The Mock Video-Taped Interview

Any technique can be learned and perfected through practice. Being a good debator, conversationalist, or classroom presenter does not necessarily guarantee success in an interview. With practice, you can develop confidence and poise handling interview questions. A video-taped mock interview with a counselor can provide you with feedback on body language, eye contact, and other subtle distractions, and help you with responses to those hard-to-handle interview questions. A video-taped interview at the OCS consists of a one-half hour practice interview followed by a one-half hour playback critiqued by you and the counselor.

The Importance of the Interview

Employers, graduate school admission boards, recruiters, and career counselors state emphatically that the successful candidate is the one who comes to the interview well prepared. Cover letters, resumes, application forms, essays, transcripts, and recommendations determine whether you will be selected for an interview. How you handle yourself in the interview will determine if you obtain your goal. 

The Purpose of the Interview

An interview is a two-way conversation with a purpose. The interviewer's role is to evaluate you to determine if you have the skills, motivation, and personality to succeed in a particular position, and to determine if there is a "fit" between you, the organization, work environment, and the specific position. Your role is to find out if this organization, work environment, and position match your needs for satisfying work, and to help the employer see the match between your background and the position. Inteviewing is basically an evaluation technique.

Preparation for a Practice Session

In order to maximize the results of your mock interview, we suggest you determine what position you hope to attain. Click here to link to the OCS Guide to Interviewing  and become familiar with the questions it contains. A week before your practice session, e-mail a copy of your resume, cover letter and a description of the job  to the counselor. This will help the counselor address your specific needs.

NOTE:  If you do not have a specific job in mind, you might find a job description online or just make one up.

NOTE:  If you dress in interview attire, you will see yourself as an employer will see you.  The goal is to make the mock session more like a real interview.

If you have any questions about this process. please contact the OCS at (207) 786-6232.