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Mock & Informational Interviews
Mock & Informational Interviews
Informational interviews allow students to talk with an employer partner about an industry, educational and career path, and chosen profession. Students may also explore the range of career opportunities within the company or industry, opportunities for growth, and the salary ranges.
Informational interviews allow students to talk with an employer partner about an industry, educational and career path, and chosen profession. Students may also explore the range of career opportunities within the company or industry, opportunities for growth, and the salary ranges.
Why Mock Interviews Are Important
Why Mock Interviews Are Important
Designed to meet specific learning objectives, informational interviews are educationally rich, tied to the curriculum, and help students connect what they are learning in school with the workplace. Unlike a guest speaker activity, where speakers usually address a group in the classroom, informational interviews are one-to-one interactions and generally take place at the company’s workplace.
Interviews help provide students with a realistic picture of a business, its role in the community, and the career paths and occupations of its workforce. The activities are designed to:
Provide exposure to potential careers and jobs.
Help students make the connection between school and the workplace.
Inform career planning.
Structure
Structure
Interviews offer an opportunity for students to begin identifying areas of career interest. The activities are structured to:
Build knowledge about the education and training needed for a particular job, career path, and entry into the industry.
Offer students the chance to practice and demonstrate key professional skills, including communication, critical thinking, workplace appearance, and timeliness.
Format
Format
Interviews are supported by three formats that deliver unique experiences to students and employers. The activities are organized through:
Classroom preparation, including research on the industry and participating businesses.
Employer orientation and support.
Opportunities to reflect upon the experience orally and in writing.
Outcomes
Outcomes
Interviews help students learn about future workplace opportunities through conversations business partners in the community. The activities are connected to:
Individual career development/training plans.
Future work-based learning activities.
The student's next steps.
Tools & Materials (coming soon)
Tools & Materials (coming soon)
Checklists
Checklists
WBL Specialist Informational Interview Checklist
Student Informational Interview Checklist
Tips & Fact Sheets
Tips & Fact Sheets
Teacher Informational Interview Tip Sheet
Employer Informational Interview Tip Sheet
Employer Informational Interview Fact Sheet
Implementation Tools
Implementation Tools
Informational Interview Research Activity
Informational Interview Student Reflection
Work-Based Learning Activity Evaluation (for teacher, coordinator, or host)
Work-Based Learning Activity Evaluation (for student)
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