Mock Interviews Give First-Year Students Valuable Experience for Future Job Search

To prepare students to interview for internships and jobs, the University's Career Development Center recently hosted mock interviews for 400 students enrolled in a 'Principles of Communication' course.

October 22, 2019

By Ariana Lasher '20
Career Development Center Intern

Mock interviews for students have become an important tradition at the University of New Haven. The Career Development Center recently hosted mock interviews for approximately 400 students who are enrolled in the "Principles of Communication" course.

The idea for incorporating mock interviews as part of a core curriculum course was developed by Diane Smith, a distinguished lecturer in communication, film, and media studies, starting in spring 2017, as a way to prepare students for future internship and employment interviews.

"These mock interviews are important because they enable students to prepare for their job search in a realistic setting," said Kate Sanchirico '21, a finance major. "I learned a lot about myself from the feedback I received, and now I know how I can improve my skills."

Having the chance to participate in a structured mock interview is an important aspect of every student’s educational experience, said Dina Wulinsky, associate director of career development.

"I learned a lot about myself from the feedback I received, and now I know how I can improve my skills."Kate Sanchirico '21

"We look forward to these mock interviews every semester because we always have such a diverse population of students, as they’re not all communication majors," said Wulinsky. "It gives students an opportunity to practice their professional communication skills in a low-pressure environment."

The Career Development Center designed 15-minute sessions, which included 10 minutes of interview time and 5 minutes for feedback. The interviews are conducted by volunteers, mostly University staff members.

"This was my first time participating in the mock interviews, and I loved meeting more of our students and assisting them with feedback," said Greg Overend, executive director of the Center for Student Engagement, Leadership, and Orientation. "Their answers to questions, energy, and excitement were awesome. I highly recommend assisting with this important initiative."

The Career Development also utilizes Big Interview, an online service for job interview preparation. All students are encouraged to use this service, which can be accessed through myCharger.