You can craft questions and conduct research, but actual practice is one of the most beneficial

things you can do during interview preparation. Your anxiety will be reduced, and the
feedback you gain will improve your interview skills.

There is a solid approach you can take when setting up practice interviews. First, you’ll want
to have someone you trust play the role of the interviewer. This could be a friend or family
member, a responsible colleague, or some other professional who works in your desired
industry. They should be willing to help you out as long as you are respectful of their time
and responsive to any other concerns they may have. If you can’t find a partner, don’t worry!
You can easily practice in front of a mirror or directly in front of a camera. 

Take the entire process seriously. You’ll want to record the interview for review later. An
audio recorder—which is installed on most smartphones—will also work. If you did get a
partner to help you, ask if it’s okay to record your interview. Remember to dress
professionally even if the person playing your interviewer doesn’t.

Give your practice interviewers a copy of your resume with enough time to look it over.
Allow them to ask their own questions, but provide them with your own list, too. What would
an interviewer ask you based on your resume? What are some common topics in your
industry?

Take a look around your interview location and make the environment “interview-ready” by
removing distractions. Remember your body language and tone; you’ll want to sit up straight,
maintain eye contact, and speak clearly. Once all parties are ready, hit record and go!

Use your questions as a reference and rehearse your answers. An interviewer won’t
necessarily ask those exact questions, but practicing responses to your list of questions will
still help. Maintain as natural a tone as possible.

Review your recording and take notes of how you presented yourself. How was your body
language? Did you handle a tough question well? Could you understand the words you were
saying? Ask for and consider any feedback your interviewers provide. You may want to
implement it when the real interview comes around… or in a second practice interview,
which can only further improve your interviewing skills.