It’s common knowledge that practice makes progress, and the more you practice something, the better at it you’ll be. Even interviews can become less intimidating with practice – and mock interview week is a phenomenal opportunity to find your footing in a professional environment before the time comes to interview for real.
Every year for Mock Interview Days, the Washington College Career Center invites alumni from various professional fields to conduct practice interviews with students in a 1-on-1 Zoom call. These interviews allow students to practice and prepare for common interview questions, like “Tell me a little bit about yourself,” or “Describe your strengths and weaknesses.” The alumni interviewers can help students workshop responses to questions and provide helpful, kind feedback so you feel more prepared for the real deal.
Joey Bonacci ’25 participated in Mock Interview Days last year, and was paired with an alum in a field he was interested in professionally pursuing. “The most valuable part was the fact that the interviewer was in my field or a related field, so the questions and format were realistic for my career,” he says. “My interviewer discussed my career trajectory with me so she could model the interview as closely as possible to reality.” Since his mock interview, Joey has applied to a related internship and was hired for summer 2023.
Though interview practice and skill development are the primary aims of mock interviews, networking is also a valuable takeaway from this opportunity. “I still talk to the agent I met with for career advice,” Joey says. “She sent a wonderful follow-up email with incredibly useful feedback and attention to detail, encouraging me to continue on in my field.” In terms of professional development, connections with alumni who share your professional goals are invaluable and can help your progress toward employment during and after college, as well as provide insight into your intended career path and real-world advice and experiences that may shape how you approach the future.
“The practice was excellent, but in addition I received validation that my career path was right for me, that I would be able to make it in my field and be successful,” Joey concluded.
Mock interview registration will start the week of April 3rd, and the interviews will take place April 13th and 14th. They are first-come, first-serve, so don’t wait to register on Handshake as soon as possible!