VCU Career Center to hold third annual mock interview program

By Malorie Burkett

RICHMOND, Va. - The University Career Center at Virginia Commonwealth University will hold its third annual Mock Interview Program - a seminar designed to prepare students, including those scheduled to graduate in May, on how to improve their performance during behavioral interviews.  

"Large corporations throughout Richmond, and the majority of employers recruiting on campus, use behavioral interviewing," said Sue Story, interim director of the University Career Center, which is part of the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services at VCU. 

Open to VCU students and alumni, the program will begin March 3 with a preparatory workshop, facilitated by John Lawrence, vice president of employee relations and communications for McKesson Medical-Surgical Corporation. The workshop will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Career Center, located in the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. The Students will then apply these interview techniques during practice interviews in the Career Center with employers on March 8-10 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"Recruiters told us that students are not strong in behavioral interviews, so we asked employers to communicate the importance of preparing for behavioral interviews," said Darlene Ward, assistant director of the career center and coordinator of the event. 

The Mock Interview Program was established in fall 2002 and began with 16 employers and 70 student participants. This year, representatives from 20 organizations will interview over 120 students. Participating employers include Carpenter Company, CJW Medical, Circuit City, First Market Bank, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, General Electric, Historic Richmond Foundation, LuckStone, Marsh, Inc., McKesson Medical-Surgical Corporation, Patient First, Philip Morris, SunTrust, The Titan Group, VCU Human Resources, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), Target, Wachovia and Wella Corporation.