Conducting a mock interview

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

You probably already prepare answers to many of the commonly asked interview questions. But do you record yourself answering them in an interview setting and then critique your performance? There are multiple reasons to record yourself while you're practising. So if you aren't already doing this you should consider it.

Prepare your answers for the questions you think you'll be asked during an interview.

This works best with another person where they ask questions and you answer them. However you can do it by yourself and play both roles if there isn't anyone available to help you. If you have a partner, get them to prepare a list of questions to ask you. But don't look at what they've written. This way it will be more like a real interview as you won't know everything beforehand and you may have to think on your feet to answer them.

Don't worry if you don't have a partner to help you. The purpose of recording yourself practising your answers isn't just to get comfortable talking about yourself in front of other people. It's also about checking what you're saying, how you say it, and how you act. I'm sure many of you don't have a problem talking with other people about yourself. But for some people it can be a nervous and uncomfortable experience. The more you practise the better you'll do.

Once you're prepared it's time to conduct the interview and record your performance using a camera, webcam, or phone. You can use a voice recorder if nothing else is available. But this means you won't get any visual information such as body language.

Once you've conducted your mock interview it's time to review your recording and evaluate yourself. Think about some of the following things.

How did you sound during the interview? Were you confident and easy to hear? The interviewer needs to be able to hear you so make sure you're speaking loud enough. Speaking loud enough won't matter though if you mumble. So make sure you also try to speak as clearly as you can.

How clearly were you able to communicate your ideas or information to the interviewer? Keep an eye on how many times you resort to using filler words throughout your sentences. Repeated use of words such as like, uh, and um make you sound unsure, even if you're not. Another factor in communicating clearly is how concise you are. It's important to discuss all information you think is relevant. But if you take a while to get to the point, what you're trying to communicate may get lost among everything else you tell them.

If you want more information about cutting down on your use of filler words go here - How can I avoid filler words

What questions did you have difficulty answering, or weren't able to answer at all? If you found yourself stumped by a particular question than it's time to think about how you'd answer in a real interview. You're not going to be able to prepare for every question an interviewer may ask you. But by doing research about the company and the job you're applying for, you'll be more prepared to provide an answer.

Once you've reviewed your recording and noted what areas you're weakest in, it's time to work towards improving those areas. With practise you'll gain confidence so your nerves don't hold you back.

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