#8 You Need Mock Interviews? Come On, Don’t Mock Me!

Interview practice could increase your confidence during critical interviews. This will help you polish your interview abilities. A mock interview is a practical way to get ready for a real interview, along with a potential employer. They enable you to practice interviewing in a similar environment, permitting you to feel at ease with the setting.

In this chapter, we will discuss what a mock interview is, its benefits, and provide tips on how you could prepare for it.

What is a Mock Interview?

A mock interview is a type of practice interview, enabling you to make efficient responses. It allows you to become acquainted with the interview setting and work on your non-verbal communication skills. This type of interview could reconstruct any interview setting like group, phone, or in-person interviews.

Any person could become your mock interviewer. You only need to keep in mind that they must have a list of related questions, and they could offer practical and useful feedback in the end.

Nonetheless, a professional within your industry or a career counselor would be the ideal choice for a mock interview. What’s more, you could also ask for help from your friend or a family member, as long as they could offer fair and honest feedback.  

Benefits of a Mock Interview

Mock interviews offer applicants and candidates a chance to test out their skills on job interview together with someone who is not assessing them for an actual job. Below are some of the awesome benefits of having a mock interview before your actual interview:

·     Get ready for interview questions that are based on behaviors

You might not be aware of it, but most organizations utilize behavioral-based questions in the interview. It might be practical to do it in a mock interview, especially if you are not acquainted with this kind of interview.

·     Offer constructive response in a low-stress setting

Mock interviews will allow you to clear replies to particular questions. Take note that a real interview will not provide you feedback about your interviewing skills. A mock interview is an ideal method to know why you’re struggling to land your dream job.

·     Strengthen your confidence

Having confidence in your abilities will allow you to do great in a real interview. A mock interview will offer you time to deal with your weaknesses and develop your strengths.

·     Lower anxiety and stress before the interview

Mock interviews offer a chance to ‘test drive’ your interview answers, especially if you are not certain how to answer them.

How to Do Your Mock Interview

You could prep for your mock interview by the following steps:

·     Practice with a mentor or professional career coach (if you know any)

You could take advantage of the career services center at your school if you’re an alumna or college student.

A professional career coach or mentor giving interviews is in the ideal position to see common errors.

They will offer you specific tips for improvement, which will surely make a difference. That’s the feedback you could always count on!

·     Visit as many recruitment agencies and practice with consultants

If you don’t have any family members or friends who could help you practice mock interviews, don’t worry. You could also visit recruitment agencies and try to practice with a consultant.

Ideally, your consultant must ask you a series of questions connected to your field and role. They will offer particular feedback on your responses. You could also check along with your local career center to know if they provide mock interviews in your industry.

·     Practice with companies you have applied to but probably not in the top lists

If you are not in a scenario where you could partake in a mock interview with a professional career coach or a consultant, you could still practice with secondary companies you’ve applied to but not on top lists.

The more you get ready for the job interview, the more at ease you will be with the actual interview process.

·     Record yourself doing the interviews

You will find different reasons why you must record yourself while in a mock interview. It adds a bit of pressure, offering you an opportunity to handle your nerves. This also enables you to get more at ease with being under strong inspection.

It will offer you as well as your interviewer an opportunity to assess your performance. Recording yourself will help you highlight the areas, which could have been powerful.

·     Ask for feedback after the mock interview

Ensure you remain open to the feedback the critique offers you instead of responding sensitively. Take note that the entire purpose of performing a mock interview is to obtain an external perspective on your performance, helping your efforts to enhance.

Well-meaning folks often are too engrossed in assessing the weak areas to be as effective and cooperative as possible. It is okay to ask for some good impressions when the critique begins to feel overpowering. That will allow you to change gears and place some concentration on what you’re doing great.

The MOST IMPORTANT PART: “Do You Have Any Questions?” Prepare for All These Questions and Ask Them at Least Three.

This question is typical at the end of all types of job interviews. Thus, it makes sense to prepare for it ahead of time and be ready. Create a set of questions that you like answered. Bear in mind that your questions might change a bit based upon the interviewer. Prepare a few questions, as most of them might be addressed throughout the interview.

NOTE: For best results, make sure you always come early at least ten to fifteen minutes. ensure you dress for success as if you are going for the actual interview already. Your look is a vital part of the interview. Your mock interview must assess your professional punctuality and dress as part of the testing stage.

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Hey, thanks for reading this post up to this sentence. Now, I know you're probably wondering, "Why do you post this article?" 

Well, I first started my career journey as a headhunter and the reason why I jumped into recruitment is that I didn't know what I want back then. I thought the best thing to do is to interview thousands of people, understanding their roles and industries. With this exposure, I was able to understand the mind of the recruiters, hiring managers, and years later had the privilege to be in various roles with top global companies.

I am forever grateful to all the people that came into my life and showed me that I have what it takes to pursue my goals. Today, I am on a mission to help driven & ambitious people to get in front of global leaders & world-changing companies.

If you think you have benefited from this sharing, I hope you can pay it forward by sharing this article and connect with me to always inspire each other. Stay tuned for more brewing on #rioslab. God bless!