Building Communication and Professional Identity Through Active Learning Mock Interviews

Hello, my name is Crystal Smith from Louisiana State University of Alexandria. My poster highlights the Professional Identity Mock Interview Day, an active learning initiative developed for third-level nursing students. Faculty observed that students nearing graduation often lacked interview experience, professional résumés, and confidence in communication. To address this gap, I designed an event grounded in NACE competencies for communication, professionalism, and career and self-development. Students prepared résumés and cover letters, reviewed them with the Career Center, and participated in authentic interviews with healthcare leaders and LSUA faculty outside of nursing. Standardized questions and a rubric structured the feedback, while community partners enriched the process with diverse professional perspectives. Results showed significant improvements in student confidence, professional growth, and communication skills. Interviewers praised the event’s organization and impact, noting its value for career readiness. This model is transferable across disciplines, and a faculty toolkit—accessible through the QR code on this poster—includes rubrics, timelines, and templates to help others implement this activity in their courses. Thank you for visiting my poster, and I look forward to your questions.