Mock Interview: How to Practise and 17 Questions to Use

A mock interview is the best way to find out how your answers really sound. Learn how to run one alone, with a friend or with a careers adviser, use 17 practice questions grouped by type, give and take useful feedback, and get ready for video interviews.

By Tony Musso on Sun Oct 25 2026

A mock interview is a rehearsal for the real thing. You answer real questions, out loud, under a bit of pressure, and then find out what landed and what didn't. It's the closest you can get to an interview without the stakes, and it shows up problems that reading through notes never will: the answer that rambles, the example you can't quite remember, the nervous habit of saying "so, basically" before every sentence.

This guide explains how to run a mock interview on your own, with a friend or with a careers adviser, and gives you a set of practice questions grouped by type, with notes on what a good answer covers. It also covers how to give and take feedback, why recording yourself is worth the discomfort, and how to practise for video interviews.

Three ways to run a mock interview

On your own

Practising alone is better than not practising at all. Print the questions below, set a timer and answer each one out loud, standing or sitting as you would in the room. Speaking matters. An answer that sounds fine in your head often comes out twice as long, or loses its point halfway through.

Record yourself on your phone (more on that below), then watch it back with the job description beside you. Ask yourself whether each answer showed one of the things the employer asked for.

With a friend or family member

Someone else asking the questions changes the feel completely. You can't pause to think for a minute, and you have to make eye contact. Give your partner:

the job advert and job description
a list of questions to ask, plus permission to add a follow-up or two
a simple feedback sheet (see below)

Ask them to stay in role for the whole session, even if it feels silly. The awkwardness is part of the practice. If you know someone who hires people, or works in the field you're applying to, they're the ideal choice.

With a careers adviser

A trained adviser can spot things a friend won't, and will know what employers in your sector tend to ask. Free options include:

England: the National Careers Service offers free careers advice by phone, webchat and sometimes in person.
Scotland: Skills Development Scotland, through My World of Work.
Wales: Careers Wales.
Northern Ireland: the Careers Service on nidirect.

Universities and colleges often offer mock interviews to students, and many keep supporting graduates for a while after they leave, so it's worth asking your old careers service. If you're claiming benefits, your Jobcentre Plus work coach may also be able to help you prepare.

Before you start: set it up properly

A mock interview is only useful if it's realistic. Agree the format beforehand: how long it will last, how many questions, and whether it's a competency, strengths or general interview. Dress as you would on the day if you can, because it changes how you hold yourself. Keep it to 30 to 45 minutes, then stop for feedback. Going on for two hours just tires you out.

Our guide on how to prepare for an interview covers the research to do before your mock, so you're practising with real content.

Mock interview practice questions

Pick around ten from the list below, mixing the types. Swap in anything specific to the role.

Opening questions

Tell me about yourself. A short, relevant summary: what you do now, one or two strengths with evidence, and why this role is the next step. Two minutes at most.
Why do you want this job? Specific points from the advert that match your skills and interests, not just "it's a great opportunity".
What do you know about our organisation? Something real from your research, linked to why it appeals to you.

Competency questions

These ask for past examples. Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) and spend most of your time on the action.

Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer or colleague. What you did, step by step, and how it ended.
Give an example of when you worked well in a team. Your own part, not just what "we" did.
Describe a time you had to meet a tight deadline. How you planned and prioritised.
Tell me about a mistake you made. An honest mistake, what you did to fix it and what you changed afterwards.
Give an example of when you used your initiative. Something you spotted and acted on without being asked.

Our list of competency-based interview questions has more to choose from.

Strengths and motivation questions

What are your main strengths? Two or three strengths that matter for this job, each with a quick example.
What do you find hardest at work? A genuine answer, with what you do to manage it.
What do you enjoy most in your current role? Something that connects to the work you'd be doing here.

Situational questions

What would you do if you disagreed with your manager's decision? A calm, practical approach: raise it privately, explain your reasons, then accept the decision if it stands.
How would you handle two urgent tasks arriving at once? How you'd judge priority and who you'd tell.
What would you do in your first month here? Learning, building relationships and quick, sensible wins.

Closing questions

Why should we hire you? A short summary pulling together your best matches to the job.
Where do you see yourself in a few years? Growth that fits the role, without suggesting you'll leave quickly.
Do you have any questions for us? Always have two or three ready. Our guide to questions to ask at the end of an interview has plenty.

For sample answers you can adapt, see our UK interview questions and answers.

Giving and taking feedback

Feedback is where a mock interview earns its keep. A simple sheet helps your partner stay specific. For each answer, ask them to note:

Did it answer the question? Or drift somewhere else?
Was there a clear example? With a result at the end?
Length. Too short, about right, or too long?
Delivery. Pace, eye contact, filler words, fidgeting.
One thing to keep and one thing to change.

When you're receiving feedback, listen first and don't explain why you said what you said. Write it down. Then pick the two or three most useful points and rerun those questions straight away. Improvement comes from the second attempt, not from the notes.

If you're giving feedback, be kind but honest. "That was great" helps nobody. "Your example was strong, but you didn't say what happened in the end" is something they can fix.

Recording yourself

Most people hate watching themselves back. Do it anyway. A recording shows you things nobody else will mention: looking down every time you think, rushing the ending, a habit of touching your face. Watch once with the sound off to check body language, then once listening only, to check content and pace. You'll notice more in ten minutes than in hours of reading.

Practising for video interviews

Many first interviews now happen on a video call, and some are pre-recorded, where you answer questions on screen with no interviewer present. Practise in the set-up you'll actually use:

Test your camera, microphone and internet connection.
Put the camera at eye level and sit facing a window or lamp, not with light behind you.
Look at the camera when you speak, not your own face on screen.
Clear the background and silence notifications.
For recorded interviews, practise answering to a timer, as you may only get one take and a fixed time per answer.

Run at least one full mock on a video call with a friend, so the format feels familiar on the day.

Not sure which roles to practise for? Career Compass helps you match your strengths to the kinds of work that suit you.

Take Career Compass