Foundations of Interview Preparation

This unit introduces core interview preparation skills including researching opportunities, anticipating questions, assessing interviewer types and formats, and developing a practical prep strategy that incorporates current trends, technology, and professional presentation. It establishes foundational knowledge of legal/ethical rights and quick-prep techniques to prepare students for applied practice and mock interviews in later units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze job postings and employer research sources to identify required skills, company culture indicators, and technology/trend implications, and produce a one-page alignment summary linking candidate strengths to the opportunity
• Evaluate common interviewer types and at least three interview formats to select and justify specific questioning, tonal, and logistical strategies for each context
• Apply legal and ethical guidelines related to interviewing (including nondiscrimination rights and truthfulness) to role-play scenarios, correctly identifying violations and articulating appropriate responses
• Create a time-based interview preparation strategy and demonstrate its use in a simulated five- to ten-minute mock interview that incorporates professional dress, rapid last-minute prep techniques, and 3–5 concise speaking points using digital rehearsal tools