Mock interview is a common statement you hear from people when it comes to them seeking help with an up-and-coming interview, whether it be a general interview or a competency-based interview. They have completed and submitted their CV or completed their competency-based application form and wrote good examples to competency-based questions for an organisation and they have been so good on paper that the organisation has invited them for an interview.
Because they are anxious about doing an interview, especially competency-based interviews, they seek out professional help from a job/career consultant and coach, who they think and hope will help them prepare to do a good interview and put in a performance on the day, leaving everything in the room…and they do, as some job/career consultants & coaches are good at what they do and help people carry out and deliver great interviews.
However, the question remains, ‘How do these job/career consultants & coaches do this i.e., how do they prepare you for these interviews and/or competency-based interviews?
Well, I don’t know how they specifically do it; however, this is the way Talent Fusion do it:
- Pre-empt questions they could ask you from the job description with answers developed
- Pre-empt questions they could ask you from your CV with answers developed
- Pre-empt questions they could ask you from your competency-based application form with answers developed
Pre-empt questions they could ask you from the Job Description with answers developed
The job description is the bible when it comes to preparing for an interview; it is even the bible when it comes to completing your application form and a competency-based application form. Read each section in the job description and all the bullet points having an answer in the ‘Power of Three’ approach or through an example
Pre-empt questions they could ask you from your CV with answers developed
Many interviewers start the interview with your CV and might ask you to walk through your CV for them. They will pick up on any gaps in your CV, and delve through your education, qualifications, accomplishments, achievements and of course your career and employment history. No one should know every piece of information in your CV as well as you do, so do know your CV and be able to answer anything about it. If you cannot, then take it out
Pre-empt questions they could ask you from your Competency-based Application Form with answers developed
When it comes to preparing for a competency-based interview, the competencies and examples in your competency-based application form are what it is all about. Knowing the content of your examples i.e., the what, who, where, why and how, ensuring that they meet the criteria of the competency explanation and the criteria of the job description is critical. Do have a backup example at the ready. Some application forms do not ask you to complete examples of competencies; however, when it comes to an interview, they request examples of competencies, based on the criteria of the job description and what is relevant to the carry out the role successfully.
And finally; sometimes, they will inform you by e-mail a list of competencies they will ask you on the day of the interview.
So, before doing a mock interview; firstly, do all of the above and then you will be in a better place, both mentally and physically, to do it…