Just as professional athletes need to practice before a big competition, practicing before a job interview is one of the best ways to ensure success. Whether accompanied by a professional, a family member, or on your own, simulating a question and answer game is a way to become aware of your presence in an interview and to practice answering questions you might be asked.
Practice interviews help prepare for the interview process and allow you to practice answering common interview questions with confidence. Videotaped practices are particularly useful since they allow you to review not only your answers, but also your body language, eye contact and interview attire.
Before you start
If you’re new to the job market or haven’t interviewed in a while, try to learn the interview format to avoid any surprises. If you understand how a job interview works, you will know what to expect.
You don’t need any surprises during the interview, so knowing the process, whether it’s a video, phone, or in-person interview, will help prepare you to make the best impression possible.
Ask for help
If you are not in a situation where you can participate in a mock interview with a professional such as your transition coach, you can ask someone you know for help. The more you prepare, the more comfortable you will be with interviews.
As you would with a professional, provide the person assisting you with a copy of your resume and a list of general and job-specific interview questions you think you will be asked. Dress as you would for a real interview, and remember to practice using an appropriate tone of voice and body language to answer your “interviewer’s” questions.
Record yourself practicing
Use the camera on your phone, tablet, or computer to record your answers and replay them as you view the recording. Evaluate your body language and responses to questions.
Pay attention to your posture and eye contact; you don’t want to get flustered, be too wordy, or appear unsure of yourself. If you don’t have a video camera or tape recorder, practice in front of a mirror.
[Read more on the post of how to prepare for a virtual interview]
Interview questions
General questions
The questions asked by the employer during a selection interview are generally recurrent. We suggest a list of questions below:
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Specific questions
Some questions may be specific to the professional field or industry. We recommend that you research the type of questions that may be asked in your industry. When practicing, include these questions to familiarize yourself with the type of questions and to formulate good answers.
In conclusion
Practice interviews will help reduce stress during your interview and allow you to focus on communicating with your interviewer rather than struggling to find answers. The more you know about the types of interview questions you will be asked, the better prepared you will be for the interview.
