Successful Interview
How to get your students prepared to have a successful interview
Cesar G ,
I like that you separate the interviews according to the skills you're observing. There really is no way to focus on devising effective interview answers while also concentrating on your presentation skills, when you are new to both skill sets.
Elizabeth Kemler
I prepare my students to become successful interviewers by planning 3 mock interviews before graduation. The first, I will only evaluate their communication skills and interview technique. I will provide feedback on their responses and ways to improve their answers. The second, I require the student to in cooperate a portfolio. I will provide feedback on their resume, portfolio order and interview responses. By the third interview, the student should have already ironed out all the kinks. The third mock interview is usually a time to answer any questions or doubts the student may have. Many of my students tell me that the method of preparation we use helps their interviews go easy and stress free.
Deborah,
I'm so glad that you mentioned the thank you note-I agree with you absolutely on the importance of that--to bad it's so often overlooked!
Elizabeth Kemler
I have found that many of our students really have no idea how to prepare and do an interview. I teach the class that prepares the students for their job searches. It is my speciality and being a small school I am able to teach those classes. I work with the students on their confidence, how to best answer the questions and especially the follow up "thank you letter". Many of my students call to tell me they got the job offer after they received the thank you letter.
Manuel,
Can you be more specific about the kinds of resources you offer your students? Also, how many mock interviews do you typically do?
Elizabeth Kemler
Mock interviews, support, motivation, resources
patricia,
Being calm is certainly the ideal but it's a hard place to get to! The more interview practice opportunities you give your students, the more prepared and calmer they are likely to be.
Elizabeth Kemler
Just be prepared right? Be calm.
Theresa,
What a great thing to offer--I'm sure that gives students an extra boost of confidence.
Elizabeth Kemler
We do mock interviews with them and tell them to call us when they get an interview. Then we ask if they feel like they need to go over a few questions before hand. It works, 9 out of 10 come back in after they graduate.
may
This is the ideal way to prepare them in my opinion. I'm particularly glad to hear that you have them research them company. By giving them a better sense of what might be asked, and what they might want to ask, you also increase their confidence going into an interview.
Elizabeth Kemler
I have the students research the company and the person interviewing them. Then perform a mock interview and dress rehearsal. I also help them with questions they should ask at the end of interview.
Amy,
This makes so much sense--every school should be doing this but alas, they are not.
Elizabeth Kemler
During their entire educational program, we develop a constant relationship with our students so we are not just introduced "at the end". We attend their classes and do a "mock interview" in front of the class where i have an interviewer ask me questions and I am "candidate A" (a bad interviewee and "candidate B" (an excellent interviewee). They then identify which candidate they would hire and why. We discuss what candidate A did wrong (chewing gum, bad posture, answering the phone, saying a skill for a weakness) and how they could answer better. They love it and it encourages them to come for mock interviews when the time comes for real.
Veronica,
That helps a great deal--I always recommend doing as many as you can so they become comfortable and have a chance to answer the questions in different ways until they figure out what sounds best.
Elizabeth Kemler
The best way to prepared my students is doing a mock interview with them.
Tania,
Yes, absolutely! Treating the mock interview as 'real' is the best way to prepare students for the actual interview.
Elizabeth Kemler
First of all, having an interaction with my student, make them feel relax and confident, doing the mock interview. Treating the mock interview as a "real" from an actual job posting, researching the company, professional dress, etc. I experienced this best practice always help the studedents for the interviews.
Nicole,
I think your approach makes a lot of sense. I also think that its worth actually doing the mock interview as well so they get some practice saying what they want to say in an interview. They will very likely be more nervous before the job interview than practicing with you, and its good to work with nervousness to see you can overcome it!
Elizabeth Kemler
