Interview prep
Crane eighth graders practice professionalism at career expo
As most kids around Yuma were winding down and getting ready for a summer away from the classroom, some students at Crane Middle School were gearing up for the future.
Eighth graders taking part in the school’s business and marketing class attended Crane’s career expo Thursday, where they put their resumes, handshakes and professionalism to the test while interviewed with area business leaders.
Kids got asked standard interview questions like “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” and “Why should I hire you?” after sitting down and presenting their resumes.
John Courtis, one of the interviewers and executive director of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, said he was surprised at how well the students handled themselves in an interview.
“They’re terrific, I’m blown away by these eighth graders. They’ve got a level of confidence I did not have in the eighth grade,” said Courtis. “I mean, back in grade school I was class president and that kind of jazz, but these young people, they’re motivated. I’m impressed, I’m really impressed.”
The teacher of Crane’s business and marketing class, Alyison Waldrop, said that she originally brought the idea of the career expo to the school’s administration because she wanted a more realworld experience for her students.
“My second semester curriculum, we learn about these things. We learn about resumes and cover letters and interviewing, but they only get to interview with me and their peers, and that’s not really life-like,” she said. “And so I figured the best practice is for them to actually shake hands with somebody and then sit down in front of them and get asked interview questions.”
And even though they weren’t interviewing for a real job, the nerves were still there for some students.
“I think (the interview) went pretty good. I felt nervous, but it was fun,” said Jane Jarvis, an eighth grader who was interviewed. “Even though it wasn’t real, they were testing you and seeing your skills and stuff like that.”
Jarvis also said that she learned quite a bit from the career expo and her business and marketing class, and that she thinks it will eventually give her “an edge” over the competition when she finally starts interviewing out in the real world.
“I’ve learned a lot,” she said. “I did not know how to do an interview or how to do a resume before I came in here at all.”