Whether interviewing for an internship or long-term career, students looking to hone their skills can take advantage of a unique mock interview service provided by the ISU Career Center.

Maureen Roach, senior assistant director for the Career Center, said while a résumé may get a student to an interview, the interview itself is often the deciding factor in whether or not that student will land the job.

“A mock interview is going to help students to not only enhance their interviewing skills, but also give them an overall assessment of how they’re communicating their skills and qualifications to an employer,” Roach said. “Oftentimes an employer will make a decision within the first five minutes of an interview, so we want the student to have a good, strong first impression.”

In addition to asking students a series of simulated interview questions based on their career choice, Career Center advisors will also evaluate students’ professional attire and critique their résumés.

As a sophomore communication studies major, Julie Runge experienced a mock interview first-hand as a requirement for her introductory communication course.

“It was really helpful in the sense that [the adviser] I did a mock interview with told me that I’m very enthusiastic, and that a lot of companies would like that kind of energy,” Runge said. “She also told me to watch out on my ‘ums’ ‘uhs’ and helped me out on my attire … she said while I looked very nice, I looked like a student and I needed to look like a professional.”

Now a senior communication studies major, Runge is less than a month away from an interview with Chicago Apartment Finders, a company she encountered during the Career Center’s recent career fair.

Archive Photo : Stephanie Glasscock, a senior accounting and finance major, receives résumé advice from Pamela Cooper, the assistant director at the Career Center.

Runge said she highly recommends mock interviews for all students.

“I was lucky enough to have [a mock interview] required, but for students who don’t … I would definitely recommend it because it really is beneficial and it really does help you [prepare] for when you go into a real, professional interview,” she said.

Runge added that beyond asking questions, employers want to get a sense of what the interviewee can tell them about their company.

Such is the case for Jackie Barnes, district manager in charge of hiring for Busey Bank. Barnes said students should take the time to learn as much as they can about a company before interviewing.

“It’s always impressive if they’ve done their homework and can tell [the employer] a little something about the company they’re applying for,” she said.   

Roach insisted every student should have at least one mock interview while at ISU.

“I think multiple mock interviews will help a student interview effectively with the end result of getting the job that they’re wanting,” she said.