The Effect of Mock Interviews on Student Performance on Career Day Interview

Abstract

Objectives: To determine if students who participated in mock interviews will have better interviewing skills/performance and be more likely to be offered a second interview than students who did not participate. Methods: A hybrid survey approach was used. During Career Day, students were given a packet consisting of a consent form, demographics questionnaire, and multiple recruiter questionnaire forms. Recruiter ratings and student demographics were paired up and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The outcomes measured were ratings of the student’s interviewing performance, student’s confidence, and the likelihood of a second interview. Results: Students without prior mock interview experience received lower recruiter ratings than students with interview experience, but the results were not statistically significant (3.5 in no mock interview arm vs. 3.757 in mock interview arm for interview responses, [p=0.394]; 3.796 in no mock interview arm vs. 4.0 in mock interview arm for confidence ratings, [p=0.781]; and 3.714 in no mock interview arm vs. 3.59 in mock interview arm for likelihood of being offered a second interview [p=0.69]). Conclusions: Students who participated in mock interviews had higher interview ratings and were more likely to be offered a second interview when compared to students who do not have prior interview training, however, the association was not statistically significant. Students who have or have had prior work experience had significantly better interviewing skills/performance and were more likely to be offered a second interview compared to students who did not work while in pharmacy school.