Mock Interviews = S U C C E S S

You've heard it since you started playing the piano or t-ball when you were 5 years old.

"Practice makes perfect." 

This principle really does ring true for success at different sports, musical performances, and lots of other activities, including interviews. As the fall recruiting season starts up, you may find yourself preparing for more than one interview. What can help?

A mock interview.

Consider Jenna (true story but changed her name): A couple of years ago, Jenna had to do a mock interview in Career Services as part of a class assignment. Lucky for her, this practice took place prior to a real interview for a co-op position. Jenna aced her co-op interview and got the job. And, the success didn't stop there. This fall, Jenna started her senior year with a full-time offer in hand from her co-op employer.

Build your confidence.

And then there's David (true story but changed his name): David took the same class that Jenna did and had a tough time in his mock interview. Why? His GPA wasn't as high as he would like it to be, and he just couldn't get past it. His low GPA made him really down on himself. You can't be like that in an interview...there is no one in the room to sell the employer on what you bring and how you add value, except you. David took time to do some self-exploration with a career advisor and worked at thinking and speaking about himself in a more positive light. As a result, David interviewed successfully to land a summer internship this past summer.

We can tell lots more success stories that center around our Mock Interview Program in Career Services. If you want to work to achieve success in your next interview, call 540-231-6241 to set up an interview that fits your schedule. We allow an hour for these interviews where we spend 15 - 20 minutes asking you typical questions used in initial interviews. Then, we spend the rest of the hour discussing your performance and providing tips to improve. Equipped with video cameras, we are able to tape your session where you can watch yourself later as much as you want.

And, if you can't make it for an in-person mock interview, no worries. You can practice sitting right in front of your computer with Interview Stream. This resource provides prerecorded interviewers asking the questions and tapes your replies. When complete, you can send the video file to a friend, a family member, or a professor to review. Or, you can set up a time to meet with one of our Career Advisors to critique this interview.

What are you waiting for? Experience the success that Jenna and David did by adding a mock interview to your fall schedule. What's the equation for interview success? Score a job offer with a mock interview before your next interview! Forget algebra. Here's an easy equation for you to remember - when it comes to interviews,

Mock Interviews  =  S  U  C  C  E  S  S

Done with the job fairs? On to the next step: Interviews!

You may have recently attended a job fair or applied to your dream job or may just be shopping around for another experience. Whatever the case may be, you aren’t done yet. You still have one more step until you can transition into that next position. Interviewing gives you the chance to finally put your money where your mouth is. In other words, it’s time for the employer to get to know you as more than just what your resume says.

So how do you properly prepare for an interview? Like many situations, preparing just means practice.

Step one: Research! Get to know who you could potentially be working with.

• Review their company website
• Catch up on their most recent updates through social media
• Memorize key words and statements from your research
• Possibly learn about the individual who plans to interview you *It always helps to establish a relationship

Step two: Prepare your best game day outfit.

• Dress the part in business professional
•  Review the Career Services site to know what exactly that means
• Here is a visual aid if you don’t want to search too hard

Step three: Practice your demeanor.

• Practice your handshake: firm, but not too firm
• Sit upright and maintain an appropriate amount of eye contact
• Try your best not to fidget or touch your face/hair
•  One tip I always stuck to was making sure my hands are grabbing the hand rests so I know I’m not making distractions

Step four: Figure out what you want to reply to a series of expected questions.

Employers almost often ask these questions - make sure you have a basic response to each of them.  

• “Tell me about yourself.”
•  “Why do you think you would make a good candidate for this job?”
• “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
•  “Name one time where something didn’t work out the way you expected it to and how did you handle it?”
• “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”

Ensure your responses reflect your skills and that you can back up all of your claims with evidence, such as a past experience.

Step five: PRACTICE.

• Combine all of these steps and practice your interviewing; do it with your parents, your friends, your mentors, your co-workers, anyone!
• Too shy to do talk to someone else? Try practicing in a mirror or videotaping yourself. In any scenario, practice the words you expect to be saying.
• Practice in a Mock Interview through Career Services or using Interview Stream.

For more interviewing tips, visit the Career Services website for links to more resources, tips and advice. 

Good Luck!

Written by Olivia Brescia, Peer Career Advisor