By Ainsley Hall
BERKELEY COUNTY — Berkeley County high schools are having their annual mock interviews for 11th-grade students to get real interview experience to prepare them for the future.
Volunteers from the community, including business owners, military recruitment officers, people from the board office and many more visit the schools to talk with the students and ask them questions. Mock interviews give students the opportunity to overcome their nerves during the interview process and learn how to answer questions about themselves.
This year, Hedgesville High School had 24 volunteers who conducted interviews in the school’s library. Katelyn Gleason, mock interview coordinator at Hedgesville High School, believes it’s a great chance for students to grow.
“Any interview can help prepare someone for the future, whether they are a teenager or an adult,” Gleason said. “Putting this together helps prepare them so that when they have a real job interview, it’s not their first time answering questions about themselves.”
As a part of the mock interviews, HHS students learned how to dress properly and how to be professional. They learned how to prepare for different questions and how to present themselves to a potential employer, as well as how to make a resume and cover letter.
Gleason explained that each interviewer asks broad, open-ended questions about the students instead of focusing on a specific job or college.
The main purpose of the mock interviews is to give them experience talking about themselves and answer common questions such as, “What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?”
Gleason shared that though many of the students are nervous, many of them end up enjoying the experience.
“They start out nervous but excited,” Gleason said. “After the interview, even the students who thought they didn’t need the practice realized that it was really helpful for them. It’s very beneficial for everyone.”
Katie Milliman, an 11th-grade student, helped during the interviews by handing out passes to other students. Milliman talked about how she felt nervous and stressed during the interview but also excited, as she challenged herself.
“It’s important to have the chance to challenge yourself to overcome those emotions,” Milliman said. “Practicing that will help you in a real interview later.”
Spring Mills High School already had its mock interviews earlier this month, while Hedgesville High School had its interviews on Friday. Martinsburg High School is scheduled for March 21, and Musselman High School’s interviews will be on April 26.