How to Get Ready for a Practice Interview
Practice interviews can help you feel more confident in important interviews by helping you improve your interviewing skills. A mock interview is a good way to prepare for a real interview with a potential employer. They let you practice interviews in a similar setting so you can get used to the atmosphere. This article will tell you what a mock interview is and how to prepare for one. Ready for a Practice Interview
What is an interview practice?
A mock interview is a practice interview that helps the person being interviewed come up with good answers, work on their nonverbal communication skills, and get used to being in an interview setting. A mock interview can be just like a real interview, whether it’s in person, over the phone, or with a group.
Anyone can be your mock interviewer as long as they have a list of relevant questions and can give you good feedback. But a career counselor or a professional in your field would be the best person to do a mock interview with. You can also ask a family member or friend, as long as they can give you honest advice.
Why is it a good idea to do mock interviews?
During mock interviews, you can try out different ways to answer the same questions to find the best one. You don’t have to pick one answer and remember it. Instead, you can feel confident answering with details that fit the question and setting best. Also, your answer will sound less scripted and more like a natural conversation.
If you go to mock interviews, you might feel less nervous during this part of the job search process. You can get used to the setting and the kinds of questions you’ll be asked if you put yourself in the same situation.
How to prepare for a mock job interview
To get ready for your mock interview, do these eight things:
1. Dress appropriately
How you look is an important part of the interview because dressing professionally can make a good impression on the hiring manager. For both in-person and video interviews, dress like you’re going to a real interview. As part of the test, your mock interviewer should look at how you dress professionally so they can give you feedback on how you come across.
2. Act like you’re in an interview
When you feel comfortable in an interview, you can focus on your answers and how you talk to the person asking you questions. Try to make an interview setting that is as close to the real one as possible so that you can get used to it.
For a face-to-face interview, try to look like you’re in a room with a desk or table between you and the interviewer. Just like at a real interview, you should be able to put your resume or portfolio on the table.
If you’re getting ready for a phone interview, choose a quiet place with good reception. Before you use your phone, make sure the battery is full. Since a recruiter will call you, set up a time for your mock interviewer to call you.
3. Pick the right person with whom to talk.
Your interviewer should be able to ask you a variety of questions about the job and the industry and give you specific feedback on how you answered. Check with your local career center to see if they offer mock interviews in your field, or use a mentor or coworker instead.
Bring your resume and anything else you might need.
Just like you would for a real interview, bring copies of your resume, portfolio, and any other information your interviewer might need. Your mock interviewer should be able to give you feedback on these things so you can change what you bring to the real interview.
5. Don’t try to answer quickly.
A “mock interview” gives you a chance to think carefully about questions and come up with answers that fit your qualifications and skills. Use the STAR method in as many of your answers as possible to show the interviewer what you can do. When you answer using the STAR method, you include all of the following:
- Give some information about what was going on at the time you are talking about.
- Describe what you are doing.
- Action: Describe what you did in detail.
- Result: Say what happened because of what you did, and if you can, use numbers.
- Take the time to practice answers that fully answer the question and make an impression on the interviewer.
6. Learn about the business
Check out the company’s website, social media posts, and any news articles that might be available. You should know what their mission is, what their values are, and what important changes have happened recently. Try to use what you’ve learned about the company in your practice answers to show the hiring manager that you’re interested in the job.
7. Look over the interview requirements.
You can either give your interviewer a syllabus or ask your career counselor how they will judge how well your interview went. You want to make sure that your mock interviewer tells you how you look, how well you answer questions, how well you communicate, and how qualified you are for the job. They should be able to tell you what you did well and what you need to work on.
You might want to talk to more than one person so that you can get different ideas. You can figure out where you need to make changes by talking to different people and looking for patterns in what they say.
8. Make a note of it
Your mock interviewer should give you useful feedback, but if you record the interview, you can look back and see how you did. When you look at or listen to your recording, make notes. Watch how you stand and how you move your hands and face. Make sure your tone and speed of speech sound friendly and like you’re having a conversation. After listening to the recording, try your interview again to see if there are any parts you need to work on.
