Having confidence that shines through and simply being prepared are qualities that set people apart not only in everyday life, but also in mock interviews.
Mock interviews are “a practice interview in a controlled setting where you can be critiqued by a peer,” Robyn Bergstrom, the associate dean of the College of Business and Communication, said.
About a year ago the student-run mock interview program was created and within a month it was functioning smoothly. “Students were involved in researching and designing the information that is on the mock interview Web site as well as a training packet for the people who conduct the interviews,” Bergstrom said.
The whole idea of the program was for students to be more comfortable in interviews. “One of the biggest challenges facing students is a lack of interviewing skills, we looked at programs across the country, several schools have things which are similar but that number has grown in just the last year,” Bergstrom said.
Sign-ups for this year start January 31 and end the week before finals. Mock interviews are not available during devotionals, Saturdays or Sundays. It is highly recommended for students in the College of Business and Communication to participate in mock interviews, but students of all majors are welcome to participate in this worthwhile experience.
The best way for students to sign up for an interview is to visit the College of Business and Communication Web site at www.byui.edu/busandcomm, and click on the interview link. Not only is there a link for students to sign up, but there is also a lot of information about interviewing “do’s and don’ts” and ways to prepare for an interview.
For individuals who are preparing for an interview, there are some very important details to keep in mind. Confidence, body language, eye contact, tone and range of voice are key. Coming in with knowledge of the company, questions of different sorts, and the ability to answer questions given are vital. And words such as “um,” “ah” and “like” need to be noted and terminated.
“What sets people apart is not necessarily their answers, but the confidence that they hold within themselves. Employers can teach their employees basic skills and such, but you have to have a confidence in yourself that shows,” Peter Allen, a senior from Scottsdale, Ariz., said. Another student gave a different perspective.
“What sets people apart is how prepared they are. And you can tell if they have questions prepared or if they are coming because they have to,” Tawnya Ho Kum, a senior from Newark, Calif., said.
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