Successful Interviews | Origin: CS102
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Empowering Students to Find and Secure the Right Job --> Successful Interviews
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
This section discussed the importance of presentation and the importance of interview etiquette. It is important to dress professionally, act professionally, and to be confident in your appearance and ability to interact with the interviewer. I will use mock interviews to help students with interview etiquette and help them develop a check list to ensure they are prepared for the interview.
Handling an Unhappy Interviewer
While thinking about how to overcome internal challenges, it may also be worth spending a few minutes to brainstorm a plan of action for when the employer is less than kind.
Encourage students to come up with at least 5 questions so that learners can then generate a list of questions and ideas.
Once they have come up with those 5 questions to ask employer, you would ask them to articulate and demonstrate in a mock interview scenario that list of questions in a professional manner.
Your class's master list might include one of the following questions:
Question: "How would you describe the company culture and work environment?"
Reasoning: To find out whether the company has a dress code, sponsored social events, and what the relationship between management and employees is like.
The importance of a mock interview with your peers,
Students should choose a day and practice to come in dressed as if for an interview. If your group is small enough, you might consider playing the employer and having each learner take turns interviewing in front of the group.
Discuss each ones performance and ask for constructive criticism and feedback.
Also the importance of showing confidence through their posture, composure, and their vocal projection while showing enthusiasm..
Coming from a communication background there is so much that can be communicated without even one word being spoken. This translates to how an interviewee holds themselves during an interview, how they speak and if they have good eye contact, are confident in what they know and maybe even don't. Plus, if they show they are even excited which can be translated by all of these and cannot forget the attire. Communicating to students that it is not a judgement of how you are, but it is how your attitude will fit in with everyone else and if they can trust them to do their job.
I learned the underlying reasons for certain "effective questions" for the employer in an interview. I think my students could really benefit from this section. Most times, an applicant just wants to be hired without considering what's on the other side of accepting the offer. Investigating the organization they will be working for, to the best of their ability, is paramount to finding fulfillment in the workplace. Interviews are not just a time for the candidate to be investigated; they too have an opportunity to dig in, and certainly that places some of the power back in their seat.
This module is very helpful, and most specifically on considering interview questions from "the inside out". If students are led to think critically about the reason why specific questions are asked, it will help them formulate stronger answers. Moreover, if they consider the types of questions they would ask if they were behind the desk, it would give them a fuller understanding of why all of the unwritten rules are important--soft skills, professionalism, timeliness, honesty, etc.
What stood out to me about successful interviews is that preparation and communication matter just as much as experience. Using clear examples from your past work helps show your skills in a real way, not just saying you’re qualified. I plan to practice mock interviews more and improve how I handle nerves so I can stay confident and speak more naturally in real interviews.
This module is about preparing for an interview. It covered everything from dressing appropriately, effective and positive communication, body language, preparing for interviewer questions, and making a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Reviewing all these elements helps the student not only be prepared, but feel more comfortable with the interview process. Different classroom exercises were discussed such as identifying proper (or improper) attire, formulating answers to common interview questions, watching videos to critique presentation (spoken as well as body language), conducting mock interviews, and researching the company that the student is interviewing with.
Great sample interview questions. I really liked the insight about the interviewer's attitude. That is very important not to take things personal. That would be great to practice so you are not caught off guard in an interview.
This module helps in understanding how to prepare a student who may be shy or intimidated by the interview process. Setting up Mock Interviews help tremendously with this.
I really liked this course. Like mentioned, interviews are not just to impress the employer but to also learn more about the company and determine if it's a good fit for you.
Having strong interview skills is really important when searching for a job. The way you behave, express and conduct yourself in the interview is a key reason as to whether the employer hires you or not. By doing mock interviews, you can teach and help deconstruct the importance of body language, eye contact, and communication to the students before they do actual interviews to help relieve some of that stress they may have.
I really like how they emphasize strong communication and preparation before an interview. I think mock interviews are really important for students as they prepare for the actual interview. I like how they also focused on the appearance aspect of the interview. I think students sometimes forget, but appearance is really important. The interviewer will first make up their opinion about your appearance in the first minute. I think preparing in general and practicing is also crucial for an interview.
Great refresher on interview etiquette, and fun ways of doing mock interviews to get students ready for an interview. Doing research on a company you're applying for using it in your interview is a great tip, plus the follow up questions and the reasoning behind them.
I found the questions to ask the interviewer were quite interesting. This part of an interview has always stumped me personally so Im excited to be able to bring some new ways to ask questions to my students!
The sample questions provided to ask an interviewer are great and like the fact that they had a reason behind each.
I think that key takeaway from this module is strong communication and preparation are essential for interview success. Mock interviews, practicing responses, and focusing on body language help build confidence. Researching the company, understanding the job, and preparing questions can make a big difference. Engaging, interactive strategies make learning more effective. By equipping students with these tools, we can help them secure jobs and find the right fit for their careers.
I learned about interview Do's and Don'ts. These were extremely helpful as interviews are very important for obtaining a job. Sometimes, employers even make hiring decisions based off interview skills alone. This may not be the best way to find good employees, but we should prepare our students to not only have the necessary skills to succeed in a job but also to have great communication skills that get them a good relationship with their employers and coworkers.
