It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious before an interview. It’s not something we do every day, so we don’t get a lot of practice. But maybe that’s the trick to acing your next interview? Could practice make perfect? Here is how to have a mock interview before the real one to help you put your nerves to rest.
Interview Soon? Try a Mock Run First!
Choose the Right Interview Partner
The first step is to choose someone to help you out. It can’t be just anyone because you want honest, expert feedback on your questions. Most often, people will work with a friend or family member, which can be an okay choice for some instances. For example, if the role is generic and your friend has broad business experience, they might be able to provide valuable feedback. It’s even better if you know someone in your chosen industry.
Pick a Place
You want to recreate the experience of an interview as best as possible. In-person is the best option, choosing a location representing a professional setting. Wear the same professional attire you would for the actual interview. It’s also worth considering that many companies conduct interviews over Zoom or other video conferencing platforms. It could be helpful to have feedback on that format as well.
Don’t Memorize Your Answers
An interview aims to provide excellent and memorable answers but not sound forced or rehearsed. For this reason, don’t memorize your answers. You may think memorization might be the best way to ensure you cover everything, but an interview should be a conversation, not a series of repeatable answers. Practice your tone and delivery.
Practice Commonly Asked Questions
It can be helpful to practice some of the most commonly asked questions to develop your method for answering them. They include:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your long-term goals?
- Why do you want to work at our company?
- What questions do you have for us?
Ready For Your Next Interview? Did You Do a Mock Run First?
Call Recruiting in Motion to see how we can help.
