Your mock interview assignment offers a great chance to refine your interview skills with guidance from a Career Hub staff member. Mock interviews for the V252/H267 class will be conducted virtually as group interviews, where you’ll respond to questions alongside a few other O’Neill students. The interviewer will ask you common interview questions and coach you on how to answer them effectively.
Attendance/No-Show Policy: Attendance is required for mock interviews. If you miss your scheduled mock interview, you will receive 0 points for this assignment.
How to Prepare for Your Mock Interview
- Register for the mock interview following the instructions given by your instructor, ensuring it’s done by the due date.
- Add the date and time of your mock interview to your calendar, and set reminders (you won’t be able to access this info after registering).
- Be ready to confidently answer the question: “Tell me about yourself.”
- Develop your STAR responses (details below).
- Practice interview questions on Zoom, record yourself, and review your responses, body language, and eye contact.
- Maintain an attitude that is enthusiastic, sincere, professional, and appreciative throughout.
Developing your Interview Answers
Behavioral interviews are a common interviewing style used by many companies. The idea behind this method is simple: your past behavior is the best indicator of your future performance. In your interview, your responses should be specific, detailed, and relevant to the position. Here are some tips to help you construct strong answers:
- Provide specific examples rather than general statements.
- Listen carefully to each question and ask for clarification if needed.
- Give enough background information to set the context, then explain the actions you took and the outcome.
- Maintain a positive attitude and speak respectfully about all individuals you’ve worked with.
- Create STAR responses for the sample questions below and practice saying them out loud. Aim to sound confident and genuine.
Prepare Your STAR Responses!
- S (Situation): Briefly describe the situation or context.
- T (Task): Explain the task you were assigned or the challenge you faced.
- A (Action): Focus on the specific actions you took. Emphasize the skills you used and avoid vague “we” statements.
- R (Result): Describe the outcome of your actions and, if applicable, mention what you learned from the experience.
Common Behavioral Interview Questions
- Describe a time when you had to analyze information and make a recommendation.
- Share an instance where you had to think quickly to resolve a difficult situation.
- Tell me about a time when you used written communication skills to convey your point.
- Give an example of a time when you found an innovative solution to a challenge.
- Discuss a difficult decision you had to make in the past year.
- Share a time when you adjusted to a colleague’s working style to meet project goals.
- Explain how a variety of perspectives contributed to the success of a project you worked on.
- Describe a situation where you faced resistance while in a leadership role.
- Tell me about a time when you worked under a tight deadline.
- Share a time when you explained a complex issue to someone with little knowledge of the topic.
- What steps have you taken in the past year to improve your skills, knowledge, or expertise?
- Describe a time when you didn’t live up to your full potential.
- Tell me about a time when you worked on a team and one member wasn’t pulling their weight.
- Explain an accomplishment you’re proud of and the steps you took to ensure its success.
- Describe a time when you had to manage multiple competing responsibilities or projects.
Mock Interview Day Checklist:
- Dress business casual for the interview.
- Ensure you won’t be interrupted during your interview.
- Prepare your space with pen and paper for notes, a water bottle, and a copy of your resume for reference.
- Clear any clutter from the area visible on your camera.
- Sign into Zoom early to test your camera and microphone.
- Close unnecessary applications on your computer.
- Set your phone to silent and keep it out of view.
- Adjust the lighting in the room to ensure you’re clearly visible.
- Log into the Career Hub Zoom room 5 minutes before your interview to check in.
- Make sure your Zoom name includes both your first and last name for attendance.
- After the interview, thank the interviewer for their time and feedback.
- Complete the mock interview reflection and submit it on Canvas.
Good luck with your mock interview!
