technician to be on standby in case of technical difficulties.

I am an international student, what if my country does not permit me to create a Zoom account?

  • If your country does not allow you to create a Zoom account, please do email us at your earliest convenience, stating which country you are interviewing from.

Who can I contact if things go wrong or what if I feel I have been unfairly treated?

  • If things go wrong or if you feel you have been unfairly treated, please email us at: PharmacyEnquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk or call us on 0121 414 2661 and we will be happy to assist.

Do I need to have my camera on at all times?

  • To ensure we are interviewing the correct person, we do ask that you have your camera on at all times.

What do I do if I don’t want to show you the room, I’m in?

  • If you wish, you’re welcome to pin a plain sheet behind you so your background is indistinguishable.

Am I allowed to have someone else in the room with me?

  • For fairness to everyone, you should be alone in the room.

I have a disability, what support is available for me?

  • If you are visually impaired and you require some support logging into Zoom on the day, you are welcome to have someone to assist you.
  • If you are hearing impaired, please contact us by email at: PharmacyEnquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk before your interview to discuss your options. Whilst the interview is taking place, we ask that you are in the room on your own to make the process fair for everyone.

Who do I need to contact in case I have additional questions before my interview?