It was 8am on a sunny Thursday morning as I took the Metrolink down to the medical school to meet my mentor. I had just pressed out the wrinkles in my new suit and my professional attire helped me to exude confidence. Despite the fact that my mentor told me he would ask difficult questions I felt prepared. We met in his office, shook hands and began, establishing an easy exchange. Things were going quite well until he started asking me questions I had never heard before. I was broadsided and started to lose my composure stumbling over my vision of the next ten years of my life and the goals I had formed about my career path. To say the least, it was a complete disaster. Or was it? It was a mock interview after all and though my mentor was proud to have caught me off guard, he did get his point across about what it takes to truly be prepared for an interview. Most importantly, I learned from this experience and when I interviewed recently I knew exactly what to expect, answering questions fluidly and coherently.
Whether you are planning on entering the workforce, applying to graduate programs, or preparing for an internship, learning how to present yourself to others is an important skill to have. The Career Center offers mock interviews which can give you a chance to practice and find your common slip-ups before you ever shake the hands of a recruiter. In addition, we have resources such as packets of commonly asked questions, how do dress, and skills to help you promote yourself. This process is especially important if you are a senior who is beginning their job search. If you have not heard about it yet, I strongly encourage you to sign up for the Senior Prep Series or SPS. It is required in order to apply for jobs listed on CareerLink and it includes a mock interview for the job of your choice which will help you to come ready and confident for your first interviews.
-Stephanie
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