Mock Interviews Go Virtual for Industrial Engineering Students

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Industrial engineering students participate in virtual mock interviews. Top row, from left: Courtney Jacobs and Dumas Garret. Bottom row, from left: Ed Collins and Macy Tush.

Mock interviews have been a staple of the Industrial Engineering program for several years, and as COVID-19 continues to impact how organizations around the world work, the experience has gone virtual for 2020.

The program is co-managed by the Department and the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering. Students hone their interview skills and receive valuable feedback prior to the career fair, with help from alumni and industry partners.

The virtual interviews were a shift, but one that reflects the real-world experience for students.

"With changes in the workplace since the beginning of the pandemic, interviews for the students graduating in the near future will likely be virtual," said Edward Pohl, head of the Department of Industrial Engineering. "Students taking part in the Virtual Mock Interviews got the opportunity to see what that process will be like and get some practice for future success."

Students met with industry volunteers via platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams for interviews. During the discussions, students were given direction, suggestions and advice on communication and improving their interview skills, as well as pointers for refining their resumes.

Volunteer interviewer and alumni, Tarek Taha (BSIE '91, MSIE '93), who is a Senior Director, Engineering at J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., said the process was valuable practice in a new scenario.

"Our preference is to have engineers on site so we can sell our company, take them to dinner, and get to know them," he said. " With that said, we've gotten used to interviewing in this way and I think you can still get a good idea of whether a candidate will be a good fit or not. Experiencing the remote environment will be helpful to them, as they were given targeted feedback on how they can improve. It's an option I wish I would have had when I was their age."

Students said they were surprised at some of the feedback, such as the role a room can play in setting expectations.

We get comfortable in our homes, we might forget about the mess in the background and that will probably affect our interview," said master's student Rolando Orellana.

Madeline Suellentrop, senior industrial engineering student said the process taught her about herself.

"I learned a lot about myself: what I do when I'm nervous, how I react to certain questions, where I excelled and where I stumbled," she said. "The alumni were great at giving suggestions for improvements and general tips for interviews. Now I have practical knowledge to take with me as I attend the career fair. Overall, it was a great opportunity to start brainstorming some concrete examples from my personal experiences that I can use to answer common interview questions." "

Alumnus Frank Broadstreet, (BSIE '90, MSIE '96),  said he enjoyed the chance to meet the next generation of engineers.

"It is always inspiring and energizing to get a chance to meet and speak with the talent coming out of our department," he said. "While most everyone is still adapting to the increased use of remote and virtual tools, the students in our sessions seem to have adapted well. They might have been more comfortable with this model than the interviewers."

The department plans to hold another round of mock interviews in the spring.