COMM8420 – Mock Interview – Major Assignment #3

(total marks 25, worth 15%)

Go online or use LinkedIn (or another job site) to find a few examples of communications job
postings (or use one you have already been working with) and choose one you would like to use
for your mock interview. Using the information in the posting, you will anticipate interview
questions that may be posed to you. You will also need to brainstorm questions that you would
like to ask about the company, the job, and the responsibilities as they are listed for this position.
You want to use this interview opportunity to make a strong case for your candidacy with your
existing expertise and experience, but more importantly, you want to be confident that this is
also a good fit for you.

Objective: To prepare, practice and reflect on your interview skills to improve and feel
confident in your interview skills.

Part A: Interview Preparation (15 Marks)

An interview lets the employer learn more about your professional qualifications and suitability
for the role. It is also a chance to determine if you would be a good fit for the culture and team
you would be working with. An interview allows you to learn more about the job, the company
and the company culture to determine if it meets your career goals.

Pay close attention to the wording in the job ads and try to shape your potential interview
questions around these critical areas: alignment between responsibilities and your skills and
experience, the potential opportunity for further growth and learning with this role/company, and
gaining a sense for your own comfort and suitability with the work culture. *Remember to
include the ad as a link or screenshot in your final submission.

1) Job Posting
Paste the job posting (and link) into this Word document to include it in your submission with
the following worksheets.

2) Predicting Interview Questions – Skills based

Predict 5 questions from the job posting and your skills, experiences and accomplishments.
Write your responses to the questions using the STAR model: Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Predicted Question Situation/Task Action Results

1.

2.
3.

4.

5.

3) Predicting Interview Questions – Situation, behavioral and/or scenario-based style

Predict 5 questions that explore past job performance and cover all essential job functions, skills,
and competencies. This style uses various approaches to open up conversation topics and/or
confirm information. These are often open-ended questions that require you to provide detailed
answers. Write your responses to the questions using the STAR model: Situation, Task,
Action, Result.

Predicted Question Situation/Task Action Results

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

4) Predicting Interview Questions – Your own questions

Prepare 5 of your own questions to learn more about the role and the company. It is a good idea
to prepare these questions in advance so that the interviewers get the impression that you have
taken the time to research the company and are also aware of what the position entails. Some
questions that you could ask include:
 What qualities do your most successful employees have?
 What are the steps in your hiring process?
 What type of in-house training programs do you offer?

Write your responses to the questions using the STAR model: Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Predicted Question Situation/Task Action Results

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Part B: Mock Interview Recording (10 Marks)

Practicing for an interview is one of the most effective ways to prepare yourself, relieve your
anxiety and improve your confidence. You will work with a classmate to help you conduct the
mock interviews, taking turns asking the questions as the interviewer and interviewee, and
producing the recording of the interviews. Practice a few times because the more you practice,
the better you will perform during the actual interview.

1) Interview Practice Peer Feedback Form

Submit your peer feedback form that you received from your colleague in class during the mock
interview. A copy of the form is also here for you in case you need it.

Interview Feedback Form

Peer Feedback Form
Interviewee:
Reviewer:
Below Meets Exceeds
Satisfactory
Criteria Expectations Expectations Expectations
(2)
(1) (3) (4)
Communication is
clear and easy to
understand.

The interview
questions selected
are evident in the
job posting.

Interview
responses
demonstrate the
STAR Model.
I liked the way
you …..

I would suggest
you improve…..

2) Interview Reflection
Based on your predicted question, and the mock interview, reflect on how you performed during
the mock interview. How confident did you feel? What would you change or adjust?

Did you feel you predicted Did your answer What could I improve
a realistic question from reflect the STAR upon with my response?
the job advertisement? Model?
Why?
Question 1

