I have them use another student, a friend, as a mock potential employer. They go through "practice interview day".
Relax, relax, relax, and then relax again! I coach students how to shake hands (many offer their left hand), maintain eye contact, good posture, enthusiasm for the position and the employer, get plenty of sleep, google the address or make a dry run to the interview location, purchase interview business clothing (yard sales, thrift stores, etc.). I share my favorite bad interview stories to laugh and make them feel at ease since they would never:
1.Bring a cat to an interview
2.Bring their parents to an interview
3.Wear a prom dress to an interview
4.Wear flip flops to an interview
5.Change from biking gear into a suit in the reception area
All true stories!
Amanda,
It's definitely a good idea to give them a list of potential questions--especially the harder ones--so that they aren't surprised when they go in for the interview. I find one of the most common and difficult requests in interviews is "Tell me about yourself"; this one requires a good deal of practice.
Elizabeth Kemler
The instructors do practice mock interviews with the students. We also give them list of potential questions they may be ask to review on their own time. If they have concerns after that we ask they come and speak with us for more practice.
suzet,
This sounds good. When you say you do mock interviews with the class, do you mean you work with each student individually?
Elizabeth Kemler
As an intructor, I would help my students to prepare for an interview by doing mock interviews with the class. Also, having them fill out answers of questions that employers may ask and reading them outloud for them to get feed back is a good way to prepare them mentally and phisically for the interview.
Giselle,
Its a great idea to have them share their various experiences--especially since there are so many different types of interviews being done these days..and of course its great to learn from one anothers mistakes.
Elizabeth Kemler
In class we review the different types of interviews that employers are conducting today and ask for students to share their experiences. For example, one of my students shared about a Skype interview they had recently. We also spoke about panel, phone, serial, and role playing interviews.
Jessica,
There's nothing better for preparation!
Elizabeth Kemler
I am a huge fan of mock interviews and playing out all sorts of instances that can happen within an interview. Practice makes perfect.
zulema,
I love this idea! It is definitely empowering for the student to remember that they are valuable and have something valuable to offer.
Elizabeth Kemler
I always recommend to be themselves and to keep in mind that they also have a choice in the interview. I find that this attitude gives them a sense of power.)
Felicia,
You seem to have a really good handle on how to prepare students for interviews; I love that you have them do a number of mock interviews and dress for success which I always recommend.
Elizabeth Kemler
How I prepare our students for interviews we have a person who have worked in human resource this person does mock interviews with our students not just one time but several times, this also help the students when our school host job fairs, also as the job coach I coordinate an actual interview with a potential employer after the students have went through mock interviews, dress for success, and questions that are asked in an interview.
Nora,
I think its a great idea to do this over the course of the year. One of the biggest problems career service professionals face is having students arrive in their office totally unprepared.
Elizabeth Kemler
The best way to prepare mentally and physically for an interview will be having students doing
Mock interviews, also to write down interview questions-answers to employers.
Offering exercises over the year will allow students to feel comfortable the day of leaving the school and going for a real interview.
Ashley,
This sounds like a great approach. I love the idea of treating it like a meeting to take some of the pressure off.
Elizabeth Kemler
Sometimes my students tend to get very nervous for interviews and feel that they have to say all the right things in order to get the position. I discuss with my students that they should think of the interview as just a "meeting"; a meeting that is used for the employer to get to know them as they get to know the employer. I explain the importance of them asking questions and that sometimes they can catch an employer off guard in a good way because the employer starts to see how interested the candidate is in the position. By mock interviewing my students, I am able to see how well they dress for an interview and we discuss their outfit and what works and what is inappropriate.
Hector,
It's also good for them to get consistent practice.
Elizabeth Kemler
By conducting mock interviews it helps students a lot, Helps them see what they are doing wrong and rite.
