Brad Elzie was an old pro at job interviews with two already under his belt. But that didn't keep his stomach from flip-flopping as he waited for his name to be called.
"I'm more nervous about this one than my actual job interview," he said.
The teen and dozens of classmates from Hanford High in Richland were grilled by community volunteers Wednesday in mock job interviews meant to prepare them for the work force.
The sessions lasted about 15 minutes each and included feedback on the resumes and cover letters the students prepared beforehand.
Elzie, 17, a junior, wore a tie for his test run. Most of his classmates dressed up too.
"It's a great thing, I think, so (students) aren't so nervous when they actually apply," he said. "It gives them practice so they know what kind of questions they're going to be asked."
Elzie already has a job at a Richland restaurant, but the session sharpened the interviewing skills he'll need in the future, he said.
That's the idea. Hanford High has staged mock interviews for consumer education students for several years.
"For some of these students, it's the very first time they've interviewed. They're a little apprehensive," said Diana Patitucci, the school's career specialist.
The teens waited in a row of chairs in the hallway Wednesday for their turn with one of the volunteers. They didn't talk much as they sat, but most smiled when they came out.
"I think it's a really good idea to have in high school, especially if you've never had a job before," said Breonna Carter, 16, a junior.
She walked over to her "potential boss" and shook hands when it was her turn inside the interview room.
Meri Anderson, who works for the Richland School District, asked Carter to tell a little about herself. Then she wanted an assessment of the teen's strengths and weaknesses.
Carter, who has a seasonal job at a clothing store in the Columbia Center mall, answered each query with confidence. She made good eye contact. That was something Anderson praised in the critique after the interview was done.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for the students," Anderson said. "Hopefully we can give them an experience they can use when they go out into the world."
Taylor Moore, 16, a junior, said that's the case for her. She'd never been interviewed for a job before and didn't know what to expect.
But once she sat down and started answering questions, her nerves went away, she said.
"I learned not to be so nervous about it because it's actually not that bad," Moore said.
Print
E-Mail