Question 2

Question 3
Assignment Rubric:
Needs
Criteria Excellent (4) Proficient (3) Basic (2) Improvement Not Evident (0)
(1)
Preparation Candidate Candidate has Candidate has Candidate has No evidence of
thoroughly conducted conducted some limited or no research about
researched the adequate research research on the research on the the role or
company, role, on the company company and company or role. company.
and industry. and role. Shows a role. Demonstrates a Demonstrates a
Demonstrates a good Demonstrates a lack of complete lack of
deep understanding of basic understanding of preparedness.
understanding of the job understanding of the job
the job requirements and the job requirements.
requirements and provides requirements but
has prepared reasonably well- may lack depth
thoughtful and prepared in responses.
tailored responses.
responses.
Professionalism Candidate Candidate Candidate Candidate lacks The candidate
exhibits a high presents displays basic professionalism, does not present
level of themselves in a professionalism with noticeable as a professional.
professionalism, professional but may have issues in dress, Poor
including manner, with some issues with communication, demonstration.
appropriate dress, appropriate dress dress, and confidence.
posture, and and communication, Limited or no
communication. communication. or confidence. eye contact is
Maintains eye Maintains good Maintains established.
contact, uses eye contact and limited eye
professional displays contact.
language, and confidence,
demonstrates though there may
confidence. be minor areas
for improvement.
Communication Candidate Candidate Candidate Candidate Information is
Skills communicates communicates communicates struggles to unclear, with
effectively, well, with clear adequately, but communicate issues in
articulating articulation and there are effectively, with articulation,
thoughts clearly an appropriate instances of frequent issues in language, and
and concisely. language and unclear articulation, tone. Responses
Uses appropriate tone. Generally, articulation, language, and are not relevant
language and responds inappropriate tone. Responses or developed to a
tone. appropriately to language, or are unclear or professional
Demonstrates questions but tone. Responses irrelevant. level.
active listening may have may lack depth
skills and occasional lapses or coherence.
responds in clarity.
thoughtfully to
questions.
Problem- Candidate Candidate shows Candidate Candidate Poor
Solving demonstrates solid problem- demonstrates struggles to demonstration of
strong problem- solving skills and basic problem- demonstrate problem-solving
solving skills by attempts to solving skills, effective skills. Responses
 effectively address scenarios but responses problem-solving lack any depth or
addressing or challenges lack depth or skills. Responses relevance to the
hypothetical presented. creativity. May are vague, lack scenarios.
scenarios or Solutions may struggle to depth, or are
challenges posed lack some depth address more irrelevant to the
during the or creativity. complex scenarios
interview. Offers scenarios. presented.
creative and well-
thought-out
solutions.
Knowledge of Candidate Candidate shows Candidate Candidate lacks a Candidate fails
Industry/Role displays an in- a good displays a basic clear to display any
depth understanding of understanding of understanding of understanding of
understanding of the industry and the industry and the industry and the industry and
the industry and role, using role, but role. Responses role, nor
role, relevant responses may are generic and reference to any
incorporating terminology. lack depth or demonstrate a relevant
relevant Establishes a relevance. disconnect terminology and
terminology and connection Connection between their trends in their
trends into between their between skills skills and the responses. No
responses. skills and the and role role. clear
Demonstrates a role, though there requirements is demonstration of
clear connection may be minor limited. the connection
between their gaps in between their
skills and the knowledge. skills and the
requirements of requirements of
the role. the role.
Grammar and Language
Grammar and Contains no Contains very Contains some Contains Contains a high
Spelling grammatical few grammatical noticeable numerous number of
errors or spelling errors or spelling grammatical grammatical serious
mistakes. mistakes. errors or spelling errors or spelling grammatical
mistakes. mistakes. errors and
spelling
mistakes.
Professional Utilizes Mostly uses Inconsistent use Inappropriate Unprofessional
Language professional and professional of professional language or tone language or tone
appropriate language with a language. in some parts. throughout.
language few lapses.
throughout the
documents.
Overall Impression
Overall Quality Candidate leaves Candidate leaves Candidate leaves Candidate leaves The peer and
a highly positive a positive a neutral a negative self-assessment
impression, impression, impression. impression, provide little to
conveying a conveying Engagement and indicating a poor no thought,
strong suitability suitability for the enthusiasm are fit for the role. consideration or
for the role. role. Engages the present but may Lack of practical insights
Engages the interviewer with lack consistency. engagement and for potential
interviewer with enthusiasm, but enthusiasm is development.
enthusiasm and there may be noticeable Does not meet
confidence. occasional lapses. throughout the the minimum
 interview. course standards.
Peer Feedback Shows substantial Demonstrates Shows limited Shows little to no No evidence of
- Effort and effort and effort and some effort or minimal effort or effort or
Improvement improvement improvement improvement improvement improvement
over previous over previous over previous over previous over previous
drafts (if drafts (if drafts (if drafts (if drafts (if
applicable). applicable). applicable). applicable). applicable).