2. Harland Mims Reflection on the Mock Interview 4/14/16
The mock interview gave me the confidence that I didn’t knew I was lacking. The person
that interviewed was Mrs. Donna Srader and I could tell that she has done this an innumerable
amount of times. I couldn’t even go into her office without her giving me pointers on what to do
during an interview. Now I will sit back and explain my thoughts on the actual interview.
This interview was overwhelming to sum up in one word. As I stated earlier, I didn’t
know what to expect because the intern I had was more of a networking who you knew to get
there type of deal. I didn’t actually sit down with an employer and have him or her ask me
questions, so it wasn’t something I was accustomed to. This interview was overwhelming for the
simple fact that it took an hour. I know I keep reiterating this, but in all honesty I just didn’t see
this process being this long. I was enjoying the feedback that I was getting from Mrs. Donna, but
later on throughout the interview I asked myself, “how long is this going to take?” I loved every
minute of this process because what I was being taught was valuable and eye opening, but I
wondered if the duration was long in this mock interview then could this possibly be the same
for an actual interview.
The prep work that I used during this interview was only the one that group 6 presented.
Their group activity is what helped me during my mock interview process, for I remembered
some of the trick questions so to say to help me. However, I didn’t come up with a few questions
like I was instructed to do and this kind of hurt me, for Mrs. Srader was quickly able to realize
that I wasn’t prepared in that area. I managed to come up with a couple of questions on my own,
one of which she answered to the best of her abilities but didn’t know too much about because it
was specific relating to my career. So I credit her for the answer that she gave me. I struggled in
coming up with the question and I had to start over because it didn’t make sense to me the first
3. Harland Mims Reflection on the Mock Interview 4/14/16
time I asked. Overall the prep work helped and I would make sure that I have questions for my
interviewer in the future.
My overall success during the interview was great, for most of the areas that Mrs. Srader
critiqued came back positive. I was poised and I gave nice professional answers. There were
many topics we discussed that she liked, and there were areas where she helped polished my
deficiencies. With that being said, if this were a real interview I would say that I would make it
to the next point of the interviewing process. I spoke well on the questions that were presented to
me, as well as explained areas on my resume that were pleasing to Mrs. Srader. I would say if it
came down to me and someone else, and if they asked better questions in the end, then they
would probably be most likely to get the job. There was one question that stunned me
particularly and that was, “Give me an example of how you could apply your quality controls
experience with your current job in food hospitality?” I couldn’t answer that question, and the
answer I gave wasn’t really related to the question. Mrs. Srader pointed it out and gave me her
example of how I could have said that I test the bridges to ensure they’re ready to be used by the
public and that I do the same with preparing and serving the food. The quality must be ready for
the customers.
A question that I would say I aced was, “If you were a skittle, what color would it be and
why?” My response was blue because of its coolness and royalty. Mrs. Srader harped on that for
a while because she had never heard that, and I think it gave me a little more confidence as well
to answer her future questions. It was something that came to the top of my head when asked and
that was the answer that I spit out. This is the question that surprised me, and she told me that
companies will ask questions like this just to see what you’re going to say. There’s no real right
or wrong answer it’s just to see where your head is so to say.
4. Harland Mims Reflection on the Mock Interview 4/14/16
After reviewing the resume rubric and feedback from Mrs. Srader I learned that I my
resume is good, and that I should make my experience in the field my selling point to an
employer. She even gave me pointers on what to say in my elevator speech so that was extremely
helpful. I learned that I say I guess often, and she got on to me about that. She told me I should
be sure and exact in what I’m saying. My posture wasn’t the greatest, for I leaned over when
conversing with her. She assumed it was because of my height, but I know I could do better, so
it’s something I’m aware of now. This mock interview really woke me up, and I’m thankful that
I was able to do this as well as be interviewed by a woman who I feel is perfect in prepping you.
The thank you note that I wrote wasn’t hard because it was easy to pinpoint the good that Mrs.
Srader did for me. I’m just looking forward to actually doing it for a future employer if my
career takes me somewhere other than my current job.
The things that I would do similarly are give the same answers to the questions I did well
on, as well as keep my composure. I believe that I didn’t show any signs of nervousness, more
eagerness than anything. Things that I would change or do differently are use better choice of
words, sit up straight, and utilize the, “I’ve never been put in that situation but if I were…”
That’s for the questions that I didn’t know how to answer right off the back. Once again, this was
a great experience for me and I want to thank Mrs. Srader as well as you Dr. Bentley for
allowing me to go through this process. I didn’t know what to expect when I chose this route to
finish my degree but it has helped me in more ways than one and I’m truly thankful for it. I just
hope what I’m learning here I will continue to use in my career.
