Mr. A. Raghu Rama Chandra
Educationist & Corporate Lead
An educationist and corporate leader who shared professional guidance and constructive interview feedback with participants.
Back to Pre-Conference Events
IEEE Returning Mothers Conference (RMC) · Career Fair 2026
Mock Interview Sessions
Practice. Prepare. Perform with Confidence.
About the sessions
Preparing for the IEEE Global Career Fair
As part of the IEEE Returning Mothers Conference (RMC) – Career Fair 2026 initiative, in collaboration with the IEEE Industry Engagement Committee, Mock Interview Sessions were conducted on 22 and 23 September 2026 to help candidates prepare for the IEEE Global Career Fair held on 24 September 2026.
All participants were women who had taken a career break and were looking to return to work. The sessions provided them with an opportunity to interact with industry professionals, practise their interview skills, receive constructive feedback, and identify areas for improvement as they prepared to restart their careers.
Supporting career readiness through practice
A Supportive Space to Practise and Grow
Interviews can be challenging, particularly for professionals returning to the workforce after a career break or navigating a career transition. These mock interview sessions provided a supportive and practical environment for participants to showcase their skills, experience, projects, and professional strengths.
The sessions focused on enhancing communication skills, building interview confidence, and identifying areas for improvement. Through personalised feedback, expert guidance, and hands-on interview practice, participants gained valuable insights into presenting their professional profiles effectively and addressing interview questions with greater confidence.
Overall, the initiative aimed to empower participants to rebuild their self-confidence, articulate their capabilities effectively, and approach future interviews and career opportunities with greater clarity, preparation, and readiness.
Programme highlights
The Sessions at a Glance
- 34 registrations received for the mock interview sessions.
- 27 participants completed their mock interviews.
- Two days of virtual interviews conducted through Zoom.
- Four interviewers contributed to the sessions across the two days.
- Participant testimonials collected through a post-session feedback form.
Our interviewers
Industry Professionals Who Shared Their Expertise
The sessions were supported by professionals who generously shared their time, expertise, and constructive feedback. Interviews were conducted individually, enabling focused interactions and feedback.
Mrs. Divyani Sharma
Data Team Project Lead, Wipro Technologies
A data team project lead at Wipro Technologies who brought industry project leadership experience to the mock interviews.
Mr. George Ranjit Alexander
Operations & P&L Leadership, KampusY
An operations and P&L leader at KampusY who provided participants with practical feedback and professional insights.
Mr. Sam Elangalloor
Startup Investor · Former MD, Airtel Tanzania · KampusY
A startup investor and former managing director of Airtel Tanzania who shared leadership and career perspectives.
What participants gained
Practical Insights for the Next Step
- Greater confidence: An opportunity to practise interview responses in a supportive setting.
- Resume and role alignment: Guidance on presenting experience and aligning resumes with target roles.
- Technical communication: Suggestions for explaining projects, certifications, and technical skills effectively.
- Career-break conversations: Practical guidance on explaining career gaps and communicating continued learning.
- Areas for improvement: Better awareness of skills and interview techniques requiring further preparation.
Voices from our participants
Reflections on the Experience
“The session helped me approach my interview with greater clarity and confidence.”Adrina, Mock Interview Participant
“This mock interview helped me prepare on the key aspects and gave me the first real time mock interview experience.”Sowmya Sri Kunjeti, Mock Interview Participant
“I got a clear understanding of where I’m lagging and the areas I need to focus on.”Priya Ayyanar, Mock Interview Participant
These reflections highlight the value of practical interview experience, personalised guidance, and constructive feedback in preparing for employment opportunities.
Insights from our interviewers
Encouragement for Continued Growth
The interviewers appreciated the participants’ enthusiasm, motivation, and willingness to learn. Their observations also highlighted opportunities for further development in confidence, clarity of communication, technical readiness, and familiarity with resumes and workplace expectations.
They recommended continued mentoring, periodic mock interviews, technical sessions, and career-readiness workshops to support participants in their long-term professional development.
The interviewers also expressed their willingness to continue contributing to future RMC initiatives through mentoring, technical sessions, workshops, and other professional development activities.
Acknowledgements
Thank You to Our Interviewers
We sincerely thank Mr. A. Raghu Rama Chandra, Mrs. Divyani Sharma, Mr. George Ranjit Alexander, and Mr. Sam Elangalloor for their valuable contributions and commitment to supporting the participants.
Building confidence, creating opportunities
Taking the Next Step
At the IEEE Returning Mothers Conference, we believe that a career break does not diminish a person’s talent, experience, or potential.
The Mock Interview Sessions were an important preparatory activity under Career Fair 2026, helping candidates practise, learn from experienced professionals, and take the next step towards their career goals.