Diversity Celebration #9 – PL

Job Interviews Without the Mystery: Practical Training, Feedback and a Safe Space to Learn

8 October 2026 | Piaseczno, Poland

How can you prepare for a job interview? What should you ask an employer, and how can you communicate your strengths? At the latest Diversity Celebration meeting organised by the RO(O)TATION project, participants did more than discuss these questions: they had the opportunity to practise a job interview themselves.

The meeting at the District Labour Office in Piaseczno opened with a presentation by Katarzyna Budzik from HR Service, who explained recruitment from the employer’s perspective. Participants learned how recruitment processes are organised and how they differ between large companies, which may use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs, and smaller organisations where applications are often reviewed directly by the person responsible for recruitment.

One key message stood out: a job interview is not simply a test for the candidate; it helps both sides assess whether working together would be a good fit. Candidates should therefore prepare specific questions and avoid ruling out an employer solely on the basis of online reviews. A direct conversation provides an opportunity to form an independent impression and clarify any concerns.

From theory to real-life practice

Following the expert presentation, members of the project team performed a mock interview, which participants then discussed together. Participants subsequently worked in groups of three, choosing whether to take the role of candidate, employer or observer. The exercises used participants’ own CVs and selected job advertisements, connecting the practice to their actual employment goals rather than hypothetical scenarios.

After each interview, participants exchanged structured feedback. The candidate spoke first about what had gone well, the person playing the employer commented on the content of the answers, and the observer focused on delivery, clarity and pace. This approach helped participants receive specific, constructive suggestions without repeating the same comments or reducing feedback to a general judgement of the person.

One of the workshop’s key outcomes was a short, four-sentence professional introduction prepared by each participant in response to the common interview question, “Tell me about yourself.” The structure covered four points: who I am professionally, what I do best, what I am looking for, and why I am interested in this position. Participants could continue refining this introduction and reuse it in future interviews.

The right to pause, decline and take a break

Creating a psychologically safe environment was an essential part of the workshop. Participants were told from the outset that the session was practice, not an exam. They could choose their own role, take a moment to think, decline to answer a question or take a break without having to explain their decision.

These principles were clearly explained and demonstrated during the mock interview. The project’s psychotherapist remained available throughout the meeting to support anyone who needed it. Working in small groups reduced the pressure of speaking in front of the entire room, while the shared exercises also gave participants an opportunity to get to know one another and build connections.

As one participant observed, rehearsing an interview in your head feels very different from answering questions aloud with another person. Practical experience makes it easier to recognise what already works and what still needs preparation. The workshop also showed that face-to-face practice can be demanding for people experiencing more pronounced social anxiety. Employment-support activities therefore need to offer different ways of participating, adapted to individual needs.

Practical tools for the next interview

Participants left with materials they could use in their ongoing job search. The practical recommendations included preparing questions for employers, reviewing CVs with an awareness of how ATS screening systems work, and saving a short professional introduction so it would be readily available before the next interview.

Diversity Celebration combines labour-market knowledge with hands-on practice, constructive feedback and psychological support. Within RO(O)TATION, preparing for employment means not only developing professional skills, but also creating conditions in which people experiencing long-term unemployment—including neurodivergent people—can practise, ask questions and build confidence at their own pace.

Through career guidance, financial education and psychotherapeutic support, RO(O)TATION helps people experiencing long-term unemployment move towards sustainable participation in the labour market.