Practice Interview Reflection

Overall, I had a solid interview, but there is room for improvement. From the feedback I received, I should have probed for more information for each question. This way, I would have received more personalized answers from the interviewee. For example, one of my questions was, “besides, Humanities/Socials and Science; what other classes are you taking?” To add to this, I should have also asked what courses the interviewee had for next semester. By posing more improvised questions like this, the information I recorded could have been more detailed.

The second thing I need to focus on is my eye contact. Just like physical communication, non-verbal communication is also critical during interviews to provide a sense of comfort and formality. By looking someone in the eyes, you show that you are engaged in their story and opinions. Based on the feedback given, I needed to show more eye contact whenever possible. This weakness is also something I struggle with outside of school. I can improve on this through constant practice and the utilization of small tips, like looking at someone’s eyebrows instead of their eyes. Not only is this skill necessary for academics, but it is also crucial in our daily lives.

The final critique states that I did not focus one-hundred percent of the time. Reflecting on the interview, I can see how this is plausible. As I mentioned previously, my social skills are not a strong suit of mine. I am introverted and shy compared to most people. To change this behavior, the best thing I can do is to practice socializing repeatedly. As someone practices remembering information for a test, they can also practice talking to people openly to improve their social skills. This technique is something I try to incorporate every day, with the hope that one day, I will overcome my social anxiety.

Moving on to the strengths of my interview, I have been doing well to listen, create connections, and demonstrate positivity. These qualities are fundamental for creating a healthy environment for both interviewer and the interviewee. These are also things I wish to convey during the interview with our eminent person. When I reflect upon the practice interview, I realize all the mistakes I made. Nonetheless, I believe that I did well in my first interview.

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