- How do you feel the interview went overall?
- Overall, I thought the interview went smoothly and I was confident with my answers. There were a few questions that I could have better prepared beforehand, but I was happy with the way that it unfolded, overall.
- How did you prepare for the interview?
- To prepare for the interview, I looked over my resume and cover letter. I thought about instances where my experiences could be relevant and discussed in an interview. I looked over the resources that Dr. Lancaster shared with us on "Challenging Interview Questions." I tried to not overthink and overpreare for this interview to lessen the anxiety that may come with the preparation.
- What, if anything, went differently than you expected?
- With the interview being virtual, I had a difficult time with non-verbal communication such as facial expression or pauses between responses. It was sometimes difficult for me to understand how she recieved an answer and I did not expect that. I also had a hard time with the "suspension of disbelief" aspect of this interview. The interviewer took her role in the scenario very seriously. When I asked specific questions she answered them very clearly and explained the unique value of the clinic. This aspect made it difficult for me to decipher what was real and what was "mock" for the purposes of the interview. I think the practicality and preparedness of the interview made a difference and helped make this scenario beneficial for future experience!
- What's something you would change if you could go through this process again (or something you'll do differently when you're in a real-life interview situation)?
- Next time, I will be more prepared for specific questions such as "what salary do you plan to make?" This question was something that I should have considered ahead of time but was caught off guard in this situation. I also want to make sure that I do research on the specific facility and ask questions that are relevant to the area of practice.
- What's something you learned during this process that may be helpful to you as you prepare to enter the workforce as an OT practitioner?
- In this process, I learned that virtual interviews may look different than in-person. The interviewer made a note that virtual communication is something that may be prevelant and important in our line of work for a while. I learned that it's important to look at the person but also look into the camera in order to "make eye contact." It is also helpful to take note of your background and be sure that all technical setbacks are handled beforehand. In this process, I also learned to be prepared for questions that make you step out of your comfort zone. Questions related to salary and hopes for my life in the future were not what I expected but something I should prepare to answer. I want to not only feel comfortable sharing about my clinical experience but also transparent and vulnerable in questions related to other qualities that a company may be seeking.
