Mock interviews: yes or no?

[kaydubs]

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I've been talking with a few people and wanted to hear my fellow SDN-ers opinions 😀 What does everyone think of mock interviews? 👍? 👎? Never did one? Don't think they're necessary? Found them super helpful? (I'm trying to decide if I should squeeze one in before my interview at Tufts on Feb. 8th!! I'm trying to decide the) Any and all opinions would be appreciated!!

Also: feel free to post what you think particularly works or doesn't work when preparing for interviews! (I'm sure Interview Feedback of SDN is at the top of the list for what works!!)

 

[twelvetigers]

Mock interviews are great for getting some feedback! The questions may not be relevant unless you provide some or if you go see someone who can do a vet-style interview, but you can see if you fidget, or if you 'umm' and 'uhh' a lot before you give an answer. If you could provide questions, that would be great. Practice answers like crazy - to yourself, to the dog, to your friends and parents, and to the mock interviewer!

This may get some people worked up, but I think it seems to help most people. I plan on taking my own advice this year. I, apparently, interview like crap. Haha. But this year I will practice!

 

[thedogisgreen]

I was pretty conflicted about it at first and aside from thinking out answers to SDN interview questions, I didn't do anything much in advance. Then the night before I flew out, I started panicking about how I would do, so I gave my roommates a list of possible questions and had them interview me. At first, I wasn't taking the mock interview seriously enough, was awful with eye contact and fidgeting, had way too many mumbles.. then I started trying harder but got really, really nervous.
But as I got more into it, I got really comfortable answering questions and pretending that my roommates were scary interviewers. It definitely helped a ton to get their feedback, which was primarily about everything but the contact of the interview, but how you say things and portray yourself is so much more important than what you say. I felt so much better after doing this and was much less nervous going into the actual interview. I don't think a ton of time should be spent on mock interviewing to the point where everything feels rehearsed and too routine, too comfortable, not serious enough, but it definitely can be very helpful in reducing interview anxiety and gaining some pointers. good luck! 👍

 

[katryn]

I definitely found mock interviews helpful. I did two about a month before my interview, provided a list of questions, and told them to ask anything else they felt like might apply. The feed back on body language and speech patterns was definitely a boon, and I got asked some pretty off the wall(but applicable) questions. Great practice for those random ones interviewers throw out.

 

[PendantWorld]

I found the mock interview at my school incredibly helpful. I don't know if other schools do this, but I was videotaped so that I could see my responses afterwards. I was able to critique what I said and observe habits that gave my nervousness away. For example, every time I answered a question, I pulled my chair in a bit closer to the table. How embarrassing!

I think it's worth doing. It won't hurt you - it can only help!

 

[BlacKAT33]

I found the mock interview at my school incredibly helpful. I don't know if other schools do this, but I was videotaped so that I could see my responses afterwards. I was able to critique what I said and observe habits that gave my nervousness away. For example, every time I answered a question, I pulled my chair in a bit closer to the table. How embarrassing!

I think it's worth doing. It won't hurt you - it can only help!

I was just about to say this (videotaping). Mock interviews are definitely helpful. However, my school stopped giving them since my IS changed to the MMI format. I was too embarrassed to ask a friend or family member because like someone said above, i wouldn't take it seriously with them. Luckily, one of my advisers offered an advice session and he included some questions for me to see what it was like. But if you can't find anything that would be realistic, i would put a video camera up and have a list of random questions in a pile of cards. Then choose one, and answer it to the video camera as well as you can, no awkward pauses and making sure the wording sounds right. Then rewatch it! And make sure you dress up for it, like it is the real deal lol

 

[goldnretrivrgrl]

My school offers mock interviews through career services. You're expected to treat it as a real interview (interview attire, etc) which I think is helpful because it makes it a little bit more of a pressurized situation. I sent my interviewer some common vet school interview questions ahead of time also. They videotape your interview with a webcam and go over the whole tape when you have finished. It's really nice to have someone to go back through it with you and say "Well, maybe you should add a little more to this answer." or "Watch your body language here." I rushed to squish my mock interview in on the Monday before my Friday interview at Ohio State. I wasn't sure it would be worth it but it definitely was because OSU called and accepted me the same day I interviewed! 🙂

 

[EllieGirl89]

I'm a big fan of mock interviews, as long as you don't overdo it. Last spring, my pre-vet club hosted some mock interviews. They asked first-year vet students and students who were accepted for the c/o 2014 to do them. We had to send in our resumes ahead of time, and the students just treated it like it was a real interview. Mine was VERY helpful. The girls who did my interview were SUPER nice and asked relevant questions and gave excellent advice. They took notes and let me have the paper they took notes on and everything. It was the only "formal" mock interview I did and it was totally worth it.

