Mock interviews prepare students for real world

Warren County High School held its second round of ‘mock interviews’ for students last week in an effort to build on the success of a program that began last year.

The program draws on local human resource personnel to perform interviews with students similar to those actually conducted at their places of employment.

Business teachers Andrea Freeze and Jamie Branin spearheaded the program, and say it has been an effective approach for teaching students how to handle interviews.

‘We want to give them some real-life experience, one-on-one, hands-on type of experience in interviews,’ Freeze said. ‘To have an opportunity to have a practice run of what it’ll really be like for them.’

Freeze says there are also some secondary aspects of the process which may benefit students.

‘We feel like this is a good opportunity for them to be able to network with the business people in the community, possibly even leading to something further on down the line by establishing contact with somebody here locally.

‘If nothing else, just giving them the practice, because, as we know, the more you interview the better you get at it,’ Freeze added. ‘For some of these people, this is the first time they’ve ever had this experience.’

Branin says it’s important for high school students to learn about the interview process as early as possible.

‘Whether they’re going into the workforce right after high school or they’re going to college, they’re going to have interviews one way or another,’ Branin said. ‘They need to learn how to deal with the public, learn about eye contact and all of those things. This is our second year doing this. I think it went really well last year and I think this year is even better because we’ve been through it once before. And hopefully next year we’ll be even better than this year. We plan to continue doing this.’

Participating in the interviews were:

‘ Jane Flatt ‘ McMinnville Electric System

‘ Tony Powell ‘ Bridgestone Firestone Warren Plant

‘ Ronnie Talbert ‘ Bridgestone Firestone Warren Plant

‘ Ann Vance ‘ River Park Hospital

‘ Clair Cochran ‘ River Park Hospital

‘ David Vaughn ‘ Ben Lomand

‘ Frieda Black ‘ City of McMinnville

‘ Jeremy Stone ‘ Yorozu Automotive

Noon Exchange Club member Freida Black, human resource administrator for the city of McMinnville, says the mock interview process is a great way to prepare students for entry into the workplace.

‘We go over their r??sum??, we ask them a set of questions and then we rate them,’ Black said. ‘We try to give them a little feedback on some positives and some negatives and things that’ll maybe help them in the future as they go out and try to succeed in the job market.’

One of Black’s interview subjects, WCHS senior Ryan Daniel, who is a volunteer with the North Warren Fire Department, said he feels the program is informative.

‘I think it’ll be helpful,’ Daniel said. ‘I plan to go to Chattanooga State and major in fire science and eventually become a firefighter.’