How One UChicago Student Turned a Mock Interview into a Real Job

When Thien-An Bui logged into a mock interview hosted by the University of Chicago’s Master’s in Applied Data Science (MS-ADS) program, he had no idea he was about to land a real job.

The Mock Interview 

Bui first connected with Jennifer Wei, Assistant Director of Career Services for the MS-ADS program, during a virtual career fair. They stayed in touch, and a few months later, Wei reached out with an opportunity: a mock interview session where real companies were brought in to simulate job interviews for students.

But this wasn’t just practice.

The session was designed to help students prepare for real-world interviews. In Bui’s case, it became one.

A Curveball

The mock interview had been framed as a data scientist interview, mirroring the kind of interview process students could expect in the field. Bui’s interviewer was Agnes Shore, a former MS in Applied Data Science graduate and now Chief Data and Analytics Officer at STEAMe, a startup. 

But right before the interview began, with no prior notice, Bui received a dataset that would be used during the interview featuring semi-structured data about learner demographics, skillsets, and work experience.

Still, he managed to regain his footing once the interview started. Bui skillfully used the dataset to discuss approaches to data transformation, model architecture, and potential follow-up projects. “At some point, I stopped thinking about how 40 people were watching me interview,” he said. “I just focused on having a good conversation. It stopped feeling like an interview and more like a dialogue between thought partners, which I believe is ideal for all parties involved.”

After the mock interview, Bui followed up and submitted a job application. Three weeks later, the hiring manager reached out. “Usually I’d ask people at this stage to tell me about their background, but we’ve already done that,” she told him.

When they met again for the second interview, the conversation felt more like a continuation than a formal interview.

How the Program Helped Him Prepare

Leading up to the mock interview, Bui prepared intentionally. He worked with Greg Green, the faculty director of the MS-ADS program, to reframe his interview mindset; “Put yourself in their shoes,” Bui recalled Green saying. “What are they trying to look for in a candidate?”

Green also encouraged Bui to be confident in his technical knowledge and capabilities, as he’d already demonstrated these during the MS-ADS program. Now, in an interview, Bui would need to think strategically on how to effectively communicate the expertise he would bring to the company.

That advice proved pivotal. During the mock interview, Bui focused on answering each question thoroughly and even extended his responses to demonstrate a broader understanding of the company’s goals and challenges. “Greg challenged me early on to explain STEAMe’s business model to him, and I couldn’t—at least not well,” Bui said. “That gap became obvious, and it’s something I made sure not to carry into the real conversation.”

Fast forward to today, Bui is a senior data analyst at STEAMe, a tech startup that focuses on supporting workforce development efforts to connect people, often without four-year degrees, with training programs and job opportunities in skilled occupations. Bui wears multiple hats, helping build infrastructure, analyze data, and support the business side of the platform. 

This experience has allowed him to stretch beyond the bounds of a typical analyst role.“I’m able to get my feet wet and build my expertise in a lot of different domains,” he said. “For me, it feels like a natural fit.”

Bui credits the MS-ADS program not only with giving him the technical skills to perform in his role, but also with nurturing his ability to navigate new and unfamiliar domains. 

Advice for Students

To current and prospective students, Bui offers both encouragement and honesty.

“The mock interview was definitely daunting at first, with 40-plus students watching you,” he said. “But it’s good to challenge yourself in very controlled environments, and that’s what this was.”

He urges students to take advantage of the resources offered, especially career prep events such as mock interviews and career fairs. “I do wish I had made more intentional efforts to engage with and take advantage of these resources during my time in the program,” he said.

For Bui, networking with professors and staff came out of natural curiosity. “Learn to ask questions well and often. Being a very curious person, I often found myself asking others to explore concepts beyond their immediate applications.” That curiosity became one of his most valuable tools in the program, helping him form connections, discover new opportunities, and learn from people with different perspectives.

In the end, it’s what opened the door to his career.