B1 Mock Interviews

Mock Interviews:

A Mock Interview is a practice interview/a simulation of a real interview. Mock Interviews are very important as they act as experience and help you to develop the skills that you require for real interviews. With the more practice you have, the more confidence you will have in real interview settings in the future.  

Channel 4: 

The client for my mock interview is Channel 4, therefore it was necessary for me to conduct research into this company in order to gain a better understanding of it. Channel 4, founded November 2nd 1982, is a British free-to-air public service television network. Its headquarters are in London, with a National HQ in Leeds and creative hubs in Glasgow and Bristol. Channel 4's target demographic are those between ages 16 and 34, appealing to all genders and ethnic backgrounds. The company priorities equality and diversity, aiming to appeal to people regardless of their culture, nationality, religious persuasion, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, gender, race or age. Channel 4's main goal is to influence change via entertainment. They accomplish this by "representing unheard voices" and "reinventing entertainment". Although this company is mainly known for being involved in television, they also work across film and digital media. In addition to the main Channel 4 service, its portfolio includes E4, More4, Film4 and 4Music, as well as online activities that includes channel4.com, Channel 4’s bespoke video-on-demand service 4oD and standalone digital projects.              

Interview techniques:

To prepare for my Mock Interview, I conducted some research into effective interview techniques. Some examples of effective interview techniques include:

Be on time or even early

First impressions are very important, therefore being on time to an interview will show your potential employer that your punctuality is up to the required standard for the job. One thing however, that would be even better than just being on time is arriving early as this would show that you are willing to make the extra effort in order to secure the job. 

Score a success within the first five minutes.

Some studies indicate that interviewers make up their minds about candidates in the first five minutes of the interview and then spend the rest of the interview looking for things to confirm that decision. So coming in with energy and enthusiasm is very important. It is also beneficial to express your appreciation for the interviewer's time.

Be honest

If you lie or exaggerate in order to impress, your interviewer is more than likely to attempt to confirm this information. This means that lying will be likely to only do you more harm than good.

Don't be hard on yourself for mistakes 

Improvement will come with experience, so don't expect to be perfect on your first try.

Be confident but not arrogant: 

Confidence is a positive sign in an employe, but being able to recognise your own flaws and willingly improve them is also very necessary. Arrogance is very much a weakness in a professional, work environment as it can easily prevent you from improving as an employee. 

Close on a positive, enthusiastic note.
Ask what the next step will be. Thank the interviewer for his/her time and express your interest in the job. Leave quickly and courteously with a handshake and a smile. If an interviewee is to do this, they are more likely to leave a positive impression on the interviewer thus, ending the interview on a high note.

Practice questions:

In order to prepare myself for my mock interview, I answered a few practice questions:

 

 

 Tell me about yourself... 

I am a highly self-motivated young worker with competent technical skills, who has a creative mind and excels in video editing. I have always felt very enthusiastic towards the media industry which is why I believe that I would be very well suited to a job with Channel 4. I am currently studying my second year of a 2-year Creative Media course at Sunderland College, and I am in this position because of my long-time interest in Media.  

 

 

 

What are your strengths and weaknesses? 

My greatest strengths include enthusiasm, creativity and dedication. My weaknesses include disorganisation, impatience and lack of experience in teamwork/group work. Regarding teamwork, I would like to be put in more situations where I must work with others because I am very eager to perfect this flaw of mine. 

 

 

 

Why do you want to work here?  

I want to work here because I have always been a very avid viewer of Channel 4 and for a long time, have possessed an interest in the media industry. Media is something that I am very passionate about, and I believe that Channel 4 would be a great way for me to enter this industry and channel my passion and interest into a creative outlet. 

 

 

 

 

 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?  

 

In 5 years from now, I hope to be employed full time under Channel 4 and to be heavily involved in the more creative aspects of the company. I would very much prefer for my role in this company to revolve around video editing as this is the role that I specialise in and enjoy the most. I also hope that this job position would allow me several more opportunities to grow as a media practitioner and expand, whilst also helping the company do the same itself. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Describe a time where you were required to work in a team.  

In late 2020/early 2021, me and a group of 4 others were tasked with making a Western style short film in college. Although this was a lengthy process with a few slight communication issues, we eventually prevailed as a group and managed to shoot and edit an exceptionally well-made short film that was praised by those who viewed it.   

My Mock Interview:

Mock Interview Self Assessment:

Whilst watching my mock interview, I can immediately notice that my body language does not display an overwhelming sense of confidence. My posture is somewhat slouched as opposed to tall and I do not keep firm eye contact with the interviewer very frequently. My facial expression also regularly displays a look of irresolution. The conversation does not flow very smoothly and there are many points during the interview where I feel doubt and uncertainty with my answers and therefore, begin to hesitate. During the interview, there were moments where I was somewhat quick on my feet and improvised very well when responding to questions quickly. However, there were also times that I forgot some of the answers that I had prepared previously because I did not revise them enough. Overall, I believe that my mock interview was mediocre at best. I have observed many flaws that require improvement such as my body language and facial expressions. My interview also lacked sufficient preparation and I need more experience in order to gain confidence. To improve my interview skills, I need to prepare and research more thoroughly as well as undergoing more mock interviews to become more skilled.

Interviewer Feedback:

You were able to mention your skills such as your commitment to your work. Employers would be pleased to hear this as they would want a candidate who is committed to doing their best in work settings. It was also interesting to hear what you would categorise as your weakness which is taking constructive criticism. In a film/TV industry role, you would be taking constructive criticism on a daily basis and it’s good to see that you have identified this as a weakness. Make sure you do some more research on the company you apply to work for: it impresses them and shows you are passionate about working for the company.