Every year seniors take part in Mock Interviews to help prepare themselves for the future. By going through the process, students learn the basic skills of having a successful interview

These interviews consist of two parts, an individual and a group interview. In the individual interview, students are asked to speak about themselves. They are asked questions like what their goals are, why they would like to work, and what they enjoy doing. The most dreaded question is, ‘What is your greatest weakness?’  “It’s easy talking about your accomplishments but talking about your weaknesses is completely different because you feel like it’s bringing down your image,” said Johnny Velasquez.

In the group interview, a group of students sit around one interviewer. The interviewer asks questions for the group to answer such as their leadership in the community and around others.   All the students have a chance to answer in their own unique way. “The group interviews gave me a chance to make an image for myself and stand out from the rest of the crowd by showing the interviewer a unique side of me,” said Alberto Aguirre.

Seniors are required to dress professionally and present themselves as a good candidate for the “job.” Dressing formal is a must in an actual interview so it doesn’t hurt to practice. Just like Officer Cabrera said, “First impressions are everything, look like you want the job.”

One of the key parts of the interviewing process are students’ portfolios. These portfolios contain all the student’s academic records such as transcripts, resumes, and cover letters. Students have been developing their portfolios with certificates and awards all throughout high school in order to prepare for these interviews. The portfolio is a simple way for the students to organize their achievements, making the interview a lot easier.

So what is it that interviewers are looking for? Interviewers don’t ask for much, they are just looking for smiles, confidence, and friendliness. They basically want students to just be comfortable, and more importantly for them to be themselves. Students are graded on their handshake, posture, and how well they dress. “Friendly faces are all I can ask for,” said local radio station Promotion manager Maggie Fernandez.

It is said that practice makes perfect. “An average American gets close to like 20 interviews in their lifetime, so it doesn’t hurt to practice,” said teacher Mark Kirker. After talking to several interviewers, all of them agreed that these interviews absolutely do help students see what it will be like in the future. “It is great practice and it teaches seniors important skills that they will need later on in life,” said Xerox agent Dennis Leighton. Alisal senior Fabian Escamilla agrees saying, “These interviews prepare us to tackle the real world.”