CAREER PREPAREDNESS

UNIT TOPIC: ACADEMIC PLANNING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENTLESSON PLAN #:2/3

Title of Lesson:
Exploring the Employment Process—Job Searching and Interviewing / Total Time on Task: 200 minutes
Content Standard:
6.Examine the employment process, including searching for a job, filling out a job application, writing a resume, developing and practicing interview skills, and completing required employment forms.
a.Utilize word processing software to demonstrate professional writing skills by producing and editing business and personal correspondence documents
Lab Access:Required for Students☐
Optional for Students☐
Not Needed for Students☒
Overview/Annotation:
Students will learn important aspects of effective job searches, fill out a sample job application, employment forms, and participate in a mock interview with their peers.
Essential Question(s):
What is the employment process?
How is a job search conducted?
How do you fill out a job application?
What are effective interview skills?
How do you participate in a successful interview?
What employment forms arerequired when employed and how do you complete them?
Learning Objective(s): The students will:
  1. Examine the employment process.
  2. Investigate how to conduct a job search.
  3. Complete a job application.
  4. Identify effective interview skills.
  5. Practice interview skills.
  6. Complete a employment forms

Conceptual Outline:
  1. Job Search
  1. Job search engines
  2. Newspaper
  3. Networks
  1. Employment
  1. Job application
  2. Interview skills
  3. Employee forms

Materials, Equipment, and Technology Resources:
Materials:
  1. Teacher Information #1: Job Searching—Where to Begin
  2. Teacher Information #2: Dressing to Impress: The Secrets of Proper Attire
  3. Assignment #1: Sample Employment Application Form
  4. Assignment #2: Mock Interview Peer Review Form
  5. Assignment #3: Form W-4 2014
  6. Assignment #4: Instructions for Employment Eligibility Verification
  7. Assignment #5: A-4 Withholding Form
  8. Handout #1: The 10 Most Common Job Interview Questions
Equipment:
  1. LCD projector with document camera
Technology Resources:
  1. Sample Employment Application Form,
  2. Job Searching—Where to Begin?,
  3. The 10 Most Common Job Interview Questions,
  4. Business Appropriate,
  5. Dressing to Impress: The Secrets of Proper Attire,
  6. Form W-4,
  7. Form I-9,
  8. Form A-4,

Procedures/Activities:
  1. Teacher Preparation: Read Teacher Information #1 and Teacher Information #2. Perform additional web searches if needed for your personal knowledge.
  2. Teacher Preparation: Plan for mock interviews.
  3. Pair students in advance.
  4. Determine interview questions that students should use when playing “interviewer”.
  5. Coach students as to how to give feedback (i.e., use Assignment #2). An idea is to show a video of an interview and have students practice using the Assignment #2 feedback form.
  6. Determine whether application forms and resumes will be provided to “interviewer” in advance or by interviewee at time of interview.
  7. Arrange room for interviews.
  8. Determine what position is being applied for and the company. Students may also do well by making up this information as they go—decide based on your students.
  9. Determine if any students need private assistance with appropriate attire. Handle as appropriate within guidelines of your school.
  10. Teacher Preparation: Review Assignments #3-#5. Verify these are most updated versions of the Form W-4 (federal withholding form), Form I-9 (employment eligibility form), and Form A-4 (Alabama withholding form) by using links Technology Resources. Download most recent versions if needed to replace Assignments #3-#5. Determine whether you want to give forms to students to fill out with pen/pencil or if you want students to fill out a PDF version on the computer. If the latter, reserve computer lab if necessary.
  11. Class Discussion: Explain to students that after they send their resumes to potential employers there is still more to do. Some companies also require you to complete a standard employment application. Distribute Assignment #1 asking them to read through the pages and think about what experiences they have to fill in the blanks. They may refer to their resumes.
  12. Student Activity: Guide students through the different sections of a job application and then have them complete Assignment #1 to the best of their ability. Note that many students have not had any job experience so they will only have activities to list to show leadership qualities. Use “NA” or a small line for no answers. Emphasize good penmanship. Applications should be completed in pen using black or blue ink unless instructions on the form state otherwise. Assess their Assignment #1 to determine if additional practice is needed and to address deficiencies in responses.
  13. Class Discussion: The interview follows the application process. Not everyone is selected but everyone must be prepared. Distribute Handout #1. Give students time to discuss answers to these questions.
  14. Student Activity: Advise students they will be participating in mock interviews tomorrow. They should dress appropriately. Discuss proper business attire for an interview. Share with your students Teacher Information #2 or provide URL for independent research[ (Click cancel if the box asks for your credentials; the webpage will still display.)] Provide additional details based on your Teacher Preparation #2 above.
  15. Student Activity: Distribute Assignment #2 and instruct students as appropriate based on your Teacher Preparation #2 above. Students will pair up to give mock interviews. Allow approximately 10 minutes for one round of interview. At end of 10 minutes, switch roles and interview for another 10 minutes. One student will play the role of the interviewer and one will be the interviewee. Remind them to be professional and to be aware of their posture and body language. Allow time for interviewer to complete Assignment #2, whether between interviews or at the conclusion.
  16. Class Discussion: After students have interviewed each other and completed Assignment #2, allow them to share good and bad things they noticed while interviewing such as facial expressions, professionalism, and their answers to the questions. Be alert to potential bullying and take steps to avoid tearing down classmates.
  17. Class Discussion: Inform students that after they have been hired there are forms that must be completed to ensure they will get paid. Distribute and display federal and state tax withholding forms and a Form I-9. Talk about the purpose of these employment forms, the importance of completing these correctly, and the information requested. Allow time for students to complete their forms. Discuss ways to safeguard personal information such as Social Security Number and the requirement to provide such information in an employment setting. For class purposes, ask students to use a fictitious number rather than their own.

Assessment:
  1. Assignment #1
  2. Assignment #2
  3. Assignment #3
  4. Assignment #4
  5. Assignment #5