For students graduating this semester, a real job interview might be right around the corner. And while interviews may seem intimidating, the Career Center’s two-day “Mock Interview” workshop last week helped students realize their strong points and answering skills they should sharpen up on.

During the 40-minute session, students, who were dressed to impress, talked to recruiters from corporations they might be interested in working for.

After reviewing their résumés, recruiters asked questions a prospective employer might ask regarding the student’s work habits, strengths, previous experience and reactions in workplace situations.

“It really helped me to understand the (interviewing) process, and what I need to sharpen up on,” said Rosalinda Ledesma, senior accounting major.

During the 20-minute interview, the recruiter took notes on performance aspects, mentioning good points and ways to improve. Following the interview was another 20-minute period of critique and questions from the student.

Gina Conigliaro, a recruiter for Progressive, said she looked for tone, body language, eye contact, preparedness and engagement with the interviewer.

Cory Chen, senior accounting major, said the practice helped him feel comfortable, as he was able to leave with methods on how to answer questions that seem vague.

“I need to make sure my tone shows excitement when I discuss my experiences and show how I’m proud of my accomplishments,” Chen said. “That way the employer knows that it really happened.”

The hardest aspect for most students was how to relate ambiguous questions to their specific personality and work experience.

Ledesma said she needed to be more prepared about behavioral situations in the workplace. The recruiters asked questions about situations that challenged her, how she approached it and the ending results.

“Overall, they want to see how you are and how you would fit in with their company,” Ledesma said.

When asked what motivated her, senior apparel design major Marie Deleon said she wasn’t sure. Her interviewer gave suggestions such as talking about how her co-workers motivate her.

Recognizing weaknesses and mentioning them tactfully was another difficulty for Deleon. After attending the event, she realized managing her time and working more effectively under deadline pressure were areas that needed improvement.

Deleon said she felt at ease with the interviewers and thought they did an excellent job giving her specific tips and tricks.

Eva Gabbe, Recruitment Programs manager, said it is key for students to connect their skills to their prospective jobs. Understanding the company’s history and the details of the prospective job description is not done often enough.

Conigliaro said the most common blunder is overall nervousness. But with more practice, the easier it becomes. Students should take the time to research the company they are interviewing at. This will set them apart and show they really want the position.

She also lets them know she can relate because it wasn’t too long ago when she was in college. Being poised and showing interest in the questions shows Conigliaro that the student would be comfortable in different types of situations.

Around 60 to 75 students attended the two-day meetings with 16 recruitment officers from a wide variety of companies such as the Sacramento Bee, Liberty Mutual, CS Technology, Hyatt, Target and state agencies.

The Career Center was pleased with the attendance and student feedback, Gabbe said.

Gabbe started the program five years ago, when she said that Sacramento State students were not quite up to par with other schools’ students entering the work force.

She wanted a workshop that would create the most realistic model of what students could experience when actually being interviewed by prospective employers. With recruiters from major companies, students can be prepared for specific types of questions and angles that the faculty at the Career Center might not ask.

“As a career center, we are very progressive. We see needs and act on them,” Gabbe said.

Conigliaro said she specifically keeps coming back to Sac State to conduct the interviews because of the students and faculty.

“They are very professional and the services prepare students in the worker’s world.”

The recruiters Gabbe asks are always concerned with coming up with specific ways to help individual students.

“All the people we select are warm and caring people. That’s why we’ve invited them,” she said.

The workshop runs twice a year and often juniors take advantage of the opportunity by signing up multiple times to hone their skills even more.

On April 10, the center will host an “Etiquette Dinner” to teach students the ins and outs of dining in a professional setting.

Gabbe said the event has reached its maximum of people it can hold. There is a waiting list of 15 students.

Chloe Daley can be reached at [email protected].