Mock Interviews for Students — Here’s What you NEED to Practice
Questions about experience and background
The interviewer will likely ask you questions regarding your educational background and any professional experience you might have. Some of these types of interview questions include:
Why do students seek employment?
Students seek employment for a variety of reasons. Whether in high school, college or getting ready to graduate, students typically seek employment to pay for some if not all of their education, develop their skills and build their confidence in the workplace.
Additionally, students who take on a part- or full-time job often have better-developed time management and interpersonal skills than students who have no work experience. While working as a student can provide you with an income and additional means to support your education, it can also help you develop your professional experience, learn new skills and get a head start on your potential career path.
Read more: The New Graduates Guide to Job Search
What contributions have you made to your campus community?
This question allows interviewers to get a sense of how you view your involvement and contribution to a community. If you have experience volunteering on event committees, in academic clubs or other involvement, discuss this in your answer.
Example: “This year I joined Phi Beta Kappa honor society, because I believe in their values and what they do around campus. Weve held fundraiser events to fund campus improvements. So far weve established a community garden that contributes to the campus snack bar, and we also donate a third of our harvests to food banks.”
What has been your biggest academic achievement?
Interviewers ask this question so they can evaluate your ability to set goals for yourself and stay motivated to achieve them. In your answer, talk about specific objectives you set and actions you took that helped you get to your final results.
Example: “My biggest academic achievement was my recent practicum. I completed my junior year practicum teaching third graders, and my supervisor evaluated my performance at a highly effective rating. This is huge for me because Ive worked long hours to develop my ability to deliver engaging lessons and create unique approaches to working with gifted students and students with learning disabilities.”
Can you describe a time when you contributed to a team to complete a class assignment?
Teamwork is a highly desirable trait. So, if the interviewer asks this question, they are likely evaluating your ability to work as a team to accomplish a common objective. In your answer, give specific examples of actions you took and the outcomes. You can discuss specific group projects you completed, competitive teams you were a part of or another team-oriented assignment.
Example: “Most of my classes require students to work in collaborative assignments. Because of this, Ive had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of people. My favorite project was a research project on the effects of parent involvement in schools. My team and I wanted to prove that parental involvement in elementary students academics led to higher achievements, and with our joint efforts were able to increase parents involvement in their childrens school community.”
What types of projects have you completed during your education?
Completing projects and assignments on time shows that youre responsible and organized—two traits the interviewer is likely searching for. In your answer, highlight one or two specific projects that required you to overcome challenges or develop one of your weak points.
Example: “I recently completed a mock marketing assignment for my analytics class where I had to plan out an entire strategy implementation. The biggest challenge I encountered was learning new software to input and track KPIs. The software was difficult to work with at first, but I used the tutorials and participated in a software study group after class to develop my skill with it. Learning how to use the software ultimately helped me complete my project, which I received an A for.”
Sample High School Job Interview Questions
By Andrew M. Lee, JD
Think back to your first few job interviews. Did you know what to expect or say? Interviewing can be a stressful experience for teens looking for their first job—especially if they have learning and thinking differences. It requires certain skills that may be weak spots, like or focus. Plus, it’s unknown territory.
Practicing—first with you, and then with an adult she’s not as close to—can reduce the fear factor and build your child’s confidence. Use this list of common interview questions with your teen.
Tell us what interests you
Andrew M.I. Lee, JD is an editor and attorney who strives to help people understand complex legal, education, and parenting issues.
Jim Rein, MA has lectured on postsecondary options and summer programs for kids and young adults with learning and thinking differences.
FAQ
How should a high school student prepare for an interview?
- Dress appropriately. Not sure what is appropriate dress for the school at which you are interviewing? …
- Arrive early. …
- Research the school ahead of time. …
- Be alert. …
- Show off your social skills and maturity. …
- Be genuine. …
- Be polite.
What questions do high school interview ask?
- Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief? …
- How did you hear about this position? …
- What type of work environment do you prefer? …
- How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations? …
- Do you prefer working independently or on a team?
