Mock Away! Why Mock Interviews are Useful in a Job Search
Mock interviews are useful in a job search because they allow the candidate to practice their introduction, answers to common interview questions, review their resume information, and more. Whether you practice with a friend, spouse, or with a career coach, your introductions, interviews, and interactions with recruiters and human resources personnel will be much smoother and more confident with some practice under your belt.
Introductions
Introductions are all about making a great first impression. Your smile, handshake, and the way you tell a brief story about yourself give the other person a great deal to think about and react to. Choose the story ahead of time. Example: “Hello, I’m Charles Smith and I’ve spent my career in the IT industry, I’m very interested in your Senior Analyst position, thanks for the opportunity to be here today.” The more relaxed and confident you are when introducing yourself, the better. And yes, DO practice both the handshake and smile as well as your words. A good interview handshake is firm without being aggressive, and your smile should feel natural and friendly to the recipient. You don’t have to grin the whole time, but do smile as often as appropriate.
Interview Questions
The most common interview questions these days are the ones called behavioral questions. “Give me an example of a time you failed, and how you recovered or did not recover” is an example of one. Have your mock interviewer read from a list (you can find them easily online, such as at themuse.com), and give thoughtful, complete answers. Try to stick to examples where the outcome was positive, where you were able to turn things around in the end for both yourself and your employer. When asked about successes and valuable contributions, don’t be shy! The more you practice these questions, the clearer it becomes that with 5 or 6 basic stories, you can adapt them to answer quite a few of these questions.
Resume Information
You would be surprised how many people are unfamiliar with their own resume information. You don’t have to quote exact dates, but do use the mock interviews to refresh your memory on your employers, job titles, and basic job descriptions. Especially if you’re claiming relevant experience came from those jobs. It raises red flags when candidates can’t remember the basics, although many people do need to brush up. When answering the interview questions above, make reference to your past employers and job titles when appropriate.
Etiquette
Job interviews are formal settings. It’s important to show some polish during the hiring process, even if the position you are applying for is quite casual in nature. You want to present yourself to your best advantage. Introducing yourself, a firm handshake, saying please and thank you, are all simple ways to keep that good first impression rolling along through the end of the interview. Even after the interview, it’s appropriate to send a thank-you email for the opportunity to interview.
Gaze
Interviews are stressful, but you don’t want that stress to make you look too nervous or dishonest. In your mock interviews, practice a friendly, steady gaze. If you are interviewing with two or more people, practice switching your answers and your gaze from person to person while remaining relaxed and interested. Make sure you connect with each interviewer, even if they aren’t actively asking questions.
Confidence
Your confidence will increase with practice. If you know that you have the answers at your fingertips, you’re familiar with your own resume, and comfortable with the process, it will show in your body language and your gaze. Increased confidence is one of the strongest reasons mock interviews are so useful in a job search!
Want more information about available positions or how to interview? Contact Step Up Recruiting today!
