An Overview of Mock Interviews

An Overview of Mock InterviewsAn Overview of Mock InterviewsA mock bewerbungsbewerbungsbewerberinterview, also known as a practice interview, is a simulation of an actual job interview. It provides you with an opportunity to practice for an interview and receive feedback. A typical mock interview is a practice job interview held with a professional career counselor. A mock interview helps you learn how to answer difficult questions, develop interview strategies, improve your communication skills and reduce your stress before an actual job interview. During a mock interview, the interviewer may use asemi-structured interviewformat rather than asking a formal list of questions. In-Person Mock Interviews Many college career centers and career counselors offer in-person mock interviews. If youre a college student or graduate, check with your career office to see if they provide in-person or phone or video mock interviews. If youre not affiliated with a college or university, a career coach or counselor is another vorkaufsrecht for practice interviewing. You can make an appointment with a mock interviewer, and provide her with information on either a specific company with whom you are interviewing or your general career field. The more specific information you can provide for your mock interviewer, the better. The mock interviewer will often record the interview with a video camera. Some career centers and career counselors also offer mock phone and online video interviews and will record your interview on a tape recorder or with a webcam. After the mock interview (which usually lasts about 30 minutes), the interviewer will then review the interview with you, and provide feedback. Examples of Mock Interview Questions The questions asked during a mock interview are typically the more generalemployer interview questionsthat are asked during a first round or screening interview. However, for candidates who know what type of position, career field or industry th ey are interested in,job-specific interview questionsmay be asked. If you are using a mock interview toprepare for a job interviewyou have scheduled with a company, the interviewer may be able to ask you actual questions that are asked by hiring managers at the company. Glassdoor.com hascompany interview questionscontributed by site visitors for many companies. When you schedule a mock interview with your college career center ora career coach, provide them with as much information as possible about your interests and goals. The more information the counselor has, the better able he or she will be to tailor the questions to fit the actual interviews you will have. For example, if you are searching for a tech job, the interviewer can ask a series oftech interview questionsto familiarize you with the types of questions that will be asking and to help you frame good responses. If youre interviewing for a summer job, as another example, the interviewer can ask you the samequestionsyou w ill be asked by the people who hire for summer positions. Do take the time to prepare responses to the questions you will be asked during a mock interview. This is an opportunity to practice interviewing and to make sure that you havethe interview skillsto make the best impression on your interview. How to Prepare for a Mock Interview Be sure to take your mock interview as seriously as you would an actual interview. Get ready for the interview just as you would for an interview with a hiring manager Arrive 10 - 15 minutes early, and bring your resume and any other materials you would bring to a real interview.Bring a notebook to take notes on what your mock interviewer tells you.Dress in professionalinterview attire. You should also prepare answers to generalinterview questionsbefore arriving. Heres more information onmock interview questionsincluding sample questions and answers you can review to get ready for your interview. If you have a mock interview to prepare for a specif ic job or career field, also review unterstellungjob-specific interview questions. Mock interviews are an ideal way to practice for real job interviews because you are in a situation that mirrors an actual interview with a company. When you review your interview with the interviewer, youll be able to modify your responses and interview behavior, if necessary. Set Up Your In-Person Mock Interview If youre not in a situation where you can participate in a mock interview with a professional counselor you can recruit a family member or friend to help you practice interviewing. The more you prepare, the more comfortable you will be with interviewing. Heresmore on how to get ready for an interview. Online Mock Interviews Another option for mock interviewing is utilizing an online program or application. Online practice interview programs provide job seekers with a pressure-free way to prepare and practice for upcoming job interviews. Some of these programs are very basic users are given a series of random interview questions (either verbally or in writing) and type in answers. While these programs get users thinking about how to answer various questions, they do not allow users to practice verbalizing responses. More sophisticated interview practice programs allow users to select questions related to their particular career field or the type of interview for which they are preparing (i.e.,behavioral interview,group interview, etc.). A pre-recorded video of a mock interviewer asks a series of questions the user must then orally answer each question. Sometimes users are given a time limit, so they learn to answer questions concisely. The program will record these audio answers, or users may be able to record themselves via webcam. After the simulated interview, the user can review his recording, or email the file to a friend, family member, or career counselor for review. Some programs even allow users to conduct liveonline interviewsvia webcam with actual car eer counselors. The interviewer records the interview and then critiques the users performance. Benefits of Practice Interviews Online practice interviews familiarize users with the interview process and allow users to practice answering common interview questions with confidence. Webcam practice interviews are particularly helpful in that you can review not only your answers, but your body language, eye contact, and interview attire. Fee-Based Interview Programs Be aware, however, that many of these online practice interview programs cost money, particularly the programs that record your interview or involve actual career counselors. Thoroughly review any online practice interview program make sure the program offers what you want at a cost that fits your budget.