Advancing Student Interview Skills: Incorporating Virtual Interview Technology into the Basic Communication Course

Abstract

This study examined the differences between student's self-reported communication interview skills before and after they received interview instructions and experienced virtual simulation interviews in a basic communication course. Incorporating interview instruction and utilizing mock interviewing software, InterviewStream, into several basic communication courses, this study found a significant difference between students' pre-instruction and post-instruction interview self-assessment scores. A Student Assessment of Learning Gains (SALG) revealed that students reported more confidence in their interviewing skills, were more likely to seek help from career services, and pay more attention to non-verbal communication during the interview (dress, posture, and eye contact) after participating in virtual mock interviews.