Interviews can be intimidating and stressful, but there's an antidote for your nerves: Mock Interviews.
Mock interviews are preparatory simulations, wherein a mock interviewer (such as a hiring manager or field expert) gives candidate's an opportunity to experience a real interview in a constructive space to boost their chances of job conversion.
During these interview-like sessions that are held in-person, via video conference, or over the phone, job applicants answer interview questions as they would during their actual interview, and receive feedback on their performance and areas of improvement.
It is one of the most effective tactics for ensuring interview readiness and preparing candidates for success.
In this article, we'll find out why candidates should take mock interviews and how they can leverage mock interviews for best results.
How Mock Interviews Help You
1. Provide much-needed practice before the D-day
Doing mock interviews allows you to practice your responses to common interview questions, as well as get familiar with the overall flow and format of an interview. This can help you become more clear and concise in your language, and eventually perfect the way you deliver your answers.
This is particularly important for big tech companies, which are known for asking challenging and technical questions.
For example, let's say a mock interviewer asks you a question about a specific programming language or technology you are familiar with.
Since your defenses are down during interview practice, you will have the opportunity to recall and reconcile your past experiences and knowledge of the subject, to back your answer with specific examples of projects you have worked on and the impact you've had. Tactical, evidence-based responses give interviewers insights into your level of expertise and help them make a more informed decision about your suitability for a role.
2. Help glean critical feedback and valuable insights from recruitment specialists
Mock interviewers are typically field experts, so they can effectively gauge your knowledge and acumen.
For instance, if you are applying for a product manager role at MAANG, a mock interviewer can critically review how effective you are at communicating your understanding of product management, showcasing your experience with user research, and demonstrating your ability to create and manage roadmaps and prioritize features and requirements.
A mock interviewer will also provide helpful feedback on your interview skills, such as your ability to articulate your thoughts, showcase your technical knowledge, and demonstrate desirability for a role.
They will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and help you address them before the real interview.
3. Enable candid reflection and self-assessment
Mock interviewers also pay attention to the candidate's nonverbal communication, such as their posture, eye contact, and facial expressions, and provide feedback on how well the candidate is able to present themselves. This can help you appear more enthusiastic and confident during the real interview.
In doing so, mock interviews make way for candid reflection and self-assessment; you can reflect on your own performance and areas of improvement. Candidates can even go ahead and ask questions to better assess their performance. In fact, it is a good idea to note down feedback you receive and ask questions of your own to further refine your performance:
- Is my research on the industry sufficient?
- Is my body language positive? Do I maintain appropriate eye contact?
- Are my communication skills satisfactory?
4. Help identify your unique value proposition
Preparing for an interview with a hiring manager or expert in the field you're applying brings your unique qualifications and value proposition to the fore.
This way, you can articulate how your background and experience align with the role and the company, as well as showcase your suitability for the position.
For instance, a software engineer applying for a technical program management role can determine which of their past experience best showcases the required skill sets for a specific role. It could be that you've led cross-functional teams, engineers and product managers, to deliver a complex software project within deadline and budget.
Or that you've implemented agile methodologies and processes to improve efficiency and productivity while managing a software development process.
5. To get rid of nerve-racking stress and assess your interview readiness
Interviews can be the most daunting experience of a candidate's life. Even if you are well-prepared, the very thought of answering questions under pressure with interviewers staring down at you can be nerve-racking.
The solution? Mock interviews!
The best way to feel more comfortable and confident about yourself is practicing your responses under the guidance of recruitment specialists.
Mock interviewers simulate a real interview experience, typically by asking technical and behavioral questions that are similar to what you can expect in your interview. The more you answer, the more relaxed and self-assured you will feel about the interview process.
Your responses, both in terms of content and delivery, will be closely assessed—based on which you get feedback on how clearly and concisely you are able to answer questions, as well as to think on your feet when responding to unexpected questions.
Increase your Chances of Success with Mock Interviews
It's important to take an active approach to improving your interview skills and performance. Be sure to:
- Carry all your necessary documents with you: It's a good idea to carry your cover letter, resume, and other relevant materials to your mock interview, and have it reviewed by your interviewer.
- Dress professionally: Wear your interview attire to your mock interview to ensure you are in the right mindset.
- Take note of feedback you receive: You can carry a voice recorder or a pen/pad to note down any feedback or criticism you receive.
- Go for as many mock interviews as you need: You are likely to feel more confident after several practice runs, so you don't necessarily need to stop at one mock interview.
Schedule your Mock Interview
Prepfully offers 1:1 mock interviews sessions with recruitment specialists who can objectively review your interview preparation and give valuable insights on areas of improvement.
Whether you are appearing for a product manager interview or applying for a software engineering position at MAANG, we have role-specific interview experts who can provide you the experience and feedback you need to ace your real interview. You might take up as many online mock interviews as you need, and maximize your chances of conversion.
Reach out to us now!