Believe it or not, I use guided imagery to help students/grads to calm & center before an interview. So many have found it very beneficial.
I make an appt. with them in which they must dress & present themselves as if I am a potential employer. Beforehand, I give them the choice of what business this will be (from the list of businesses they've researched). I give them the assignment of making a list of questions they want further info on regarding the company. I also hae them reflect on a few of the questions from my question list (I never give them all of them... Heehee)I tell them that when we meet, I want them to critique themselves of where they did fabulously & what needs improvement.
During that appt., we usually come up with the same areas.
Jason,
There is really nothing that can take the place of ongoing practice.
Elizabeth Kemler
I have to agree with the importance of using Mock Interview's to identify strength's and weaknesses in their interviewing skills. Then practicing to help them overcome their fears. Also by helping them to know what type of questions to expect, how to answer, as well as what type of questions they should be asking.
Susan,
I am a big fan of 'visioning'; I've always found that it inspires people to work harder when they 'see' what could lie ahead.
Elizabeth Kemler
We do a lot of vision work with students to help them understand the type of environment that they want to work in. We brainstorm and think outside the box in a "my dream job would be..." way. In doing so, the students get really excited about where they can work after all the effort they've put into their classwork. By having a solid vision of the type of environment in which a student wants, they become more confident and inspired to present themselves in the best light. It also helps reframe an intimidating situation into more of an exchange of information to see if we are the best fit for one another.
Jessica,
That's very true. Most people approach interviews as though everything is up to the interviewer so this is an important reminder.
Elizabeth Kemler
I advise the students that the interview goes both ways. I stress that they need to ask questions because ultimately their choice if they want to work for the company. Many of our students dont think to approach it that way.
Mignonne,
I like using video for this purpose; showing different interview styles is helpful as well. I also like videotaping students whenever possible.
Elizabeth Kemler
When preparing the students for "mock " interviews, I have them look at videos/presentations on how to prepare and to conduct themsleves for an interview. This gives them a general impression on how to go about the procedure and thereafter we have mock interviews.
Linda,
I love that quote..and how true it is. I like your approach with regards to the interviewer-I think it helps for the student to realize that the interviewer WANT them to do well, because they WANT to find the right candidate, which can be quite challenging.
Elizabeth Kemler
Anthony,
Yes that is certainly true; I would never consider calling a student out for their dress-you would lose credibility with the class. Pictures can definitely do the trick..and videos that you can find online.
Elizabeth Kemler
I try to help the student see things from the interviewers perspective, and how difficult it is to find a great employee. We discuss what qualities the student has and why they would hire themselves. I also stress the importance of preparedness...quoting Even Lisecheck (the Olympic figure skater),"My confidence comes from my preparedness."
First impressions is by far the biggest point you can get across that almost everyone will understand. Showing picutres of people who may be considered inappropriate works better than embarassing a student who may look exactly the same way.
Michelle,
Having the mock interviewer as someone who is in the field and knows what to ask is crucial.
Elizabeth Kemler
When I was in school having "mock" interviews were by the far the best training. The instructor brought up questions I wouldn't have thought of and many of these questions were actually on my interviews! Having instructors in the field I was studying was beneficial because they understood the environment I was going into.
Holly ,
It sounds like we have the very same approach to interview preparation. I firmly believe that this kind of practice and feedback is the only way to improve.
Elizabeth Kemler
I help students prepare for interviews by doing two activities:
The first is "peer interviews" where I pair the students up and give them each a different set of questions. They each take a turn playing the role of the interviewee and the interviewer. While conducting the interview, I instruct the students to take notes on the students answers to the questions and their body language and speaking skills. They then share this feedback with the student.
The second activity is a mock interview, which is set up with our career services department. The students come to class on the day of the interview fully dressed in appropriate attire and bring their professional portfolios. The career services department conducts mock interviews with each student and then provides them with a feedback sheet.
I feel that both of these activities give the students opportunities to learn and prepare before the real interview.
Susan,
Great idea on the information interview; it is such a good way to get some practice in a professional but lower pressure environment. The situation-based questions are also a great thing to practice; they give the employer a better idea of who the candidate is and how they will perform on the job, than the 'tell me about yourself' type questions.
Elizabeth Kemler
I also make use of mock interviews and "first impressions" for students. We review common interview questions and procedures as well as how body language can also impact an interview. As someone who also performed interviews, I also prepare the students with basic interview questions and also Situation Based questions as I find a lot of employers are moving in this direction. I also recommend the students try information interviews with potential employers as well. As an information interview is very conversational, I find this really builds confidence. Positive reinforcement also helps!
