What do you suggest for an extremely shy student to prepare?
Some students no matter how many mock interviews or how much prep I give them it just doesn't seem to help them in an interview. Do you have any other suggestions or tips?
Judi,
I think doing as many mock interviews as possible is a good place to start--and I strongly recommend video if you're able to incorporate that. I would also suggest having them do the mock interviews with different people so they begin to get comfortable with different personality types in an interview setting. If someone is naturally quiet it may be difficult to change that aspect of their personality even with the most efficacious of approaches; if, on the other hand the reticence comes from a lack of confidence, then helping them to focus on their strengths is a great place to start.
Elizabeth Kemler
This is something I deal with regularly because so many of the graduates are from other countries. Their self esteem and customs are very different. I spend a lot of time discussing eye contact and smiling. They do dress up and do mock interviews with their professors and receive the feed back. At times I would like to actually video their interview. I have just recently been told by a hospital chain that they are not interested in hiring shy, quiet nurses. They want those with great personalities who impress the patients while they are in the hospital. I am now telling all of those going to the hospital this information. Then I discuss how they can improve in this area.
Sheri,
I agree absolutely; building confidence in different ways will translate in greater confidence in an interview, and ultimately a job setting. I also agree on the idea of some 'practice' job interviews where the pressure is less.
Elizabeth Kemler
I think you would need to work on building the student's confidence any way you can. Congratulate her for a good test score, compliment her on her new hair cut.
One best practice is to meet the student at an employers job site or at a networking meeting and walk together to meet people. You can start the conversation and then introduce the student. Gradually the student will become more comfortable in those settings. I also recommend they go on a few interviews for jobs they don't really want to gain the experience.
Missy,
I think I may have inadvertently answered this in another box--if so, please disregard. I had said that I find it helps to lower the stakes of the mock interview by having them imagine that they are talking to a close friend or a grandmother perhaps and just having a casual conversation..I guide them through a few of those before slowly upping the stakes to more closely simulate an actual interview. Do you think that might help?
Elizabeth Kemler
