March 22, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andy Seeley
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Speed is a trait that serves many UCF student-athletes well. Tuesday night, a group of Knights were introduced to speed in a different format.
Thirty-one UCF student-athletes took part in "speed mock interviews" in the Bright House Networks Stadium Club in an effort to better prepare themselves for job searches when they wrap up their collegiate careers. The mock interviews followed the model of "speed dating" events, as the student-athletes spent 5-10 minutes interviewing with representatives from local companies and UCF Athletics staff members before rotating to another table and another interviewer.
The event marked the second "speed mock interview" session that UCF Student Services has held during the 2012-13 school year. Twelve companies - the Buckle, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Orlando Magic, Total Quality Logistics, AXA Advisors, TD Bank, NeuLion, Travelers Insurance, Waffle House, Target, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Enterprise - all sent representatives to take part in and give feedback on the interviews.
"We are so grateful to the all the companies and representatives who gave their time and participated," said Cori Pinkett, UCF Assistant Director of Student Services. "We would like to send a special thank you to Calvin Williams and UCF Career Services for partnering with us for the event. The feedback and information our student-athletes received during the event was truly invaluable."
Three student-athletes at this spring's event were asked for follow-up interviews based on their performance at the event. At the fall interview sessions, one student-athlete was even offered an internship on the spot.
The student-athletes in attendance appreciated the opportunity to hone their interviewing skills.
"This was a great event," said Heather Hart, a senior member of the rowing team. "Normally, after an interview, you really have no idea what you did right and what you did wrong, only if you were offered the job. This gave me the opportunity for specific feedback, so I feel much more confident in interviewing."
"I thought this experience was very beneficial," said Kyle Cox, a junior member of the men's soccer team. "Even the most confident athletes are a little rattled by the idea of an interview, so having the opportunity to practice these situations was very useful. I felt the spontaneity of the interviews was most beneficial because it enables us to practice thinking quickly and responding effectively on the spot. The feedback was very useful."
Pinkett said the mock interview session was a success.
"At the beginning of the event, all of the students were nervous," Pinkett said. "By the end of the evening, they were running to get to specific tables to see if their evaluation scores increased. We already have students and employers asking about opportunities to do it again."