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Career Services eases the worry of job interviews
BY CARLY McLAIN
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
ISSUE: 78/28
A job interview is one thing that every college student will likely face after graduation, if not sooner, and UMD offers the opportunity for students to enhance their preparation. Career Services is currently offering “mock interviews,” which provide suggestions about what possible employers are looking for, such as what clothes to wear, and providing potential questions that might be asked during an interview. “‘Tell me about yourself’ is the main question that is missed in interviews,” said junior Nadia Bozadjieva, a Career Services student assistant.
What may seem like an easy question, leaves some students lost for words. “You get the deer-in-the-headlights look,” said Sociology Professor Rob Weidner, who requires the students in his Internship Preparation course to take a specific practice interview session to pass his class. Weidner believes that practice interviews can increase students’ chances of success in the future when they have real interviews with possible employers. “Effective communication, including both verbal and written communication, is very important for obtaining a job or internship,” said Weidner. “The real [interview] can be a nerve-wracking experience, so my philosophy is that practice can only help.”
Junior Lisa Ekrem considered the option. “I might do practice interviews,” said Ekrem, “just to get the experience.” Sophomore Bill Barton has never heard of such a thing, but when he was told what mock interviews were, he thought that he would eventually use them. “I will probably do practice interviews
before I graduate,” said Barton.
Career Services has opportunities for students to practice for future interviews. “There are four councilors, three full-time, that [a student] can meet with them and set up an appointment for a mock interview,” said Bozadjieva. “Otherwise, the councilors have workshops that go over appearances.” There are two private offices that have computers and Web cams, according to Bozadjieva, where students can go in and use interview stream to tape themselves taking an interview.
Career Services also bought five Web cams that students can take home and practice using with Interview Stream, the online practice site that the university offers. “Interview Stream allows you to pick your own questions—there are hundreds and hundreds—shows behavioral style questions and shows [students] what many employers are looking for,” said Bozadjieva. There are still some students, however, who don’t find mock interviews necessary.
Junior Dan Frye hasn’t done practice interviews and doesn’t think that he will do any before he graduates. “I have done a lot of interviews in the past,” said Frye, “so I don’t think that they will be beneficial to me.” Senior Aaron McCormick agreed. “I don’t really think that they are necessary,” said McCormick. “I have already had a lot of practice with interviews with the interviews that I have done to get [past jobs].”
Due to confidentiality agreements, students who have used the “mock interview” option, provided by UMD’s Career Services, were unable to be reached.
