Thursday, October 9, 2008
When I made it to the state level of the Junior Miss scholarship competition, my coach, Tracie, decided to mandate two hours of mock interviews a few days a week. Tracie sometimes even videotaped (gasp!) my interview.
I actually found myself enjoying the challenge and learning how to improve my interview skills, even though the video revealed some regrettable and hilarious gaffes.
Still, I was a teenager and sometimes had other things I’d rather be doing.
I felt interviewed-out as my two hours were almost up during one session. My mind wandered to pressing teenage concerns of finishing my homework and what I should wear the next day.
While I was deciding whether to wear my hair wavy or straight, Tracie sprang one last question on me. Current events.
She asked about my position on the government’s involvement in the Abu Ghraib scandal. I snapped out of my mindless thoughts and back into the room.
“A blue grape?” I blurted out. I had no idea that the U.S. government was facing imminent attacks of blue grapes. Tracie raised her eyebrow at me and gave a you-better-stay-focused look.
It wasn’t until college that I really started to appreciate those mock interview sessions. I knew to take off my passion pink nail polish, dress conservatively and eliminate awkward “uhs” and “umms” from my responses. I understood my strengths and weaknesses. I knew how to gracefully tackle unexpected questions and knock the ones I had prepared for out of the ballpark.
Heather’s story on page 9 provides professional interview tips, some unbelievably bad interview experiences and how to schedule your own mock interview on campus.
You’ll be prepared for any question they throw at you.
Dont Sweat: It's Only Your Dream Job
How to nail an interview.
Living in Remission
Months of treatment and uncertainty surrounding their disease has enabled some students ...
Get more than your foot in the ...
What you need to know to nail a job interview
Sell yourself
Landing a job takes more than a crisp resume and friendly smile.
Get hired
To hell and back
A fight outside Naismith Hall began Thor Nystrom's year-long journey into the ...
Abnormal arms, but ample ability
How one student aims to transform disability's definition.
Running in circles
Kansas royalty graces Allen Fieldhouse
Miss Kansas USA and Miss Kansas Teen USA stopped by Saturday’s game ...
How to dress to impress and get ...
Buff your shoes and press your shirts for success
Hudson: Unprepared applicants cannot ‘wing’ job interview
Just saying “I’m a people person” is not going to cut it.
Buckle up for safety
Doing Without: Wearing Blue Jeans
Absence makes the heart grow...?
Personal essay: What a girl wants
Throwing my dreams of unrealistic perfection aside, I'm beginning to accept me ...
Fear, interrupted
How one man’s love helped undo the damage of another.
Casual dining, serious dating
How I found love in the most unexpected person
The upside to being down
Students deals with depression with help from her family
Privacy matters
How your Facebook profile could hurt your job prospects.
Orientation assistants show passion for University
The NSO office encourages students with varied campus interests to apply for ...
Ghost world
As winter approaches, downtown Lawrence’s sizeable homeless population must deal with crowded ...
Shoplifting provides a thrill
Retailers take precautions to battle theft.
Big Love
Students' Challenges and Rewards of Volunteering with Big Brothers, Big Sisters
Rains: Goodbye is the hardest part
B.J. Rains spent three years reporting on the Jayhawks and is sad ...
A Part of Me
The brace I wore to correct scoliosis was uncomfortable and embarrassing, but ...
Minster: Kids growing up faster and faster
Third graders in Georgia took the reaction of frustrated students into the ...
Carmichael: To change from the world’s worst ...
Turns out, my mom was right and blogging isn't so bad after ...
Ours for now
Raising a puppy for service
More ZZZ's Please
Enter unconsciousness and see what goes on before the alarm clock goes ...
How to own a dog on a ...
Keep these pointers in mind when caring for your dog.
Love outlasts a lifetime
One Jayplay writer remembers her grandpa and his positive influence.
Hair grows
When I’m not sure who I am, I change my hair
G. Loves spreads the love
G. Love talks about his Lawrence and his musical influences.
Matney: Putting health over appearance
Sometimes, trying to have a perfect appearance can risk good health.
Maverick
Nystrom: Women’s basketball team needs more support
The women’s team is competing in the WNIT, but the lack of ...
My Name Is Jason
Stressed in the city
My first job interview in New York
Living in limbo: Raul
Raul is pictured on a KU recruitment poster that says "You have ...
Sundays with Delores
How a bus drive on the wild side opened one writer’s eyes
Hiding Daddy
I tried to block the person I needed most
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID