Confident Communication: How Impromptu Interview Empowered Psychology Capstone Students
This year, Student Assistant for Career Development Gwenn Painter organized the office’s third Impromptu Interview event. Gwenn partnered with her psychology capstone class and Dr. Matt Lehet to give her classmates the opportunity to practice interview skills with local Pittsburgh employers.
Hear from Gwenn Painter ‘25
What inspired you to organize the Impromptu Interview event, and what goals did you hope students would achieve by participating?
“I was honestly inspired by our past Impromptu Interview events our office has hosted in the past! Before working here, I had heard of these events before but had never attended, leading me to not really know what these events entailed. After speaking with Hannah Su Hepler, we came up with the great idea of hosting an Impromptu Interview event with my Psychology Capstone class. We hoped that these students would benefit from expanding their interviewing skills and getting a chance to talk to real employers from the area! Events like these open the door to opportunity for students who want to expand their network.”
As the event organizer, how did your own confidence and professional skills grow during the planning and implementation of this event?
“Planning this event pushed me out of my comfort zone (in a good way!) and allowed me to gain better personal and professional connections. Not only did I network and connect with all of the employers, but by setting up this event for my classmates, I was able to talk to and get to know them better than I had before! It was really nice getting to make friendships and connections with my classmates, as we were all nervous together. Everyone involved — including our office, my classmates, and the employers — was all so lovely to work with, and made the whole experience feel so fulfilling.”
Hear from the Employers
Phyllis Rupert, Counselor at Hope Grows, shared “The students were absolutely amazing. They had the skills for interviewing and were open to comments. This is such a great way to get students and organizations acquainted and give good practice. Many thanks for your time, efforts, and skills in organizing and getting students out.”
Dawn Gilliam, Vice President of Operations at Sorec Behavioral Health, stated that “It was a pleasure meeting your students and having the opportunity to engage with such motivated and thoughtful individuals. The event was enjoyable and well-organized.”
Hear from Stephanie Weiland ‘25
How did participating in the Impromptu Interview event help you become more confident in your interviewing abilities?
“While participating in impromptu interviews, I got to see how employers would ask professional interview questions. Their feedback helped to prepare me for what I might expect from employers in the field. Additionally, feedback is helpful because then I can work to tailor my answers to their questions accordingly.”
What was your biggest takeaway from the event, and how do you see it preparing you for future career opportunities or experiences?
“My biggest takeaway from the event is now that I better understand my strengths and weaknesses, I know how to properly prepare for interviews in the future.”