Community leaders help OCHS students practice job interviews
Tell me about yourself.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Why should I pick you over other candidates?
If you’re in the workforce, you’ve probably heard those questions. However, Oglethorpe County High School students might have heard them for the first time during mock job interviews on Sept. 4 in the media center.
Thirteen community members served as “judges” for the eight OCHS career technical and agricultural education (CTAE) classes that participated in the career preparation event.
Sara Hughes, OCHS work-based learning coordinator, set up the event to build student’s career preparedness, and teachers had spent the past week preparing their students for the event.
“Every CTAE class has a standard that’s called employability skills, so that way the students get that no matter which pathway they choose to complete,” Hughes said. “Part of my role as the work-based learning coordinator is to help encourage and facilitate that.”
Judges were asked to score students based on their dress, first impressions, response to questions and communication. Some students dressed to impress in scrubs or business casual.
One of the community judges was Andy Paul, who works at Georgia EMC and is also the youth pastor at Salem Baptist Church.
“Any chance to work with current kids here is always a good day,” Paul said. “It can be awkward for some of these kids to start because it’s Wednesday morning in a library and they’re told to do an interview, but it’s fun at the end. Going through some feedback with them and seeing them kind of get used to it and realize what they can do better next time.”
Mirakle Merritt, a freshman from Lexington, said the mock job interview was different from previous ones she participated in with other students.
“In middle school, when I did interviews, we would get interviewed by kids, but the adult situation was different,” Merritt said. “I wasn’t as nervous when I answered the questions, because I overthink a little bit too much.”
Miley Christian, a junior at OCHS, said she wasn’t nervous because she had completed other job interviews.
“I think the best part about it was them asking the questions, but them also answering my questions because it may be something I don't really understand,” Christian said. “What you do in the workforce, can you explain it more?”
Paul said one question he likes to ask is how they deal with conflict because no one wants to talk about that. He also likes to give them the opportunity to talk about what they are good at.
“What I enjoy hearing the most from is when I ask them about their strengths, because I feel like that’s a question they're ready for, and so it gives them a chance to kind of shine,” Paul said.
Joyce Sniff, a retired CPA, said she was impressed with the students she interviewed.
“I think it's great experience for the kids,” Sniff said. “I mean, I wish somebody had done this for me at a young age, and they’re so impressive. The girl I just interviewed was just incredibly impressive.”
After the interviews were over, judges were asked to give feedback to students.
“You’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but for a 5-minute interview, dress to impress,” said Matt Bartlett, head pastor at Lexington Baptist Church. “I interviewed three incredible people. I would have truly hired all three of you, so great job. Eye contact was great. Their effort was great.”
Judges reminded students that they should be confident, ask questions or even tell a personal story.
“I know it's a little bit nerve wracking, but it's a good investment in yourselves to participate in this and push yourselves outside of your comfort zone,” Hughes said. “So thank you for doing that.”