Interviewing Tip: Practice Makes Perfect

Posted by Krista at 6:57 pm

Interviewing can be very nerve-racking. You have one chance to show the hiring manager what you are all about and what you can bring to the table. Practicing your interview technique will not only make you more confident, but it can allow you to make mistakes before they count. There are a few ways you can practice interviewing:

Mock Interview

If you are still in school, your department should have free mock interviews you can participate in. This way you can get tips and advice on how to improve and what your strengths are from someone a little more experienced.

You can also ask some of your closest friends or family to come over and interview you (especially if they are in HR). The most important thing here is that you take it seriously and respect them as you would any interviewer.

Prepare Answers and Questions

Look up the most commonly asked interview questions and prepare answers for them. Practicing your answers in the mirror is a great way to make sure you are not making any facial expressions that could come off as negative or uninterested.

You may also prepare some questions you have for the hiring manager about the company, position or environment.

Record Yourself

You can do this with any video camera. Just pretend you are interviewing and record how you answer. You can critique yourself and also get a feel for how you look and sound during an interview.

Whatever you decide to do to practice, you will go into the interview feeling more confident and one step ahead of the competition!

For more interviewing tips, visit the StratStaff blog.