Mock Interviews for Internships: Improving student preparedness using formative assessment Mary Bushell B.Pharm (Hons). AACPA, GCTLHE, MPS, AFACP Acknowledgement: Judith Austin & Elizabeth Hendry Careers and Employment Services

Background  Pharmacy Practice Lecturer  4 th year (final year) assessment task

Background  Upon completion of a pharmacy degree, graduates must complete an internship, to be eligible for registration  The number of pharmacy graduates looking for intern positions has increased significantly  485 graduates in 1997  1905 graduates in 2013  Application via interview

The evidence  Preparation of well written cover letter and the ability to market one’s self via a resume is known to increase ones chance of being invited for a formal interview (Shakoor, 2001).Shakoor, 2001  While interviews provide only a snapshot of an applicant’s ability, an applicant’s interview performance and the impression they leave, may lead to a job offer or job rejection (Arvey and Campion, 1982).Arvey and Campion, 1982  Developing the knowledge and skills to construct a cover letter, resume and interview well are integral to unlocking future career opportunities and success.

The aim of the assessment  Question: How can we help make our 4 th year students competitive in a competitive market?  Aim: Design an assessment task that improved student preparedness for real life interviews  Collaboration with Careers and employment Service

Assessment design  Formative assessment task  Formative assessment, also referred to as assessment for learning, has been used in higher education to provide individually tailored feedback to students with the goal of improving current performance.

Description of assessment For both a hospital and community internship position Mock Interview Panel CV Cover letter

Description of assessment  Interview questions and associated marking grids were sourced from:  a regional teaching hospital  a community pharmacy  Both question sets previously used in 2011 when interviewing potential intern pharmacists.

Interview guide/ marking grid

Overview Workshop on how to write a CV and cover letter and interview skills Post workshop summary of how to improve interview skills

Evaluation  Student questionnaire after formative feedback  aimed to identify student’s impression of the mock interviews  their value in preparing them for future interviews  if they identified areas self-improvement

Evaluation  Student questionnaire during intern year  aimed to identify student’s impression of the mock interviews,  their value in preparing them for future interviews  if they identified areas self-improvement  how many interviews  how may job offers  student successful in obtaining a graduate position in their preferred sector

Evaluation  8/9 students indicated that the task was beneficial  8/9 increased their preparedness and confidence when applying for actual intern positions  Actual value was higher then perceived value  All students successfully obtained an intern position for 2014.

Comments in open text box  “I found the feedback from the mock interviews really helped me prepare and perform in my real intern interview… I knew what to expect….”  “Several of the questions asked in the mock were asked in my real interview”

Thankyou