Other than that, I let my mom know a lot of the questions I could expect and a few nights before my interview as I was surfing SDN and preparing, she would just shout questions at me from the other room. It wasn't formal and I didn't have to work on my body language or anything, but it was good for getting me to think on my feet and come up with the answers quickly.

 

[kaydubs]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I love how everyone on SDN is so helpful & quick to respond!! You are all AWESOME!!!

I will definitely make time for one (or more). I know my school does a pre-med one, and a friend suggested I have a vet do one as well. So, at least I can have my school videotape me (hopefully there isn't anything too crazy...) and maybe I can get that in before my Tufts interview

 

[Cautionary Tail]

I considered looking into whether or not my undergrad offers mock interviews, but in the end, I decided to prep solo. I'm afraid that an unsavory mock interviewing experience could potentially leave me even more nervous than I already am.

I'm going to go over some of the questions on SDN (though my school's removed theirs) and probably pick up a book about behavioral interviews.

Hope I don't regret this decision come February! 😛

 

[Goatherd]

I think it depends on the quality of the mock interview. My ever-so-awesome (or not) post-bacc program offers them so I signed up for one. She spent almost the entire time telling me how wonderfully I did--I wanted criticism, otherwise it's useless. She did tell me to stop clenching my hands, which I did. I did steal one of her questions to ask the vet school--so I guess it was helpful in that way. I would say be prepared with questions you want answered by your mock-interviewer in case you get a not-so-great one like I did. I had already had one interview, so I had a few questions about what to do if I got stuck on a question, or had no clue what an answer was, or forgot everything I had planned to say.
That's really cool that some places video tape you! I wish I had that. Although it might be a little like hearing your voice on someone's answering machine--gosh is that really what I look/sound like???

 

[jl123]

hmmm my college offers mock interviews too, but you have to pay like $70. plus i tried to ask if they'd know how to work with school admissions interviews, and they kept saying well.... we do mock interviews for corporate jobs but you can bring in information about your school and we'll try to work with that

do you think it's worth it??? i'm nervous so i do want some sort of pr actice, but not sure if i wana blow my money on it if they don't even know exactly how to help. i guess it definitely wouldn't hurt, since some of the questions will be similar and they'll give advice on body language, eye contact, etc.. but still can't decide!!

i'd appreciate any opinions! 🙂

 

[twelvetigers]

$70?? No way! That's ridiculous.

If no other place on campus offers a free interview (clubs, career services, anything?) then I would just practice with friends, family, and peers. Also, you might try recording yourself as well - answering questions aloud to yourself is harder than it sounds! I would definitely keep that $70 for something more worthwhile. It's dumb for a school to charge for a service that is a free resource for most of us.

 

[masscrash]

My college's Career Center offered a mock interview. I did it twice. It was free. It was an invaluable experience. They gave me a lot of pointers about general interview skills, as well as targeting my answers for medical school interviews. Ours also video tapes you and then they play it back and show you what you did wrong. Talk about uncomfortable. But it is good to find out what is appropriate for an interview. How long should answers be, how many examples should you give, when asking the interviewer personal questions what is to personal. Plus it just helps with getting the jitters out. So if it is free I would take full advantage of it. It really bugs me when people think they know it all.

 

[KKibo]

My boss and one or two of the associates always offer to take interview candidates out to dinner and a mock interview before d-day 😀. Its nice since there are 2-3 people asking you questions so you get a feel of an interview that isn't 1 on 1 (which is oddly different).

Mock-interviews are good stuff in my book.

 

[lailanni]

Absolutely. Do it as much as you can. It really builds confidence. Even if it's not vet related, it'll help you get comfortable answering questions, thinking on your feet, and smoothing out the bumps. And it helps you cut out the "uhhh....ummmm...you know".

I think I had more interview experience than most people. 7 or 8 interviews/mock interviews a year for several years. (long story) But I think because of this my interview skills are stronger than the average candidate. I've never gotten turned down for anything I've applied to if I can make it in for an interview. I'd say a mock interview is time very well spent!

