Module 5: Mock Interviews
Introduction
Time required:
- 1-hour Monday session
- 1-hour independent work time
- 30-min meeting during the week; scheduled with mock interviewer
- 30-min Monday session
Learning Objectives
- Explain important characteristics to present in an interview.
- List the content to prepare before an interview.
Resources
Module Download
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Module Overview
A5: Mock Interview
| Learning Event | Activity | Timing |
| Set Goals | Discuss with the group: How do you feel now, with the prospect of doing a job interview? How do you want to feel? Identify that the workshop goal is to know how to prepare for an interview, to know that you will do your best. | 10 min |
| Connect to Prior Knowledge | Discuss prior interviewing experiences – what is the worst interview you’ve had, what’s the best? What felt good about the good ones, bad about the bad ones? Recall the story about Andre’s job interview and discuss – connect to prior knowledge about growth vs. fixed mindsets. What could Andre have done to better prepare for his interview? | 10 min |
| Present and Organize Content Information | Perform independent research on how to prepare for interviews. Come together to discuss strategies. Based on findings, create an interview preparation checklist. Compare checklist with one provided by the facilitator. Non-example: Facilitator and one learner perform a mock interview. The learner plays the interviewer, asking the facilitator: “What interests you about this role?” the facilitator answers lazily with little information. Example: Facilitator prompts learner to ask the same question again, and instead answers enthusiastically, demonstrating research about the company. Debrief: What was the difference? What can you do to prepare to appear enthusiastic and knowledgeable? | 20 min (independently) 10 min 5 min 5 min |
| Take Action and Monitor Progress | Choose a question from the list in the homework and think about how you want to respond to it (or we all choose the same one) – Write notes in a place you can reference them later – Each person share their answer, and we all give feedback Learners prepare for and complete their mock interview | 5 min Independently, during the week |
| Synthesize and Evaluate | Learners reflect on how their mock interviews went | 10 min (2nd weekly session) |
| Extend and Transfer | Discuss: what would you do differently next time? How will you prepare for real interviews? Learners work on job search, to hopefully get real world interviews. At the end of 20-min, report on what they found. | 10 min 20 min |
Reflection and Homework
Reflection
- Catch up on previous reflections, if you haven’t submitted them and send to me by end of Friday.
Session Homework:
- Apply to another job, and find the next one you plan to apply to.
- Prepare for Friday’s mock interviews session:
- Choose a job application you want to do a practice interview for and post it in Teams
- Share a digital copy of your resume in Teams
- Here are some interview questions you could prepare for our practice rounds on Friday (but it will be up to the mock interviewers what they ask – see this link for more)
- Tell me about yourself
- Why do you want to work at our company? Why this role?
- What do you do at your current (or most recent) job, and how has that prepared you for this role?
- Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.
- Tell me about a time you made a mistake or experienced a failure and how you dealt with it.
- How do you manage deadline pressure?
- What do you like to do outside of work?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- What questions do you have for me?
Module 5: Practice and Improve
*Mobile Version*
Introduction
Time required:
- 1-hour Monday session
- 1-hour independent work time
- 30-min meeting during the week; scheduled with mock interviewer
- 30-min Monday session
Learning Objectives
- Explain important characteristics to present in an interview.
- List the content to prepare before an interview.
Resources
Module Download
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Module Overview
A5: Mock Interview
| Learning Event | Activity | Timing |
| Set Goals | Discuss with the group: How do you feel now, with the prospect of doing a job interview? How do you want to feel? Identify that the workshop goal is to know how to prepare for an interview, to know that you will do your best. | 10 min |
| Connect to Prior Knowledge | Discuss prior interviewing experiences – what is the worst interview you’ve had, what’s the best? What felt good about the good ones, bad about the bad ones? Recall the story about Andre’s job interview and discuss – connect to prior knowledge about growth vs. fixed mindsets. What could Andre have done to better prepare for his interview? | 10 min |
| Present and Organize Content Information | Perform independent research on how to prepare for interviews. Come together to discuss strategies. Based on findings, create an interview preparation checklist. Compare checklist with one provided by the facilitator. Non-example: Facilitator and one learner perform a mock interview. The learner plays the interviewer, asking the facilitator: “What interests you about this role?” the facilitator answers lazily with little information. Example: Facilitator prompts learner to ask the same question again, and instead answers enthusiastically, demonstrating research about the company. Debrief: What was the difference? What can you do to prepare to appear enthusiastic and knowledgeable? | 20 min (independently) 10 min 5 min 5 min |
| Take Action and Monitor Progress | Choose a question from the list in the homework and think about how you want to respond to it (or we all choose the same one) – Write notes in a place you can reference them later – Each person share their answer, and we all give feedback Learners prepare for and complete their mock interview | 5 min Independently, during the week |
| Synthesize and Evaluate | Learners reflect on how their mock interviews went | 10 min (2nd weekly session) |
| Extend and Transfer | Discuss: what would you do differently next time? How will you prepare for real interviews? Learners work on job search, to hopefully get real world interviews. At the end of 20-min, report on what they found. | 10 min 20 min |
Reflection and Homework
Reflection
- Catch up on previous reflections, if you haven’t submitted them and send to me by end of Friday.
Session Homework:
- Apply to another job, and find the next one you plan to apply to.
- Prepare for Friday’s mock interviews session:
- Choose a job application you want to do a practice interview for and post it in Teams
- Share a digital copy of your resume in Teams
- Here are some interview questions you could prepare for our practice rounds on Friday (but it will be up to the mock interviewers what they ask – see this link for more)
- Tell me about yourself
- Why do you want to work at our company? Why this role?
- What do you do at your current (or most recent) job, and how has that prepared you for this role?
- Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.
- Tell me about a time you made a mistake or experienced a failure and how you dealt with it.
- How do you manage deadline pressure?
- What do you like to do outside of work?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- What questions do you have for me?