Mock Interviews: Why Practice Can Improve Your Interview Performance
You can prepare for an interview by reading the job description.
You can research the company.
You can prepare your questions.
But there is one thing that many candidates don’t do enough:
Practise actually answering the questions.
That’s where a mock interview can help.
What is a mock interview?
A mock interview is a practice interview designed to replicate the real experience as closely as possible.
You answer questions.
Someone observes how you respond.
You receive feedback.
And you get another opportunity to improve before the real interview.
1. It makes the unfamiliar feel familiar
Interview nerves often come from uncertainty.
What will they ask?
Will I remember my examples?
Will I talk too much?
Will I freeze?
Practising doesn’t eliminate nerves, but it can make the experience feel more familiar.
2. You discover where your answers need work
You may think an answer is clear until someone else hears it.
Perhaps you give too much background.
Perhaps you don’t explain the result.
Perhaps your example doesn’t directly answer the question.
Perhaps you undersell your contribution.
Feedback helps you identify these things.
3. You learn to tell better examples
Good interview answers usually need evidence.
Instead of saying:
“I’m a good leader.”
Give an example.
What was the situation?
What did you need to achieve?
What did you do?
What happened as a result?
Practising helps you turn your experience into clear stories.
4. You become better at listening
Interviewing isn’t just about having good answers.
It’s about answering the question that was actually asked.
A mock interviewer can highlight when you’ve gone off track or answered a different question.
That can be one of the most valuable pieces of feedback you receive.
5. You can practise difficult questions safely
What happens if you’re asked:
“Why did you leave your last job?”
“What’s your biggest weakness?”
“Why should we hire you?”
“Why have you been unemployed?”
“Tell me about a time something went wrong.”
These questions can be difficult when you’re under pressure.
A mock interview gives you the opportunity to work through them beforehand.
6. You can test your interview setup
For online interviews, your preparation should also include the practical details.
Check:
- camera position
- microphone
- lighting
- background
- internet connection
- notifications
- surroundings
Don’t discover a technical problem five minutes before the real interview.
Don’t wait until you have an interview
One of the biggest misconceptions about mock interviews is that you need an interview booked before you can practise.
You don’t.
If you know the type of role you’re targeting, you can practise around that type of interview.
Then, when the real opportunity arrives, you are better prepared.
The goal isn’t perfection
A mock interview isn’t about producing robotic, memorised answers.
It’s about becoming more confident and natural when talking about your experience.
You want to be prepared enough that you can listen, think and respond.
Careers Springboard members can access mock interview support
Our mock interview service gives members an opportunity to practise with experienced volunteers and receive constructive feedback.
Don’t wait for the real interview to find out what you need to improve. Practise first.
