Virtual Reality for Interview Training: Acceptable, Appropriate, and Feasible for Career Centers

Career Level: Basic-, intermediate-, and advanced-level career services, university relations and recruiting, and business affiliate professionals
Competency: Use of technology for delivery of content
Fee: $69 (member); $89 (nonmember);

Summary
Virtual reality (VR) is an effective tool to address the needs of students seeking interview training to secure employment and internship opportunities. Scalable solutions that meet the needs of the highest number of students are crucial for higher education institutions. Career center leaders received training and provided feedback on the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of implementing virtual reality (VR) Job interview training within their organizations. The presentation will include the findings, implications, and best practices.

Following this program, you will be able to:
- Understand the career center leaders' perceptions of using virtual reality for interview training;
- Understand a brief history and overview of virtual reality technology and its role in work-readiness development, including job interview training; and
- Understand how virtual reality presents a technological solution to address the needs of scalability in services offered by career centers.
Presenters

Phenix Culbertson, Associate Director of Employer Relations, Georgia State University - J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Phenix Culbertson is a recent doctoral candidate in the public administration program at Valdosta State University (VSU). His dissertation research explores the need for scalable job interview training and virtual reality (VR) as a solution to that need within career centers. The study reveals the perceptions of career center leaders related to acceptability, appropriateness, and implementation feasibility of virtual reality delivered job interview training within their organizations. Culbertson proudly serves as the associate director of employer relations at Georgia State University Robinson College of Business, one of the nation's most diverse and innovative business schools. He commits to being a change agent within his organization and across entities to improve solutions and fill the gaps in connectivity and collaboration. He is involved with the Georgia Association of Colleges and Employers (GACE) as the current co-chair of the Conference and past chair of career fair committees. He is in the inaugural graduation of members from the GACE Leadership Institute. Since 2021, he has committed to directing the Migrant Education Summer Leadership Academy at VSU, which provides middle and high school students of migrant and seasonal farm-working families the opportunity of a simulated collegiate experience. He is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace and education. His research interests include VR, work readiness, employer engagement and connection, and migrant education.