How can school counselors scale interview preparation for hundreds of students?

The challenge counselors face

School counselors are responsible for:

• Large caseloads
• Academic planning
• Social-emotional support
• Career guidance

Providing 1-to-1 mock interviews for every student is rarely feasible.

Why traditional mock interviews don’t scale

Traditional approaches often fail because they:

• Require significant staff time
• Depend on scheduling availability
• Reach only a small subset of students
• Offer limited repeat practice

This creates inequity — confident or well-connected students get more preparation than others.

Scalable strategies counselors can use

1. Standardised interview frameworks

Using the same:

• Question sets
• Scoring rubrics
• Feedback criteria

Ensures consistency across students and year groups.

2. Classroom-based interview practice

Embedding interview skills into:

• Advisory periods
• Career lessons
• CTE classes

Allows all students to participate.

3. AI-supported practice tools

AI interview platforms allow students to:

• Practice independently
• Receive instant feedback
• Repeat interviews multiple times

Without increasing counselor workload.

What counselors should look for in tools

Scalable interview prep tools should:

• Be age-appropriate
• Align with career readiness standards
• Protect student data
• Support, not replace, counselor expertise

Outcomes counselors care about

When interview prep is scaled effectively, schools see:

• Increased student confidence
• Better articulation of skills
• Improved postsecondary readiness
• Reduced counselor burnout