Prepping Students for the Job Market

With the 1995/1996 school year half over, high school seniors are beginning to think about what comes next. Here are some tips for teachers assisting those students who will pursue employment immediately upon graduation.

• Offer a resume writing lesson
• Arrange for students to participate in mock interviews, with some students playing interviewer and others interviewee
• Incorporate projects into your curriculum that require class presentations. Ask students to dress and present in a professional, formal manner
• Introduce teamwork and critical thinking exercises that will help students on the job as well as help them get the job
• Ask students to direct a class session to build confidence and bolster leadership skills
• Provide students with resource information about how and where to seek employment: want ads, inquiry letters, networking
• Invite area employers to speak to the class about skills they seek and the best way to approach the company about potential employment
• Encourage students to share their interview and job seeking experiences with the rest of the class