“Congratulations! You got shortlisted for the interview round.”
An interview call from your dream company should lift up your spirits, right? But why is it giving you the chills? Why are you feeling a sense of foreboding? Why are you suddenly nervous when you should be jumping with joy?
Don’t worry. You’re not alone. According to a 2016 study by Harris Interactive and Everest College, 92% of U.S. adults are anxious about job interviews. The major causes of this anxiety are being too nervous, being stumped by an employer’s question or not being prepared. Pretty dismal, huh?
The good news? There is a solution. Mock interviews.
What is a mock interview?
A mock interview is a simulation of the real job interview. A number of career counselors/centers conduct mock interviews. With the advent of technology, you can practice interviews at home using pre-recorded questions and there are even many providers who conduct practice interviews online in real time and provide you with instant feedback.
But often a doubt arises. Do I even need mock interviews?
“Practice makes perfect”
Everyone benefits from practice, no matter how much of a novice or pro they are.
Even good communicators or public speakers often falter during interviews, because humans communicate in more ways than we can imagine. Those eagle-eyed hiring managers notice the tiniest of your actions as soon as you walk in. Even though your words may sound impressive, your poor/ill-coordinated body language could play spoilsport.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” ~ Benjamin Franklin
People divert a lot of energy and time in constructing an appealing cover letter and an impeccable CV. But what about interviews?
They usually-
- Research about the company, the job profile(s) etc.
- Make a list of generally asked questions or recall previously-asked questions (if it’s not the first time)
- Prepare answers to these questions
It is strange, given the importance of interviews, that people don’t put much of an effort in its preparation. It is a golden chance to prove one’s worth, to prove that those shining words on one’s CV were not mere statements. It is a ‘do or die’ moment. It is, thus, in one’s own best interest, to truly prepare for the interview process. This is where mock interviews come in.
How can mock interviews help students?
A good mock interviewer can work wonders and help you set apart from your fellow interviewees. Mock interviews-
- Give you a clearer perspective on how interviews work. You get to know the general questions which tend to be asked in interviews. You can even get to practice special questions like the behavioral ones.
- Help bust anxiety and nervousness. It is okay to feel the nerves but when they get in the way of you and your job, things turn pretty unpleasant. Mock interviews help you to adapt to the ‘interview environment’ and familiarize you with the situation.
- Get a personalized feedback on your performance. This is one of the most important benefits of mock interviews. You can get to know where all you went wrong and what you can do to overcome those errors.
- Get tips and tricks for giving an effective interview. Mock interviewers often tell you about body language hacks that can help you to seal the deal.
- Can help you to analyze your own performance and formulate strategies for the real thing.