Final answer:
Interviews work by assessing future performance via past behaviors and enabling applicants to share unique stories that highlight their skills. Nonverbal cues and social factors play a crucial role, and practicing with mock interviews can significantly improve performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Interviews work because they allow employers to gauge future employee performance based on their past behaviors. The use of behavioral questions predicts how applicants might handle situations in the target job. By preparing STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result), interviewees can effectively showcase their competencies.
During the interview process, candidates convey personal stories that highlight their skills and successes. These narratives are valuable because they demonstrate how an individual's unique experiences could benefit the company. This approach helps interviewers identify not just qualified candidates but also those who can bring unique strengths to the team.
Moreover, interviews can assess nonverbal cues and social factors that contribute to an interviewer's overall impression of a candidate. To succeed in interviews, practice is essential, as seen with tools like the University of West Florida's Big Interview program, which helps students practice their interview skills in a mock setting.