Last week, 11th grade Economics and Personal Finance students at Eastern View High School (EVHS) and Culpeper County High School (CCHS) participated in spring Mock Interviews. The Mock Interview program, sponsored by Career Partners, Inc., aims to give students practice applying and interviewing for a job in a simulated environment where they can practice their skills and obtain real-time feedback from their interviewer. The interviewers are local business and community members who volunteer their time to work with students. Mock Interviews take place at both high schools each fall and spring. Each year, 120 volunteers from the community participate in the Mock Interview program.
Megan Gray, Career Partners, Inc. Board Member and chair of the Mock Interview committee appreciates the support this event receives from the local business community. She said, “Mock Interviews would not be as successful as they are without the help of the community partners. We appreciate the interviewers taking time out of their busy day to help develop and enhance our students’ skill set. The connections some of the students make, and even job opportunities that are sometimes offered, is very heartwarming to see.”
Career and Technical Education Director Randi Richards-Lutz praised Career Partners, Inc. for sponsoring this program for our students. “Mock Interviews are such a wonderful part of our Economics and Personal Finance class thanks to our teachers and business and community volunteers,” she said. Jeff Say, President of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce and Career Partners Board Member said, “Mock Interviews is always one of the most rewarding experiences we are involved in with Career Partners.”
For the students, Mock Interviews is not just a short interview on the day of the event. Prior to interview day, students create a resume and write a cover letter for the hypothetical job they choose. On interview day, interviewers review the students’ written material before facilitating a 10-minute job interview. After the interview, there is an opportunity for the students to receive feedback on their written materials and their responses to interview questions. The feedback portion is valuable because students learn what they are doing well and what they need to work on so they will be better prepared when they face interviews on their own. Richards-Lutz said, “Students improve their communication skills and quickly learn what those nervous butterfly feelings are like during a real-life interview.”
During the event, the students were the shining stars. Gray said, “Culpeper County truly has some amazing students. Seeing the students go through this process illustrates how serious they take this simulation. I spent time with some of the students before they interviewed and to see the difference once the interview was over and the conversations they had amongst each other talking about their positive experience was great to hear.” Jeff Say added, “I’m constantly amazed at the poise, public speaking skills and preparation that the students put into this project. They are always well spoken, thoughtful, and hardworking. These sessions always give me hope that our future is bright.”
At the end of the event, the community volunteers each leave with a stack of hand-written thank you notes from the students. Say reflected, “Reading the thank you letters from the students at the end is always so impactful, we’re lucky to have a program like mock interviews in our community!”
Overall, Mock Interviews was a very successful event at both schools this year. EVHS student Cody Middlebrook said, “I enjoyed doing mock interviews because it prepared me for a real world situation I will one day face.” Classmate Lethzy Martinez added, “Mock interviews gave me the opportunity to know what to expect in an interview which will allow me to be better prepared for all future interviews.” Richards-Lutz continued, “The goal of our Career and Education program is to graduate productive members of society and this is a proven way to prepare our students for their first or next interview.” She concluded, “I was so proud to see students boost their confidence and refine their interviewing skills. We cannot thank Career Partners, Inc. enough for their time and support!”
Gray summed it up by saying, “I couldn’t be prouder to be part of the Career Partners Board, chair of the mock interview committee, and a product of CCPS.”
Original source can be found here.
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