English 12 - Mock Interviews/Interview

Skills and Tips

About This Lesson
DESCRIPTION
In this lesson, English 12 students will receive instruction related to job interviews. Graduating senior
students at New Town High School have mandatory mock interviews on March 20, four days after the
implementation of this lesson. Therefore, it is crucial that these students understand the skills needed to
be successful during an interview and gain experience via practice interviews.
During the lesson, students will be given all relevant information about mock interviews, will be taught
how to prepare for and complete an interview, and participate in practice mock interviews with their
peers. It is the goal of the lesson to develop the interviewing skills of the students to prepare for not only
the required mock interviews, but for life after high school.

PREREQUISITES
Students should be aware of senior mock interviews and should have successfully created a draft resume.
Students are not expected to have a mastery of interview skills, but should have an understanding of
professional behavior and attire.

ESTIMATED TIME
1.5 hours

Potential Use
PURPOSE:
Classroom Instruction, Professional Development, Small Group

GRADES:
11 - 12

CONTENT AREAS:
English/Language Arts

COMMON CORE:

College and Career Readiness: Anchor Standards

Goals
INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS

Determine the purpose of interviewing for jobs

Recognize what is a "good" and "bad" interview

Understand how to prepare for an interview

Understand how to participate in an interview

OBJECTIVES

Students will identify key interview skills in order to prepare for senior mock interviews.

VARIABILITY

All information is presented in a way that assumes that students do not have background
knowledge; the lesson starts from the very basic and gets more detailed.

To account for different learning styles, information is presented in a variety of ways. Information
is presented visually via PowerPoints, verbally via the teacher, and through video.

Assessments
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS

Journal Writing - Students will have their prior knowledge assessed via their completion of the
daily journal writing.

Practice Interviews - The practice interviews give students the chance to actively show what they
have learned during instruction.

Self-Reflection - Students will complete a reflection of their practice interviews. This allows the
teacher to see if the students have learned what was aimed for in the objective. Students are
expected to point out the good and bad elements of their interview (based on what they learned
during instruction), what they believe is the most important thing that they learned during the lesson,
and if they, in the role of an employer, would hire themselves based on their interview.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
N/A

Instructional Methods
OPENING
Anticipatory Set

Daily journal writing - "What do you know about interviewing/the interview process for a job?" "Have you
ever been a participant in an interview? If so, explain."
Students will be encouraged to share their answers to the journal question
The journal will serve as a pre-test to determine any prior knowledge that students may have about
interviewing

Introduction

Teacher will relate what the students have already done (draft resumes) with what they will be
learning in this lesson.

"Applying for a job is a two part process - the application form and resume are part one; they are
a snapshot of who you are, what you want to accomplish, and are intended to get an employer
interested in you. Part two is being interviewed by a representative of the company."

Teacher will direct attention to the daily objective and explain what the class will accomplish during the
lesson.

DURING
Introduce New Knowledge

"What is an interview? Why do we interview?"

Teacher will explain that interviewing is a crucial part of the application process for jobs,
college/university, etc.

Due to mandatory senior mock interviews occuring at the end of the week, students will learn about
interview skills, proper interview attire and etiquette, and participate in mock interviews.

Students will be asked if they have ever been a participant in an interview in any capacity. If so, they will be
asked to share this information with the class.

Teacher will share any personal experiences with interviews - importance of preparation and the usefulness
of a mock interview

After students and teacher have shared, the teacher will guide students through a PowerPoint presentation about
senior mock interviews that will take place at New Town High School on 3/20/15

If students understand what to expect from mock interviews and do not have any questions/concerns, the teacher
will move on to a second PowerPoint presentation.

Model New Skills and Knowledge

The second PowerPoint will be concerned with interview skills, preparing for an interview, and what to expect
from a typical interview.

During the second PowerPoint, the teacher will periodically pause to model certain interview skills/techniques
(e.g. - firm handshake, maintaining eye contact, how to speak when interviewing, etc.)

Students will be encouraged to take Cornell notes (on provided Cornell notes sheets) to refer back to before
participating in mock interviews.

If time permits, students will be shown a video (7 minutes) that shows an example of a good interview and a bad
interview. Following the video, students will be asked to share their thoughts and opinions on what they saw in the
video.

Independent Practice

Students will be divided into groups of three (pairs if necessary)

The teacher will distribute Practice Interview sheets and Practice Interview Peer Evaluation sheets instructions will be given to students.

Students are expected to first review the mock interview questions and will be allowed to take brief notes
on the sheet

In groups, students will take turns interviewing one another using the questions provided on the mock
interview sheets.

During each interview, a member of each group/pairing will complete a Practice Interview Peer Evaluation
sheet for the interviewee.

Following each interview, the group will provide feedback to the interviewee concerning the strengths and
weaknesses of their interview.

CLOSING
Review

Teacher will direct attention to the daily objective; students will be asked if they believe that the objective
was achieved.

Students will be asked to share any and all thoughts about the practice interviews - What was easy? What
was difficult? Was the experience what you expected or not? What will you do differently during senior mock
interviews?

Closing

Exit Ticket: Self-Reflection

Before the end of class, students are expected to complete a brief reflection about the lesson. They will be
asked to share their interview strengths and weaknesses, the most important thing that they learned, and if
they, in the role of an employer, would hire themselves based on their interview.

Materials
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

Journal Sheets

Cornell Notes Sheets

Mock Interview PowerPoint

Interviewing Tips and Skills PowerPoint

Good/Bad Interview Example Video - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Gww2vrIhjeU]

Practice Interview Sheets

Practice Interview Peer Review Sheets

Self-Reflection Sheets

RESOURCES INCLUDED

Mock Interview PowerPoint

Presentation
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Interview Skills and Tips PowerPoint

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Cornell Notes Sheet

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Practice Interview Sheets

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Peer Review Sheets

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Self-Reflection Sheet
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