ERC / NWO interview coaching

Did you receive the invitation to an interview at ERC, NWO, or another funcing agency? This means you are an excellent researcher with a brilliant proposal. As your competitors are. In this final stage of the procedure details really matter. A thorough preparation is of vital importance. We would love to help you with that.

We adjust the content and approach of our coaching to the needs and wishes of the individual candidate. For some the biggest challenge is the structure of the presentation, to others it is overcoming their fear of presenting. During an intake session we discuss the needs of the candidate and translate that into a timeline. Usually the coaching first focusses on the presenation. We discuss strategy and unique sellingpoints, storyline, and slides (we also design slides). Then we shift the focus to delivery, we work on e.g.: stress, body language, interaction, use of voice, pronunciation, and answering questions.

Timeline

The above presented timeline is typical of our support of ERC StG, CoG, AdG and other candidates who receive their invitation to the interview months in advance. It consists of a sequence of shorter coaching sessions and slide design. We optionally also take part in mock interviews (or analyze recordings of them). When candidates receive their invitation shortly before the interview (or out of budgetary reasons), we compose a condensed version of this timeline (intake > presentation > delivery). Examples of this are single four hours sessions, two sessions of two hours, and the one day group training followed by two individual sessions for each candidate.

Consortia

We also coach groups preparing for e.g. ERC Synergy, NWO-Large, NWO Gravitation, and NWA-ORC interviews. Then we compose a trajectory consisting of individual sessions with the PI (if they are presenting the project), slide design, and group sessions aiming at a synergetic performance. The latter consists of a strategic session (who takes the lead, who answers what, etc.) and group rehearsal in order to train the answering of questions as a synergetic group.

Venue

When preparing for in person interviews, the delivery sessions are preferably taking place at the location of our clients. However, since we are located in The Netherlands, this is in principle a service we only offer to here located candidates. In preparation for online interviews (or when in person sessions are not possible, e.g. when the candidate is abroad) we prefer online sessions via Webex, the platform used for most ERC and NWO interviews. This allows for learning how to operate the platform smoothly.

Track record

Since 2011 we trained more than two hundred candidates who prepared for their interviews at both ERC (e.g. Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, Synergy) and NWO (e.g. Mosaic 2.0, Veni, Vidi, Vici, Gravitation, NWO Investment Grant Large, KIC, NWO Perspectief, NWA-ORC). Our success rate is 49 percent for ERC grants and 50 percent for NWO grants. Which is around 10 – 20 percent higher than the overall success rates of the interviews.

Our unique approach results in a growing customer base in our home country The Netherlands (in 2023 1 out of 10 Veni laureates and 1 out of 5 ERC StG laureates were coached by us), and in recent years we work for more and more clients from other European countries (e.g. Germany, UK, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Norway, Estonia).

Practical

Trainers: Kick Moors and/or Hermen Visser | Maximum number of participants: 1 | Duration: flexible

Do you want us to design your slides? Take a look at our slide service.

Wat klanten over ons zeggen

Hermen helped me on my Veni presentation. His instruction on my slides made my presentation more effective and eventually I got my Veni grant. I recommend Hermen to those struggling on presentations.

Kai Ye, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China

Trainers

Hermen Visser

Hermen Visser (1985) studied Biology at Leiden University. Already during his studies he developed a passion for science communication and took his first steps as a trainer. He taught students in layout skills and the graphic software Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. Since his graduation in 2011 he works as a freelance science journalist and trainer. He was radio and web editor at the editorial offices of the Dutch broadcasting agencies. VPRO and NTR. Currently he writes as a freelancer for VPRO Gids and Trouw.

Kick Moors

Kick Moors (1954) studied History and worked in a variety of organisations as manager, HR adviser, coach, and trainer. In his work he focusses on supporting researchers in their professional development. Kick is a devoted and experienced trainer and coach. He understands very quickly what are the reasons behind personal obstacles researchers encounter on their career path and how they can deal with them.