Our son did in person mock interviews yesterday in front of a panel. Intimidating set up, chair in the middle of the room, the panel behind tables and everyone very serious. He said one of them never took eye contact off of him, leaning across the table, felt like his soul was being weighed. Made me laugh.
They gave feedback afterwards. Tip he came home with:
While he answered their questions very well and they were impressed with resume and how he has prepared himself for the academies and how he carried himself, they said he needed to add a little of himself to the answers, in other words share some of himself in them and let them get to know him. Nerves kick in and you may answer perfectly but have to not come across as a robot.
They indicated his resume and answers would certainly make them remember him, but having some personal component as well is very important.