And dress up if you can. Maybe it feels cheesy then, but you'll feel more comfortable at the real deal.

 

[ImNotThatGirl]

Absolutely. Do it as much as you can. It really builds confidence. Even if it's not vet related, it'll help you get comfortable answering questions, thinking on your feet, and smoothing out the bumps. And it helps you cut out the "uhhh....ummmm...you know".

I think I had more interview experience than most people. 7 or 8 interviews/mock interviews a year for several years. (long story) But I think because of this my interview skills are stronger than the average candidate. I've never gotten turned down for anything I've applied to if I can make it in for an interview. I'd say a mock interview is time very well spent!

And dress up if you can. Maybe it feels cheesy then, but you'll feel more comfortable at the real deal.

I agree, I have had around 15 interviews in the last 9 months (long story for me too), and that experience is invaluable. i've had great interviews and crappy interviews, and overall all of that experience has made me a confident interviewer. then, when i went in for my ross university interview, i wasn't nearly as nervous as i would have been without that interview experience.

definitely do a mock interview with someone you don't know very well. i did one with my manager (who i know well) and a girl from another department (who i don't know well), and it brings in a totally different dynamic that way.

also, for me, just the process of coming up with questions to be asked during my mock interview helped. my manager asked me to provide her with questions before we actually did the mock interview, so as i was putting a list together, i was thinking about how i'd answer each question. later, after my mock interview, my manager suggested that i physically write out my answer to each question. write it, but don't memorize it. that way you can make sure you hit on every point that you want to make, so that you can remember the main things you want to get across during the actual interview.

 

[lareinesoleil]

Definitely yes. My mock interviewer, a friend of mine who doesn't have any veterinary experience (doesn't even have pets!), thought of a question that nobody else did that was actually asked by my interviewers!

 

[kaydubs]

Do I try and squeeze it in before the end of the week? Or just hope my interview skills aren't as shabby as my worst nightmare?

 

[lareinesoleil]

Do I try and squeeze it in before the end of the week? Or just hope my interview skills aren't as shabby as my worst nightmare?

You could just get a friend/family member/coworker to do it. Even if it's not *exactly* like what the school will do, just doing it out loud in front of someone is a huge help. You could write down some questions or print some off SDN, if they don't know what to ask. This is what I did and it really helped prepare me.

 

[EllieGirl89]

You could just get a friend/family member/coworker to do it. Even if it's not *exactly* like what the school will do, just doing it out loud in front of someone is a huge help. You could write down some questions or print some off SDN, if they don't know what to ask. This is what I did and it really helped prepare me.

Yep, this. I spent weeks before my interview talking to my parents about the kinds of questions I would be asked. By the time my interview rolled around, my mom pretty much knew what I would be asked, and she would just rattle the questions off to me while we were watching TV or I was on SDN or when we were in the car or whatever. Really helpful.

 

[flyhi]

Yep, this. I spent weeks before my interview talking to my parents about the kinds of questions I would be asked. By the time my interview rolled around, my mom pretty much knew what I would be asked, and she would just rattle the questions off to me while we were watching TV or I was on SDN or when we were in the car or whatever. Really helpful.

I just want to say, that is awesome 😍


Mock interviews....YES, YES and YES. You will learn your weaknesses very quickly. The interview can make or break you and there is no reason to not prepare for it much like you would an exam.

Good Luck!

 

[bee83]

This is not about mock interviews, but whenever someone is interviewing for something, my boyfriend always gives the advice to think of it less like an interview, and more like you are just meeting and getting to know someone new and interesting. Except, I am terribly shy and don't like meeting new people, so when he gives me that advice it doesn't help at all! 🙂 But it might help you, so keep that in mind.

 

[kaydubs]

This is not about mock interviews, but whenever someone is interviewing for something, my boyfriend always gives the advice to think of it less like an interview, and more like you are just meeting and getting to know someone new and interesting. Except, I am terribly shy and don't like meeting new people, so when he gives me that advice it doesn't help at all! 🙂 But it might help you, so keep that in mind.

