Onaway senior class gets practice with job interviewing skills

by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor
With the end of the school year in sight, Onaway seniors got all dressed up for their annual interview day at the school. As in the past few years, the seniors did mock interviews with area businesspeople to help prepare them for actual interviews later in life. Tables were set up around the gymnasium as students faced 20-minute interviews with three different local businesses.

“I had a big group this year with 50 of them. For whatever reason my schedule didn’t work out with my normal interviewers so I have a lot of newbies this year. My kids in general were ready to roll. A lot of them said they were really nervous when it got started but at the end they said they thought the interviews went well.” said Onaway High School teacher Amber Watson, who coordinated the event.
Watson asked 26 professionals from local businesses to help with the interviews. As in the past, each student had to interview with three different professionals, showing a resume while asking and answering questions about themselves and the business. It is part of their senior experience that also includes a 15-20-minute presentation later in the school year and preparation of a personal notebook filled with examples of their work.
“I think it is a big thing for them. They just got three interviews out of the way so when they go for their real job interview, wherever it happens to be in the future, they will at least be a little more comfortable, knowing the whole gambit of what to expect,” Watson said.
The snow days caused a bit of a scheduling concern, Watson said, but the students and staff made it work on short time.
Watson, who teaches senior English, said she is constantly trying to bring in new faces and variety of interviewers to give the students a variety of options.  Several of the businesspeople were so impressed by the students that some job offers might be in the works.
“Straight out of high school, they are going into the work force and they have already had a job interview for a real life job,” Watson said.
Watson said reaction of the students after the event shows they appreciate the interviews.
“I am glad that they are a little bit nervous because they are taking this seriously and they are working hard to get to that level of professionalism. In a lot of senses, I think that the mock interviews are even harder than a one-on-one interview where you get to go sit down in an office with somebody and it is just that one person,” Watson said.
Next up for the students is the senior exhibition May 18 with baccalaureate set for May 24 and graduation day planned for May 27