Students and alumni speed through Interview Dash

Norma Villarreal

The Signal

Interview Dash, sponsored by Career Services, was held March 1 to help students and alumni practice their interviewing skills with local companies, receive feedback from employers and network with peers.

“Interview Dash is speed interviewing, similar to speed dating with multiple employers,” said Caitlin Weekley, employer relations coordinator. “The job search is something you will be doing for your entire life and these are really valuable skills. The Interview Dash is only practice, not for an actual job, but it could build networking for a potential job.”

Weekley brought the event to UHCL after having a similar experience during her time as a student in college.

“I did something similar when I was in college, and I felt like I learned,” Weekley said. “It was extremely nerve racking because you are getting interviewed over and over again and, you know, it is not for a real job but you’re sitting in front of someone who hires people and critiques interviewing all day every day. The student should be able to seal the deal in a job search.”

Students had the opportunity to perfect their interviewing skills by getting feedback from an actual employer on how to correctly answer interview questions. Twelve employers attended including Harris County Department of Education, IRS, DQ Technologies, Omnipotech and Target.

Manager for the IRS and University of Houston-Downtown alumnus Terry McIntosh was one of the employers who attended.

“Although most students will assume that they will be able to find jobs after they graduate, students may be unaware that their interview skills may need a little polishing,” McIntosh said. “Answering an interview question the wrong way can keep you from getting the job. People need to think. It is not as if, though, you have to continuously talk because once you say something, you cannot take it back. It would be better to say nothing than to have spoken words that make you seem less intelligent.”

The Interview Dash operated on the same principal as speed dating. The employer asked the interviewee a typical question, comparable to a question that would be asked in a regular interview, and the student had one minute to respond with an answer. The employer then had one minute to give instant feedback. If there was a better response than the one given, the interviewer informed the student of the proper way the question could have been answered. After the two minutes were up, the student moved on to the next employer and started the process over again.

“I am hoping to be able to interact with multiple employers, find out what employers are looking for and to polish up on my interview skills so that I can land that job that I am looking for in the future,” said Connie Lafayette, human resource management major.

“Before I got here I had no idea what to expect, but I got a lot of good feedback after speaking with the employers,” said Patricia Hansen, geography major. “I think the university should hold this type of event every semester. However, the time needs to be longer than the two minutes they are allowing. We also need more employers at this event; my overall experience was great.”

Half of the room was set up as a network arena so that students could practice with UHCL Career Services staff. The network arena consisted of shaking hands, making eye contact and having conversations, replicating what a student could expect at any other kind of networking event.

“With the appropriate training, students will be better equipped for answering the interview questions,” Weekley said.

The next event will be an information session with Reynolds and Reynolds, Wednesday , March 23, in the Student Service Building room 3109. For more information on future job events, visit uhcl.edu/jobfair.com.