A Lesson where students first learn about getting an interview and then they hold mock interviews with each other. For Inquiry Hub Secondary School students - April 2014, by David Truss. 'Observer' Handout available at: http://2di.me/ihubmockinterviews

1. “The Job Interview”
Image:MoElnadi
Mock Interviews Activity – David Truss

2. MilanB-analytikonflickr
Good Application Forms
get interviews!

3. What information do you need in
order to fill out an application form?

4. Spike55151onflickr
Bad
application forms
get filed
here!

5. Good Resumes get interviews!

6. What looks good/bad on a resume?

7. Spike55151onflickr
Bad
resumes
get filed
here!

8. How honest should you be on a
resume?

9. Emphasis / Exaggerations / Lies
(It’s ok to emphasize or even
exaggerate your strengths.)
Here are my examples:

10. Emphasis / Exaggerations / Lies
(It’s ok to emphasize or even
exaggerate your strengths.)
Here are my examples:
1 good
(Had the skills, exaggerated the experience.
And my reference check backed me up!)
I was hired!

11. Emphasis / Exaggerations / Lies
(It’s ok to emphasize or even
exaggerate your strengths.)
Here are my examples:
1 good
(Had the skills, exaggerated the experience.
And my reference check backed me up!)
1 bad 
(Had some skill, exaggerated how good I was.)
I was hired!
I was hired…
and then
fired!

12. AdelieFreyjaAnnabel
Your references WILL be checked!

13. Spike55151onflickr
Bad
reference checks
get filed
here!

14. Good Digital Profiles get interviews!

15. If you are “Googled”, will future employers
see what you want them to see?

16. MoElnadi
“Luck is what happens
when preparation
meets opportunity.”
Seneca
“The interview”

17. What should you do to prepare for an
interview?

18. Scenario or Behavioral Questions?
Scenario: An angry customer/client
comes to you and complains about
________. What will you do?
Behavioral: Tell me about a time when
you dealt with an angry
customer/client. What happened and
how did you deal with it?

19. Scenario or Behavioral Questions?
Scenario: An angry customer/client
comes to you and complains about
________. What will you do?
Behavioral: Tell me about a time when
you dealt with an angry
customer/client. What happened and
how did you deal with it?

20. Scenario: Give if___ then___ answers.
(It depends on the situation.)
SepehrEhsani

21. Behavioral: Pause and think first!
You need to be authentic.
Make sure you answer the question
rather than just tell a story.
PatrickKicken

22. What qualities/traits do you want to
show in your interview?

23. Believe in yourself!
LenMatthews

24. Practice some of the harder
questions to answer.

25. “Why do you want to work for us?”
Possible answers:
• I know you have a good training program…
• My friends say it is a good place to work…
• It seems like a great working environment...
• Other suggestions?
ColinKinner

26. Desi-theItalianvoice-onflickr
“Do you have any questions?”

27. “Do you have any questions?”
Desi-theItalianvoice-onflickr

28. “Do you have any questions?”
If you must ask about salary, or benefits,
make sure that isn’t the only question.
If you are currently working… ask this question:
“I am wondering about the process, if you decide to hire me.
The reason I ask is that I am currently working for _______
and I would like to give them as much notice as possible.
A good question to ask:
“What is the process from here?
-or-
“If you are interested in hiring me,
then what is the timeline to find out?”

29. Mock Interviews
Everyone will get these 7 questions…
1. Tell me a bit about yourself.
2. Why do you want to work for us?
3. What are your strengths?
4. What do you know about our company?
5. If hired, how long to you expect to work for us?
6. Why should we hire you?
7. Do you have any questions?
(Each group will also get 3 different questions.)
AidenJones

30. Our process for the mock interviews.
Groups of 3
Choose an interviewer, an interviewee
and an observer.
Interviewees walks ‘in’ and shakes interviewer’s hand.
Sit down with the interviewer facing the screen (so you can read the
questions), and with the interviewee facing the back wall (so you
can’t see the questions), observer on the side, taking notes.
Interviewer will say “Thank you for coming in today. As you know,
this is a job interview for ___________. I’ve had a chance to look
over your resume and I’d like to ask you a few questions.
Then the 10 question interview begins… 15 min, then switch.
CarbonArc

31. Example:
What did they do well?
What suggestions do you have?
Advice that will help them
improve their interview skills!
Question Compliments Suggestions
1. -emphasized
strengths
-good eye
contact
Avoid “Uptalk”
(Sounded like
you were
ending with a
question?)
Digital handout: http://2di.me/ihubmockinterviews
Observer Role – Comment on the following:
Poise/posture/movement (hands, bouncing knee)
Confidence
Eye Contact
Clarity: good annunciation/clear message
Pace: talk too fast/slow
Pauses: appropriate/umm’s/‘like’
or lack of pauses: and…and…and
Did they answer the question?
Did they go off topic or emphasize the wrong things?
Zev–fiddleoakonflickr

32. 1. Tell me a bit about yourself.
2. Why do you want to work for us?
3. What are your strengths?
4. Tell me about a time when you worked really
hard to achieve something.
5. What do you know about our company?
6. How would you deal with an angry customer
that got the wrong order?
7. If hired, how long to you expect to work for us?
8. If I were to ask your parents what your best
character traits were, what would they say?
9. Why should we hire you?
10. Do you have any questions?
Mock interviews – 1st Interview
“Thank you for coming in today. As you know, this is a job interview for _________.
I’ve had a chance to look over your resume and I’d like to ask you a few questions.

33. 1. Tell me a bit about yourself.
2. Why do you want to work for us?
3. What are your strengths?
4. Tell me about a project you did at school where
you worked really well with others.
5. What do you know about our company?
6. Tell me what you would do if you saw a customer
spill their drink on themselves?
7. If hired, how long to you expect to work for us?
8. If I were to ask your best friend why you are such
good friends, what would they say?
9. Why should we hire you?
10. Do you have any questions?
Mock interviews – 2nd Interview
“Thank you for coming in today. As you know, this is a job interview for _________.
I’ve had a chance to look over your resume and I’d like to ask you a few questions.

34. 1. Tell me a bit about yourself.
2. Why do you want to work for us?
3. Tell me about a time when you achieved
something that you were proud of.
4. What are your strengths?
5. How would you deal with an upset customer that
says they got the wrong amount of change?
6. What do you know about our company?
7. If hired, how long to you expect to work for us?
8. Why should we hire you?
9. If I were to ask a previous employer what traits
you have that make you a good employee, what
would they say?
10. Do you have any questions?
Mock interviews – 3rd Interview
“Thank you for coming in today. As you know, this is a job interview for _________.
I’ve had a chance to look over your resume and I’d like to ask you a few questions.