First Job Interview Project

Our high schools spend full time preparing students to take the next step in the educational process, whether to community college, 4 year university or an advanced vocational school.

It is our observation however that a very basic and essential need is being over-looked – training students to master the first rung of the job market ladder – the job interview. Our conversations with small business owners, job interviewers, students and teachers alike convince us that a lack of basic interview skills prevent many students from successfully reaching that all-important first rung.

It is a cliché, but also a fact of life, that "you only get one chance to make a first impression". This is especially true for students as they seek to enter the job market, even on a part time basis. If students present an unkempt appearance or lacks proper adult-oriented communication skills during a job interview, their academic records may not count for much as they may never be considered.

The "First Job Interview" project aims to prepare students to succeed at all aspects of a job interview. It will include training on proper attire, attitude, communication, resume preparation and real life examples of what to do – and not to do. The final segment of the project will put each student through a mock job-interview, using business interviewers and others with interview experience from "behind the desk". All students will be counseled and critiqued after their mock interviews.

It has also been our observation that when talking to students about proper attire for an interview, many of them answer that they do not own and cannot afford "nice clothes". Part of this project will be to assist such students in 1) knowing what is and is not appropriate job interview attire; 2) giving them vouchers from local retailers such as JC Penney and other clothing outlets for specific items which would make up an interview ensemble for the student.

The project will run through the end of the 2009 school year.

Having a job is a life-changing and rite of passage experience. We believe that this project will help students make the most of this opportunity.