Preparing teens for Job Interviews
2007-03-21
By D. E. Herrod, B.Ed.E, M.Div
Job interview can be tough especially for teenagers with little or no job experience. There are several things that parents can do to help teens prepare for the interview experience.
Dress for success. Attire should be business causal. About.com has an online photo gallery to help teens select interview attire: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/teenstudentgrad/ig/Interview-Attire/index.htm.
Prepare a resume. A resume that emphasizes skills is probably the best format to use. Be sure to include volunteer work and extracurricular activities. Also prepare a list of three-5 references.
Be prepared for the interview. Make sure your teen knows the hours they can work. Work out a plan in advance for transportation to and from work. Be prepared for the types of questions that will be asked. Sample interview questions on-line at http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewquest.htm or http://www.gotajob.com/content/preparing.asp.
Act professionally and use good manners. Arrive to the interview early. If you take your teen to the job interview, stay in the car or go get a cup of coffee. Be sure to turn off the cell phone for the interview.
After the interview send a brief thank you note or email. Keep it short and sweet.
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