24th September 2025

IBL Tips: Coming from someone who had less than 5 interviews for IBL.

Hi network, after having a couple few responses asking for tips regarding IBL, I thought I would make a tips post covering my top three tips, having been someone who has experienced the process. Other people may have different "formulas" but here is mine! This advice also goes for any other interviews you may have.

Specifically for IBL -> Know that the interview is only 15 minutes. So you need to be smart with your time.

#1: Have a ready made pitch around 2-3 mins introducing yourself, what you are studying, your strongest commitments (part time job/ university extracurriculars and what attributes/skills you have learnt as a result and hobbies ).

Why is this important? You have only 15 mins to make an impression of yourself. I would recommend not wasting precious time on the interviewer asking you questions such as, "What do you study" or "Do you do any extra-curriculars besides uni?", when you could cover this succinctly in one take.

#2: Booking interview times, syncing with the interviewers. If you happen to book an interview around late afternoon, be mindful that the interviewer/s most likely have gone through multiple interviews and abit tired. As Consequently, I'd recommend keeping your responses shorter and more concise.

#3: TONGUE TWISTERS. Those singers that go "brrrrr" before they sing on stage? Or repeat tongue twisters over and over again. You'll be surprised how nervous you can become (right before) or during interviews, and how much of a difference it takes doing a simple voice warm up before an interview. Yes, you may stutter a little, have unclear pronunciation from the good ol' nerves, but luckily, there is a way to reduce that chance and that's doing voice/ mouth warm ups before the interview!

Lastly, you have what it takes! Have conviction in yourself, all the effort and time you have taken to prepare, and iterate with each interview experience you have.

Yours truly,

Regina