North Paulding High School

Employability Skills Activity

For Legal Environment of Business

Month

Activity

Detail/Skills Covered

Soft Skills

Using the Department of Labors Skills to Pay the Bills program,

students participated in several activities regarding proper
communication on the job, listening skills, teamwork, etc.
http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/20121015-softskills/

September

Dress for
Success

Students conducted research on the proper dress for an interview as

well as on the job. Students were to not only conduct research for
general rules, but were to also examine the dress code for well-known
companies. Students finished out the activity by creating a
presentation for high school or college graduates on the rules for
dressing for success.

October

Interview
Preparation:
Strengths &
Weakness

Students were to list 5 strengths and 1 weakness. In a 100-word

summary, students were to discuss how they would improve on their
weakness. This activity is a BAA activity for FBLA members.
Identifying strengths and weaknesses by students will help them
examine themselves as well as prepare them for one of the most
common interview questions.

October

Interview
Preparation:
10 Most
Common
Questions &
Peer Mock
Interviews

Students researched 10 common questions asked during an interview.

Students were to type their responses to the questions. Students were
later paired with another student and conducted an informal mock
interview asking common interview questions. Would students hire
each other?

August

Upon conclusion of the contractual relationships unit, students

were given roles as record company lawyers or a recording artist
and his agent.
Students were to negotiate certain terms of a contract. Each
group was given the goals of his/her assigned party. Going back
and forth through the negotiation process students earned points
Negotiation/
November
based on how close or better to the parties goals that were
Communication
negotiated.
Students later wrote a basic contract based on the final
negotiated terms.
Basic lesson plan is from
http://www.law.washington.edu/Clinics/Streetlaw/lessons.aspx.

Department of Labor
Skills that Pay the Bills
The Department of Labor has created a program to develop employability skills among
youth. The program covers skills such as teamwork, attitude, communication, problemsolving, and networking.
http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/20121015-softskills/

Dress for Success

Students conducted research on the proper dress for an interview as well as on the job.
Students were to not only conduct research for general rules, but were to also examine the
dress code for well-known companies. Students finished out the activity by creating a
presentation for high school or college graduates on the rules for dressing for success.

Interview Preparation:
Strengths & Weaknesses
What are your strengths and weaknesses? List 5 strengths and 1 weakness. Elaborate on
each on your list. Finally, write a 100-word summary discussing how you will improve on
your weakness OR how you can turn your weakness into a strength.

Interview Preparation:
10 Most Common Questions & Peer Mock Interviews
If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be? Why?
Yes, this question has been asked in an interview before. Questions like this are used by
interviewers see how well you can think quickly on your feet, but also to help given insight
into your personality.
Research 10 commonly asked questions in an interview, like Tell me a little about yourself
. Type the question and your response to the question.
Preparing yourself for the common questions will help you be more comfortable with the
entire interview process.
Very creative!
Student found the question If you were a month, what month would you be and why? while
conducting research.
His response
I would be any month except September, because September has Labor Day, and I am
available to work any day. (implying no need to take a day off)

Now for a trial run

You will be paired with another student in class. You will take turns in the roles of
interviewer and interviewee. As the interviewer, ask your peer some of the commonly
asked interview questions. Take notes on how well you feel your peer responded. Also
watch his/her body language. Are they slouching in their chair? Are they making eye
contact with you?
In the end, would you hire your peer? Give them feedback.