So far you have completed job shadowing, created a resume, cover letter, and reference list.  Recently we conducted mock interviews in the classroom, where you were able to practice your interviewing skills.  You had a chance to act like an employer who was interviewing others for a job and you were able to practice your own interview skills by pretending to be at a job interview and responding to questions. Now, it’s time to reflect on the process.

Please type a 200 word (or more) reflection on the mock interview process by answering the following questions.  Feel free to Bullet Point each response or write as a one paragraph journal reflection.

1. How did you feel while you interviewed a classmate?  Do you believe that seeing an interview from the employer’s perspective makes you more prepared or not?  Please explain.
2. How did you feel while you were interviewed by a classmate?  Did you feel anxious, nervous, scared, prepared, overwhelmed, confident, etc.?  Please explain why you felt that way.
3. How do you feel about your responses?  Do you think your responses to the questions were adequate or do you feel you could have done better? What question did you find easy?  What question did you find difficult to answer?
4. What advice would you give someone who is participating in a mock interview or a real interview? What advice would you give yourself; in other words, how do you think you could improve for your real interview?
5. Yes, I know these mock interviews weren’t real, so imagine how you would perform in the interview if it was real.  What have you learned you need to do to be better prepared?  How should you dress for an interview?  How should you behave before, during, and after an interview?  What should you bring with you to an interview?
6. Evaluate the activity.  Be honest.  What do you think was good about this class activity?  How do you think we could improve this activity for next time, next year? Do you believe this is a skill you do need or do not need in real life?  Please explain.
7. Take one of the 20 interview questions below and write a response that would be GOOD and one that would be BAD, then explain the difference with reasoning. It’s always good to practice job interview questions so that you become more and more comfortable.

Sample Interview Questions for High School Students

Prepare for Perfection!

Possible Interview Questions: Personal

1. Tell me about yourself? What made you apply for this job?

2. What clubs or organizations are you a member of?

3. What have you learned from your hobbies, interests and outside activities?

4. What qualifications do you have for this job?

5. If I asked your teachers or your guidance counselor to describe you, what would they say?

Possible Interview Questions: Cooperation

6. How do you feel about working with others and as part of a team?

7. Describe a time when you worked with a team successfully? How do you handle team conflicts?

8. Do you follow instructions easily? How do you work under pressure?

9. When required, would you be willing to work overtime?

Possible Interview Questions: Self confidence

10. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths, weaknesses or faults?

11. How do you think a teacher who knows you well would describe you?

12. Why do you think you are suitable for this position?

13. Why should we consider you for this job instead of other applicants?

Possible Interview Questions: Motivation/initiative

14. How did you prepare for this interview? What is important to you in a job?

15. If you didn’t understand an instruction, what would you do?

16. What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?

17. Describe your most rewarding experience in schoo

18. Where would you like to be in 5 years?

19. What are your long-range and short-range goals and objectives?

20. When and why did you establish your goals, and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?

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