The main topic for the January 2020 GZBF’s L.A.M.P. Mentor Program activity was “Mock Interviews.” Since the inception of the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program, this subject has been one of the most popular sessions with students. GZBF recognizes that many students will soon be new entrants into the job market and they may lack experience in interviewing skills. GZBF believes strongly in the benefits of practice interview sessions and has included mock interviews in the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program curriculum each year in order to ensure that students are well prepared for the future.
Ten Gamma Zeta Boulé members volunteered their Saturday morning to participate as interview panel members. It was pointed out to the students that the members who would be providing assistance that morning had valuable prior experience as job/internship/college interviewers in their professional backgrounds.
As expected, the session was a hit with the students. One student requested to participate in a second mock interview that day so that he could practice again and gain additional experience. Many students stated that they gained additional confidence from the practice interviews and appreciated the constructive feedback provided by the interview panelists. In addition, the students’ anxiety was reduced because they were able to familiarize themselves with the interview process in a supportive environment where they were allowed to make mistakes. While students were waiting for their specific mock interview appointment, they had the opportunity to listen to a presentation by special guest speaker, Diane Anchundia, Associate Dean for Financial Aid at the University of Southern California (USC). Ms. Anchundia, a noted expert in the field of college financial aid assistance, provided excellent advice to the students about how to navigate the complex system of paying for college.
Ramsey Jay, Jr, GZBF’s President, closed out the session with a dynamic and impactful presentation to the students on strategies for achieving top tier results and placement in real world situations.
