The ERC Interview is a unique window of opportunity to communicate with the ERC review panel, clarify open questions, and further impress them with your project. Researchers must prepare for the interview based on the unique nature of the ERC.

 

To help prepare for this unique opportunity – Enspire Science offers the below service.

Personalized ERC Interview Preparation Service

This service includes a pre-recorded online course as well as personal preparation sessions.

ERC Interview Online Course

An online pre-recorded course to be viewed by researchers at their own time and pace. 

**This course can be viewed independently. Learn more here. 

The course covers the following information: 

  • General information and technical overview of the ERC interview
  • How to develop the main presentation for the interview (knowing the audience – the review panel, building the right narrative for this audience, expected outline and thinking process, take-home message and technicalities). This refers both to on-site or on-line interview options.
  • How to prepare for the Q&A session (what to expect, recurring questions, how to handle scientific dispute in the interview, etc.)
  • An ERC-customized presentation skills training and closing tips

Important note: This course refers to both on-site or on-line interview formats, according to the specific circumstances.

If you wish to only view or join a live session of this course, please go to the dedicated course page.

Personalized ERC Interview preparation sessions

The personalized preparation is individual, customized, and based on the specific PI’s ERC application and the review panel(s).

This service includes the ERC Interview Online Course and the following steps:

  • Strategic planning.  A personalized brainstorming session with the applicant. We will discuss the best way to pitch the project during the interview and address possible questions, taking into account the project’s content, specific guidelines from the panel and more. The output of this session is clear guidance for the applicant to prepare the narrative for the pitch and answers to the anticipated questions.
  • Ongoing feedback. Following the strategic planning, and before the 1st rehearsal, we will provide ongoing feedback to the applicant on drafts of the pitch narrative and answers to anticipated questions. Applicants are advised to make use of this opportunity and communicate with us for any question or assistance relating to their interview preparation.
  • 1st rehearsal. This session will include detailed feedback about the pitch, its inner logic, how it is addressing the expected key scientific issues, as well as any other relevant aspects, further discussions about potential questions and answers, pitfalls and weaknesses of the ERC application, and how to improve and address all of the above for the interview.
  • 2nd rehearsal. Similar to the 1st rehearsal, this session will include a rehearsal followed by deep discussion about all the important aspects that the applicant should mind during the actual interview. The main goal of this session is to ensure that the applicant has covered all aspects and is fully ready for the interview.

The added value of our personalized ERC Interview Preparation service:

  • This service is individual.  Unlike group settings, strategic planning of the interview & the rehersals focus all attention directly on the applicant.
  • The applicant will receive very focused instructions based on the specific ERC application and the review panel(s).
  • In addition to the 3 scheduled meetings, the researcher will receive ongoing communications and support to ensure 100% preparation.

For ERC Synergy Grant interviews: During the process we work to reflect the synergy of the team, the unique attributions and contributions of each PI, and prepare all for the interview.

For all ERC calls – please refer to our timeline and deadline policies to learn more about the best time to book this service, our deadline for accepting new applications and our booking policy for this service.

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      See what past participants said about our training:

      “The person I was working with encouraged me to steer my presentation in such a way that it focused on the most innovative aspects of my project and its high gains. The process allowed me to rethink my application and get ready to face the interview questions too.”

      Riccardo Marin

      “I think the preparation service was extremely helpful, in particular for the Q&A time. […] I feel that the most valuable aspect of the preparation was to disclose exactly how the interview would be like and the type of questions to expect […]”

      “The personalised ERC interview preparation sessions with Ruthy and Yotam were precious brainstorming moments, providing useful tips and food for thought, and definitely improving my preparation. Ruthy and Yotam were deep, accurate, careful, insightful, as well as very friendly and pleasant to interact with. Kudos!”

      “The course answered my questions regarding the ERC Interview procedure. It raised my awareness for what I need to focus on in the interview and the preparation, which was very valuable.”

      “Lots of tips that can be directly applied to the interview presentation. Important points were emphasized several times. The 2h length of the training session was just right as well. Overall, after the session, I felt very positive about going to the interview and my ability to prepare for it, rather than dreading it!”

      “Really useful and a very good way of preparing for the interview – as can be expected. My Enspire consultant was a true “critical friend” and their frank and honest approach to the preparation of my short lecture and trying to envisage possible questions was invaluable. “

      Johan Sundström

      “It was very useful as it completely re-structured my presentation.”

      “I enjoyed and learned a lot from the personalized preparation process. I believe the personnel is very well qualified and ready to spot important aspects to be highlighted in the presentation.”

      Maria Rodriguez Aburto

      “Preparing my ERC with Enspire has been a great journey, from my first written draft all the way to the last version of my interview presentation. It has helped me tremendously to create a proposal to be proud of. I’m really thankful and would always recommend Enspire!”

      “It was extremely useful. The team is very competent and their insight was great. They pointed out many things to improve that made sense and made our final interview better. There was a good balance between the sessions.”

      Juan Jose Gomez Cadenas

      “Our interaction with your team was very satisfactory in my opinion. It was useful to prepare and rehearse the interview, and your comments and tips were very relevant.”

      Fernando P. Cossío

      “The preparation sessions were very useful. Our presentation, carefully prepared and taking into account your indications about the “narrative” of the project, was positively perceived. The time limit, carefully prepared in the preparation sessions, was strictly followed, which was positively assessed by the president of the panel. Several questions previously anticipated in these sessions were formulated in the “real” interview.… Read more > “Fernando P. Cossío”

      “Feedback on texts and PP were precious.”

      “The brainstorming session was excellent.”

      “Interview preparation was very useful.”

      “The help related to the presentation was excellent and so were the answers to my questions related to potential comments of the panel.”  

      “It was helpful, always on time, constructive and tailored to my needs.”

      “Precision of the feedback, tailored to my needs.”

      “Good suggestions about the structure of the presentation and about managing of time, your availability and professionalism.”

      “Good feedback on the general expectations for an ERC project in relation to structure of presentation.”

      “It was very helpful to know what to expect at the interview and to have advice on how to sell my cv and project and how to structure my presentation. I very much appreciated that the training comes is multiple sessions, as this forced me to set time apart to work on my presentation for the interview over multiple weeks.”

      “The service was good because of the preparation of the presentation, the structure and how to tell the story.”