How to Use Mock Interviews to Prep for the Real Thing

How to Use Mock Interviews to Prep for the Real ThingA mock interview is a simulation of a job interview, and can be an extremely useful tool in job searching and preparation. Mock interviews help you practice delivering your prepared answers to some expected questions, so you have some experience saying your answers out loud and have a chance to work out some kinks. It also gives you a little bit of comfort and confidence with the interview format. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) How to Set One UpFirst step is to see if your college career center has a program in placewhether for in person, online, or video chat mock interviews. If not, there are a number of online programs that perform this serviceand might be worth trying. The mora professional and realistic the mock interview (i.e. the less personal or casual ) the better. Extra points if your mock interviewer can give you a really clear-eyed critique.If you cant find a professional, you can always ask a trusted friend, colleague, or family member. Make it clear that youd like them to be as cold and harsh as possible to simulate the real thing. The more you practice now, the more confident and at ease youll be during the real thing.How to PrepPrepare just as you would for a normal interview. Bring your materials (even if youre just Skyping someone its good practice to go through the routine). Dress smartly. Be in place and ready 10minutes early. Be positive. Smile when you speak. Address your interviewer by name and make eye contact. Bring a notebook to take notes, where appropriate.Questions to IncludeNow the questions. Here are a few of the most popular questions that might be asked in a mock interview situation. Usually these are the sorts of questions that get asked in first-round or screening interviews by companies or HR departments. Start preparing your answers to these, and other questions, and then start practicingWhy should we hire you?Here you should make a point of emphasizing the skills and experience you have that are most relevant to the job youre applying for. Show them how you fill a gap, or solve a problem that is important to them. What can you give them that the other interviewees cannot?What are your weaknesses?Pivot as much as possible to focus on your strengths, but do take the time to come up with a thoughtful answer to this. Interviewers can see through b.s.Why do you want this job?Why do you want to work at this company? How does it fit with your strengths and what youre passionate about?What are your career goals?Careful not to make it clear you want to use this job as a stepping stone, but also dont neglect to show your ambition in the field. Its a bit of a balancing act, so good thing youre getting a chance to practice.Tell us about your past jobs.Questions about what you liked or were satisfied by and questions about what you hated/why you left are to be expected. The trick is to give your interviewer a sense of what motivates you.Remember to treat your mock or practice interview like the real thing. The realer it is, the better prepared youll be once youre in the actual interview room, ready to win the job.

How to Create a List of Employers to Target During Your Job Search

How to Create a List of Employers to Target During Your Job Search How to Build a Company List of Top Employers for Your Job SearchIf youre looking for a job, creating a list of companies youre aiming for is a great place to start.Landing a new job often requires you to pursue multiple job opportunities at the saatkorn time. To streamline this process, it is helpful to build a list of companies that meet your location, industry, size, and corporate culture needs.Below are seven tips to help you identify the right employers for your personal target company list and how to leverage them during your job search.Document your goals.You may have a clear idea as to the type of role you want to pursue next, but have you thought about the kind of company youd like to work for? If you havent already, write down the things that matter most to you when it comes to your next employer. Include details like the companys size, distance from your home, industry, corporate culture, and the values the organization believes in. This information will help you keep your job search on track and make smart decisions about the roles you apply for.Run a Google search.Dont overlook the value of a good ol Google search. In just a few keystrokes you can find lists of companies that share the same ideals as you, such as a focus on innovation, work-life balance, or customer service.Glassdoor, CareerBliss, and The Muse all offer company profiles and employee reviews to help you get a better sense of the organization and what its really like to work there.RelatedWhy You Need to Google Yourself to Monitor Your Online BrandFollow in your colleagues footsteps.If youre unsure of what type of company is best for you, consider where your former colleagues have found their next gigs. Run a search on LinkedIn to landsee where those youve previously worked with found employment. This is a good way to find companies in different industries that may value your background it works especially well if you b oth worked in the same department or business unit. As an added bonus, you now have a contact at the company who can put in a good word for you.Search for face-to-face events.As youre building your dream company list, take a look at sites like 10times, Meetup, and Eventbrite for upcoming events you can attend that are relevant to your industry. Use these face-to-face opportunities to find new organizations to add to your list and increase the connections in your professional network.In addition, check out your target companies social media pages and websites, paying close attention to the Careers and Press sections, to find out if any of them are hosting or speaking at events in your area. This is a great chance to meet people from the company and demonstrate your genuine interest in working at their organization.Monitor your targets with Google News Alerts.Set up Google News Alerts for your target employers and their competitors to keep an eye on the market. If you closely follow t he news in your industry, you may be able to predict when new job openings will become available within the companies that interest you most. For example, if the company of your dreams announces its plans to expand its operations, then the organization may go on a hiring streak to prepare for the extra business.Evaluate your network.Run an advanced search on your LinkedIn professional network to find out if you know anyone who currently works or previously worked for one of the companies on your list. If a friend of a friend, i.e. a second connection, works for one of your dream companies, then ask for an introduction from your mutual connection.You can also learn mora about the company culture and its hiring practices by requesting an informational interview with someone who currently works at the organization. In addition to gaining valuable information, this is also a great way to secure an employee referral for when the right opportunity appears, and to get the inside track on j ob opportunities that you wont find published online.Leverage social media.If you havent already, start following the social media accounts of your dream companies, their recruiters, and their senior leadership. These profiles will often provide insight into the organization, like its company culture and when new job opportunities become available.Click on the following link for more job-search advice.Will your resume help you land more interviews with the companies youre aiming for? Find out where you stand with a free resume critique.Recommended ReadingWhat Kind of Work Culture Works for You?Is This Company Right for You? Run a Social Media Check to Find Out7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Applying for a New JobRelated Articles

What You Should Do to Find Out About George Mason Writing Center Resume Before Youre Left Behind

What You Should Do to Find Out About George Mason Writing Center Resume Before Youre Left Behind Where to Find George Mason Writing Center Resume Try to remember, it is possible to also utilize punctuation to help label. Header Address your letter to a particular individual, ideally whoever will be interviewing you. Before you write your Cover letter, make sure to do research on the organization and sttte. A cover letter is the main approach to offer an introduction to an expected contact or employer. Your name ought to be the greatest text on the document for effortless identification. It is possible to also place either the work title or the company name in the very first line based on whether you wish to emphasize the position or the firm. Ensure that the info is presented in a sense thats simple to read. More info on the library location are available here. Getting the Best George Mason Writing Center Resume After you sign in the tutoring schedule, utilize the next st eps to create an appointment. Theres a 10-minute grace period for each appointment. The Mason LIFE program delivers the next courses. First youll need to determine which sort of resume is appropriate to symbolize your experience. Functional Resumes are used whenever you do not own a lot of experience in the particular field of work. The Appeal of George Mason Writing Center Resume Resumes ought to be brieftypically a couple of pages. They are considered to be a truthful and completely accurate account of your qualifications. Hybrid Resumes are a mixture of Chronological and Functional Resumes. Reverse Chronological Resumes are used when youve got a considerable number of continuous experience.