1. Arrival and First Impressions

In-Person Reviews:

• Arrive Early: Aim to be at the venue at least 30 minutes before your slot. Arriving early helps you acclimate and avoid unnecessary stress.

• Dress Professionally: Choose comfortable but professional attire. Avoid bold fashion statements or distracting accessories.

• Use the Time Wisely: Familiarize yourself with the surroundings, check where facilities like the cloakroom are, and stay hydrated. Some people recommend to avoid revising notes as it may only heighten nerves, others might benefit from last minute revision.

• Greeting the Reviewers: When greeted, make eye contact, smile, and give a firm handshake. Your reviewers are professional engineers, and your goal is to show them you belong among them.

Online Reviews:

• Log in Early: Join the Microsoft Teams meeting at least 10 minutes before your scheduled time to ensure everything runs smoothly.

• Check Your Setup: Ensure your camera, microphone, and screen-sharing tools are working. Your setup should allow direct eye contact through the camera. You’ll also need to present your ID to the camera to be sure to check you know how to turn camera blur off.

• Minimize Distractions: Turn off your phone, close unnecessary apps, and ensure your environment is quiet and professional. You must be alone in the room, and no part of the session should be recorded.

• Professional Attire: Dress fully—head-to-toe—so you’re prepared for any unexpected moments when you may need to stand up.

2. The Presentation: Your Introduction to Success

The presentation is your chance to guide the reviewers through your most relevant projects and demonstrate how you’ve applied your engineering knowledge.

Key Points:

• Structure: Open with your main point, provide key details, and close with a summary. For example:
  “You’ve read my report, so for the next 15 minutes, I’ll focus on how I led the bridge design project through its most challenging phases.”

• Avoid wasting time with redundant introductions—the reviewers already know who you are.

• Stay Within the Time Limit: Aim to finish slightly under the allotted time (15 minutes for IPR/CPR, 5–10 minutes for CPRP). Overrunning can frustrate reviewers and cut into interview time.

• Engage the Reviewers: Speak with enthusiasm and clarity. Make eye contact and look for subtle cues that indicate engagement or questions.

Visual Aids:

• For in-person Reviews, stick to A3 or A4-sized illustrations—reviewers won’t have room for large prints.

• For online Reviews, test your screen-sharing tools in advance and use concise, well-labelled slides or diagrams.

3. The Interview: Demonstrating Your Professional Mindset

The interview is where you demonstrate how you apply the ICE Attributes to your daily work. It’s a conversation designed to assess your judgment, problem-solving skills, and ability to communicate clearly.

Key Tips:

• Speak Up: Reviewers expect you to talk for 80% of the time. They’re prompting you to share insights and generally not testing you with “gotcha” questions.

• Think Aloud: If faced with a difficult question, explain your thought process rather than freezing. Reviewers want to see how you approach complex problems, even if you don’t have the exact answer.

• Acknowledge Areas for Improvement: It’s okay to admit what you’ve learned from mistakes. This demonstrates self-awareness and growth.

• Be Engaging: Use examples to illustrate your points and show your enthusiasm for your work. Keep your answers detailed but focused.

Handling Nerves:

• Practice Pays Off: If you’ve practiced mock interviews, this part will feel familiar. Consider booking a mock interview with us to build confidence and get detailed feedback tailored to the ICE process.

• Body Language: Sit upright, avoid fidgeting, and maintain eye contact. Avoid defensive postures like crossed arms.

4. The Communication Task: Staying Calm Under Pressure

After the interview, you’ll complete the Communication Task—a written or verbal exercise designed to test how well you can convey technical information to non-engineers.

Preparation Tips:

• Stay Composed: Don’t dwell on how the interview went—use the break to reset your mind by taking a walk, hydrating, or having a snack.

• Be Concise: Focus on explaining complex ideas in a clear, structured way. Avoid overloading the task with technical jargon.

5. Final Tips for Both Review Formats

• Online Reviews: Look at the camera to simulate eye contact. Avoid unnecessary background noise and gestures near the microphone. Speak slowly and clearly.

• In-Person Reviews: Stay organized—have your presentation materials ready and ensure you’re comfortable with the room setup.

Building Rapport with the Reviewers

The Review is as much about your interpersonal skills as your technical knowledge. Building a positive relationship with your reviewers can ease the process.

• Greet Them Warmly: A smile and a friendly introduction help set the tone.

• Maintain Calm Confidence: Respond thoughtfully and listen carefully to their questions.

• Be Yourself: Don’t try to over-perform—authenticity builds trust and rapport.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to reduce uncertainties is to practice repeatedly. Simulate the Review environment—practice presentations with a timer, rehearse answering open-ended questions, and run full mock interviews online or in person. The more familiar you are with the process, the more natural you’ll feel on the day.

How We Can Help:
We offer tailored mock interviews and presentation practice to prepare you for every aspect of your Review. From perfecting your delivery to handling tricky questions, our sessions will build your confidence and help you shine.

Book your preparation session today and approach your Review with confidence!