Advice: varies on school, but I always think of interviews and such from that perspective. I know I might be this way during my interview but whoever you are meeting with you is interested. Whether a date, a job interview, or a school one, be yourself always! The person sitting across from you is just that - a person. Unless God's across from me, I'm not going to give another person a power over me to freak out. Our pre-med advisor is one of the profs at our school that people find intimidating. But, anymore, I say: she's just a person like you or I. She has dreams and fears. You want her to like you? Shoot it straight. If she ends up not liking you, you gained new experience at dealing with an intimidating situation.😀

(I was and still am sort of socially awkward. Don't give up if you're shy or think "Potentially frightening situation - RUN AWAY!" Fight or flight? Stay and fight (unless the odds are against you...))

 

[withoutane]

Yesterday I was freaking out about my interview (and actually broke into tears while I was lifting weights at the gym...so embarrassing...). A friend took me aside and gave me some advice:

1. The vet schools are sending a message by inviting you to interview. The message is that they think you look good on paper and they want to meet with you to see how you are in person. By inviting you to interview they're saying that they might possibly want you at their school.
2. They're not interviewing you to grill you with questions (even though they might do that...idk). They're interviewing you to see what kind of person you are and if you can handle vet school/the vet profession.
3. They want to make sure that you aren't some weirdo who looks good on paper.

So relax and be yourself. Sure, you can prep as much as you want for the topical questions, but your main goal in the interview is to communicate your personality and your passion for veterinary medicine. We've all been working towards the interview by improving our character through animal experience and scholarly discipline. The majority of the preparation is done.

What do you guys think? Good advice?

 

[lareinesoleil]

Yesterday I was freaking out about my interview (and actually broke into tears while I was lifting weights at the gym...so embarrassing...). A friend took me aside and gave me some advice:

1. The vet schools are sending a message by inviting you to interview. The message is that they think you look good on paper and they want to meet with you to see how you are in person. By inviting you to interview they're saying that they might possibly want you at their school.
2. They're not interviewing you to grill you with questions (even though they might do that...idk). They're interviewing you to see what kind of person you are and if you can handle vet school/the vet profession.
3. They want to make sure that you aren't some weirdo who looks good on paper.

So relax and be yourself. Sure, you can prep as much as you want for the topical questions, but your main goal in the interview is to communicate your personality and your passion for veterinary medicine. We've all been working towards the interview by improving our character through animal experience and scholarly discipline. The majority of the preparation is done.

What do you guys think? Good advice?

I agree. This is totally why I recommend practicing - not to give memorized form answers, but just to cut down on the nerves and let your true personality show. I felt that practicing allowed me to most clearly say the things I wanted to say. (And my interviewers were really nice and didn't "grill" me at all; I know it varies from school to school though.)

 

[Minnerbelle]

Yesterday I was freaking out about my interview (and actually broke into tears while I was lifting weights at the gym...so embarrassing...). A friend took me aside and gave me some advice:

1. The vet schools are sending a message by inviting you to interview. The message is that they think you look good on paper and they want to meet with you to see how you are in person. By inviting you to interview they're saying that they might possibly want you at their school.
2. They're not interviewing you to grill you with questions (even though they might do that...idk). They're interviewing you to see what kind of person you are and if you can handle vet school/the vet profession.
3. They want to make sure that you aren't some weirdo who looks good on paper.

So relax and be yourself. Sure, you can prep as much as you want for the topical questions, but your main goal in the interview is to communicate your personality and your passion for veterinary medicine. We've all been working towards the interview by improving our character through animal experience and scholarly discipline. The majority of the preparation is done.

What do you guys think? Good advice?

Yes it's true that they're evaluating your character so that's great advice. However, they're also evaluating how knowledgeable you are of the profession (they want to make sure that you know as much you say you do on paper based on your experiences). And that you've thought your future through. At least a couple of my interviewers wanted to see how capable I was in talking about science.

I think it would be a good thing to at least go prepared with some information about how you envision your future, being able to talk about your experiences in an impressive light, and understanding debt load, average salary for new grad, etc... Definitely be able to talk about the fields that you've had experience in. It's also a great idea to know how to collect yourself and think on the spot, and/or gracefully say "I don't know," esp if your tactic is not to freak out and feverishly study up on current events/issues in vet med. You're right, they don't care if you know exactly how to genetically engineer animals... but you need to come up with a reasonable answer to something like "how do you feel about GE animals?" even if your answer is "I'm not really sure..."

 

[BrumleyVet]

Speaking as someone just coming back from an "official" interview, DEFINITELY GO TO A MOCK ONE!! It made ALL the difference in the world and the feedback is invaluable. One thing I have learned in this journey is to never ever turn down a chance for feedback or practice.