Mock Job Interview Performance and Employment Readiness of Senior Business Students: A Correlational Study

Abstract

The transition from academic life to professional employment represents a pivotal and a challenging phase for graduating students. This study sought to explore the relationship between the mock interview performance of senior business students and their employment readiness for SY. 2024-2025. This study utilized descriptive correlational research design among 111 students who were chosen through census sampling. The study took place in one of the higher education institutions in Misamis Occidental. The Mock interview form was used by the guidance coach of the university in getting scores from the students being interviewed. Mean, Standard Deviation, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, and Multivariate Regression Analysis were used in analyzing the data. The results show that students’ mock interview performance is good, their level of employment readiness is competent, while their decision-making skills, ability to communicate and knowledge about their fields postulate a highly significant relationship. However, both communication skills and their knowledge about their fields are predictors for employment readiness. The finding revealed that academic competence and effective communication are the strongest predictors of employment readiness. Thus, with knowledge-based and communication-oriented activities are essential to fully equipped business students in their respective employment opportunities. In this vein, higher education may adopt a balanced employability framework that prioritizes communication and technical knowledge while fostering soft skills and professional image, supported by industry-academe collaborations to bridge education and workplace demands.