Wilde Lake juniors walked into the media center dressed their best as they prepared for their interviews with volunteers from different companies and businesses across the county. On junior interview day each year, every junior participates in a mock job interview as a part of their World of Work requirement to graduate.
The mock interviews are designed to help students prepare for the real world and future jobs, according to Wilde Lake guidance counselor Ms. Sherri Malloy. The juniors created resumes in their English classes to fully simulate a real interview. They also prepared answers to questions regarding their job experience, hobbies, goals, and skills.
Guidance counselor Ms. Stephanie Brown says junior interview day is important because it gives students the opportunity to experience what a real interview is like.
“Junior interview day helps students practice their skills for interviews. It’s a good practice without having to actually advocate for a job,” she said. “Even just getting some practice introducing yourself, telling people who you are, and what you can bring to the table is important.”
Junior Joycel Ocasio says this was her first time doing an interview. From this experience, she learned how to create a resume and answer interview questions, which she has never had the opportunity to practice before.
“Junior interview day prepares you for an actual interview. As someone who hasn’t had a job, I now know what to expect,” she said. “I learned a lot of great tips, and It definitely helped my confidence.”
Some students who already have a job like junior Tiffany Berry say past job experience helped them feel prepared for their mock interview. “I think my previous work experience helped me during this interview, and I wasn’t too nervous. It was very enjoyable. I felt like I was having a normal conversation with someone.”
interviewer takes notes. Students later receive their feedback from interviewer. (Caroline Sorensen)
Interviewer Angie Townsend, a producer at Slayton House, says each student she interviewed was unique. “It was so enlightening to meet so many people with so many diverse backgrounds and skills. Every person I talked to had something so unique and special about them,” said Ms. Townsend. “Meeting with our younger generation of people that are going to be our future leaders really gave me faith in the future of America.”
