Every college student hopes to find a job after graduation, but the interview process can be a major hurdle.
To help students with little interview experience and those who get last-minute jitters, SUNY Old Westbury will host mock interviews aimed at improving career readiness.
Mock Interview Day will take place Friday, May 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Panthers Pad in the Student Union. The event, hosted by Sophomore Jump and the Academic Planning Center, will give any students the chance to practice interviews with alumni and other campus professionals for free.
The event will give students a minimum of one practice interview that would take roughly 30 minutes in total. 20 minutes for the interview, and 10 minutes of feedback. Depending on attendance, there may be a wait. Because of that, there will also be an opportunity for professional headshots between interviews, as well as complimentary beverages. Students are encouraged to wear professional attire for photos.
“We want students to have good active listening skills, professional behavior, body language, all the nonverbal communication skills that you need in interviewing, as well as having a professional presence,” Kailtin Janes, sophomore class dean and event organizer, said.
Janes said the event provides a safe space to practice answering questions and networking skills.
“Mock Interview Day is a place to make all of the mistakes,” Janes said. “Do everything wrong, and then you’re gonna get that feedback so that when you are on an actual interview, you are not making those same mistakes.”
The need for events like this stems from the growing career-readiness gap among college students.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports in its 2024 Student Survey and 2025 Job Outlook that students and employers agree on the importance of communication, critical thinking and professionalism. However, students believe they are much more proficient in these areas than employers do.
“The skills gap is real,” Jerilyn Marinan McLaughlin, director of Career Planning and Development at SUNY Old Westbury, said.
Students often feel anxious during these interviews because they wonder how to effectively communicate their skills when they lack direct experience related to the position they are applying for, McLaughlin said. Around 47% of college students feel that they’re not confident in their ability to find a job after they’re done with college, according to a 2023 survey published by Forage, website that offers free virtual job simulations.
“It’s higher stakes, and I know students feel that,” said Kaitlin Janes, the president of Sophomore Jump. “That’s why I think mock interview is such an important practice for students.”
The need for activities like Mock Interview Day is ultimately essential to students’ career readiness. A 2024 peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice found that interview practice can improve self-efficacy and boost confidence.
For every student hoping to enter the workforce after graduation, events like Mock Interview Day are more than just an event — they are one more step toward professional success.
“Career readiness is not just a Career Planning and Development initiative,” McLaughlin said. “It is a college initiative. It should be happening everywhere.”
Mock Interview Day hosted by Sophomore Jump and the Academic Planning Center at SUNY Old Westbury. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, May 8 in Panthers Pad of the Student Union. Free admission.
