View of Career Services Building from southeast Career Services @ Virginia Tech
Career Services Building (0128)
Corner of Washington Street & West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA  24061
phone 540-231-6241     fax 540-231-3293       www.career.vt.edu
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Career Services is for all students: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior,
and graduate level, at
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Our Mission and Core Values 
FOR:   Students  |  Graduate Students  |  Employers  |  Alumni  |  Faculty & Staff  |  Parents
Explore Careers & Majors  |  Externships  |  Internships  |  Co–op  |  Job Search  |  Plan for Grad School
 
 
You are here: Career Services > For students > Job search > The Mock Interview Program
 
JOB SEARCH TOOLS & SKILLS:
Resumes and vitae
Cover letters & other letters
E-mail
Telephone
References
Researching employers
 
FINDING JOBS & EMPLOYERS:
How VT grads did it
Who hired VT grads
How to start your job search
Pros & cons of ways to job-hunt
Advertised jobs
Unadvertised jobs
Networking
VT CareerLink
CareerSearch
Hokies4Hire & the On-Campus Interviewing Program
Job & internship web sites
On-line job search advice & privacy protection
 
MEETING EMPLOYERS:
Handshakes
Career fairs / job fairs
Employer info sessions
Interviewing
Interview attire
Business casual attire
Dining etiquette
 
DECIDING ON A JOB OFFER:
Salary, benefits, negotiating
Responding to job offers
Acknowledging a job offer
Deadline extensions
Declining
Accepting
Contracts
Relocating
 
SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Diverse students
International students
Students with disabilities
LGBT students
Graduate students

 
 
The Mock Interview Program Registration
Career Services offers the Mock Interview Program for currently enrolled Virginia Tech students to assist you in preparing for an interview that you may have with an employer or a graduate school program. The mock interview is a practice interview for which you prepare in advance.

Documents you'll need ready before you register:

Prior to registering for a date and time for your mock, you must have in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF (.pdf) format:
Your resume (150 KB maximum file size)
The job description OR graduate program description (150 max.)

You'll be prompted to upload both of the above as you register online!

It is optional to submit:
Additional information such as practice questions, a cover letter, or writing samples) (150 max.)


When mocks can happen:
  You'll see a menu of available future dates when you register online.
Your mock cannot take place on the same day you register.

What if none of the times work for me?
  Interview Stream is a web-based practice interview program, which could provide an alternative for you.
Or you can call our office at 540-231-6241 during office hours to explore alternatives.

What if I'm not a currently-enrolled student, but am an alumnus/alumna or work for Virginia Tech?
  Interview Stream is a web-based practice interview program, which IS open to anyone with a Virginia Tech PID and password, so is an alternative for you.

Alumni who need VT PID and password help, see:
Alumni Association instructions on VT PID + password.
Career Services has no control over or access to VT PIDs and passwords.

Length of appointment and what happens
Your appointment will be scheduled to last for one hour.  Your interview will be 30-45 minutes and the remaining time will be used for you and your advisor to discuss and critique your interview and to address questions you may have. Your interview will be video recorded onto a miniDVD+, and will be reviewed at the end of your mock interview to ensure that you are making the most effective presentation of your skills, abilities, and professionalism.  If you are interested, you may take the copy of the video with you for your own personal viewing.

Advance preparation
To assist you in preparing for your Mock Interview please review the following guidebook and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! The Mock Interview Guidebook (Microsoft Word doc) is designed to help you. Please read it thoroughly and carefully.

Arrival time, attire & location
Arrive 10-15 minutes early for the scheduled mock interview; dress in interview attire. Come to the Smith Career Center reception desk on the first floor to check in.

Caution on mock interviews for class assignments:
Mock Interviews for class assignments will not be given during finals week.  It is your responsibility to get your mock interview completed in a timely fashion, which meets your instructor’s deadline.

Cancellations

All cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance; so the cancellation is logged no later than the business day prior to the appointment. For example, cancellation of a Monday interview must be made, at latest, on Friday, the business day prior.
If you need to cancel your mock interview, for any reason, cancel online here or use the link provided in your confirmation e-mail. When you cancel, you will be prompted to release your time slot. You have the opportunity to register for another mock interview time slot, if you desire.


No-Show Policy
If you do not show up for your scheduled mock interview and/or alert Career Services 24 hours in advance, per cancellation rules above, that you cannot attend, you will be blocked from scheduling future mock interviews.
 
Contact for questions:

Kristin Eicholtz
Career Advisor
Smith Career Center
540-231-6241
kristin3@vt.edu

 
More interview prep and follow-up topics:
Safety issues related to interviews (we're not kidding!)
Pre-interview employer information sessions
Typical interview format
Telephone interviews
Interview attire
Sample questions
Sample questions for teaching candidates
Behavioral interviewing
Interview DOs & DON'Ts
Researching employers — why and how
Questions to ask the employer
Responding to salary questions
On-site interviews
Dining Etiquette
Interview expenses
After your interviews / follow up / thank-you letters
Interview attire
Business casual attire
Salary information: don't be taken by surprise
Interview Stream web-based practice interview program
Related topics:
Planning for graduate or professional school
Hokies4Hire job listings and On-Campus Interviewing Program
           
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