As with every skill, talent, and expertise, the more you do it, the better you’ll be at it. Yes, the old saying is indeed true: Practice makes perfect—particularly with job interviews. For best results, don’t go into an interview cold. A mock interview can help you formulate smart answers and show you where your weak spots are.
“As tedious as it may sound to practice for job interviews,” says Profenaa career coach, “it can make a dramatic difference, especially for people who don’t have a lot of interview experience or haven’t interviewed for a job in a while. Mock interviews give you the opportunity to think through what questions you’re going to be asked and how to articulate your thoughts.”
“A mock interview is like a dress rehearsal,” where you get to flex your interview skills in a safe environment and learn from your mistakes. Consequently, doing mock interviews can also boost your self-confidence, which will come in handy the next time you sit down for a real job interview.
Practice these frequently asked interview questions:
Although there’s no way of knowing exactly what questions you’re going to be asked at a given interview, it’s still beneficial to prepare for common interview questions
Interview questions can vary depending on the type of industry you’re in, but hiring managers tend to ask candidates these questions:
- “Tell me about yourself.” This is often the first question interviewers ask, but they don’t want to hear your life story or a summary of what’s on your resume. “This question gives you an opportunity to set the tone for the interview, so don’t go through a rote download of your background,” she advises. Your best approach is to explain how your background, knowledge, and interests intersect with the job you’re interviewing for.
- “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” When it comes time to talk up your skills, focus on traits or accomplishments that align with the requirements of the position. And as for weaknesses, “be honest but follow up with how you’re improving your skills,”. For example, instead of saying, “I’m a terrible public speaker,” you’d say: “I’m not a natural public speaker, but I’m taking a course to improve my performance.”
- “What are your career goals?” Rather than saying what milestones you’re aiming for (e.g., “My goal is to be a corporate VP by the time I am 35”), frame your answer around what skills you’re looking to develop. For instance, “In five years, I want to have gained solid experience in marketing communications and carved a niche in social media marketing.”
- “Why do you want to work at our company?” To ace this question, you have to thoroughly research your prospective employer and explain why you’re the right cultural fit. A good starting point is to read the company’s mission statement to see how your experience and background have prepared you to support the company’s goals.
Ready for the real thing? Do this next
Now that you know how to rock the mock interview, you’re ready for the real thing. Could you use some help getting in front of hiring managers? Join Profenaa today. As a member, you can upload your resume and cover letter—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Profenaa every day looking for candidates to fill top jobs. Get on their radar.