THEME: Career Guidance and Transitions

Lesson: Job Interview—Introduction

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to:
  • Discuss the importance of interviews and good interviewing techniques.
  • Discuss the stages of an interview.
  • Identify and address frequently asked interview questions.
  • Create interview questions.
  • Participate in a mock interview as both the interviewer and interviewee.

Essential Questions

  • What makes a good employee?
  • Why do we need to build interviewing skills?
  • How can you benefit from developing interviewing skills?

Level

  • Grade 10 & 11

Time

  • 15 minutes

Materials

  • Information sheetInterviews

Procedure

  1. Open discussion about interviews.
  2. Has anyone participated in an interview?
  3. What is important about developing interviewing skills?
  4. How and why do you prepare for an interview?
  1. Explain the rest of the Interview Unit. Explain that students will learn about the stages of an interview and will participate in a mock interview and be an interviewer of a mock interview. Students will evaluate their interviews.

Extending

  • Students may use the internet to explore web-sites that provide job interview strategies.
  • soyouwanna.com

INTERVIEWS

Why do we need to build interviewing skills?

The art of job searching and job acquisition requires more than a great resume, attractive cover letter and perfectly completed application. A great interview is an essential component in the job search equation:

job identification+ great resume+ great cover letter+ great application+ stellar interview= JOB

The application, resume, cover letter and references are only an introduction. The interview frequently tips the scale between getting a job or head-in-hand reflection.

It is true that most people who are granted an interview have already satisfied the basic qualifications for employment. However, poor interview performances can keep prospective employees from being hired.

Like any good performance, a winning interview requires preparationand rehearsal.

How can students benefit from developing interviewing skills?

Whether it is the first interview or the 20th, everyone needs to know how to handle all three parts ofan interview: the preparation for the interview, the actual interview and the time after the interview.

Learning interviewing skills may assist students in several capacities. As stated above, good interviewing skills will help students secure employment.

In addition, good interviewing skills will teach the student how to determine if the job suits their individual goals and employment needs.

Practicing interviewing skills will also assist students with presentation and public speaking skills.

Finally, practicing interviewing will help students identify transferable work skills and develop skills useful in jobs where interviewing experience is necessary (for example: interviewing clerk, welfare eligibility workers, sportscasters and employment interviewers).

Job opportunities are either won or lost in the interview. The most qualified person isn't always the one who gets the job offer but usually the person who makes the best presentation of their qualifications.