How a mock interview in the Career Studio helped Keilah secure a placement offer

Posted on: 8 May 2026 by Olga Chatzidaki in Hints, tips and advice

Interviews can feel tough, even when you know you have the skills, experience and motivation for the role. For many students, the challenge is not always what to say, but how to communicate it clearly, confidently and in a way that reflects their strengths.

That was the case for Keilah Langat, an international student who recently used the Career Studio to prepare for a competitive placement interview.

Keilah had already been progressing to the later stages of recruitment processes, but wanted to strengthen the way she structured and delivered her interview answers.

"As an international student, I was consistently progressing to the later stages of recruitment processes, but I wanted to strengthen how I structured and communicated my answers during interviews so they reflected my experiences and strengths as effectively as possible."

To prepare, Keilah booked a mock interview with Chell da Silva Willis FHEA in the Career Studio. Before the session, she shared her application so the mock interview could be tailored to the specific placement role she was applying for.

This meant the session focused on role-relevant questions, realistic interview practice and practical feedback she could take away and use straight away.

"During the one-to-one session, I was asked role-relevant questions and provided actionable feedback on how to improve my responses."

For Keilah, the session helped her refine both the content and delivery of her answers. She was able to practise structuring her responses more clearly, linking them back to the job description and using the STAR method to bring her experiences to life.

"This helped me refine what I was saying and how I was communicating it, making my answers more structured, natural, aligned with the job description and STAR-based answers that reflected my experiences the best."

The mock interview also gave Keilah space to get used to speaking in an interview setting. Practising out loud helped her become more comfortable articulating her thoughts and presenting herself with more confidence.

"Another benefit was getting into the flow of speaking in an interview setting. It helped me become more comfortable articulating my thoughts, which made me feel significantly more confident during the actual interview."

As part of her preparation, Keilah also practised her presentation and received feedback on clarity, as well as positive comments on her creativity.

The result was a stronger sense of preparation going into the real interview — and, ultimately, a successful placement offer.

"I felt a lot more prepared. All this directly contributed to me performing strongly in the interview I had and successfully securing a placement offer!"

Reflecting on the experience, Keilah said she would recommend the Career Studio to any student who wants to improve their interview skills and build confidence before speaking to employers.

"I would highly recommend the Career Studio to any student looking to improve their interview skills and gain confidence in presenting themselves effectively to employers. A big big thank you to Chell and the Career Studio!"

If you have an interview coming up, the Career Studio can help you prepare, practise and feel more confident.

Drop in to speak to the team and get support with mock interviews, interview technique, presentations and communicating your experience effectively.