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Day 2: Job Interviews — Prep + Practice

Lesson Overview
Time 50 minutes
Objectives Learn the H&L Job Interview prep checklist (dress, body language, common questions); conduct a mock job interview with a partner using the workbook prompts; draft a thank-you email
TEKS d(6)(C), d(7)(B)
Deliverable Mock interview reflection (3 sentences) + draft thank-you email
Materials H&L Workbook Ch 11 (pp. 179-181), printed mock interview question cards (3 job options), notebook, projector

Warm-Up (5 min)

WARM-UP: Imagine you're applying for your first paid job. The manager asks: "Tell me about yourself." What's the FIRST thing you'd say?

Take 3-4 student responses. Most will mumble or freeze. That's the point, interviewing is a skill that takes practice. Today they get the practice.

Activity 1: H&L Job Interview Prep — Read Aloud (15 min)

Source: H&L Workbook Ch 11, pp. 179-180, "Job Interviews"

Read aloud (or have students read in pairs) the workbook content on Job Interviews (Ch 11, pp. 179-180). The key sections are:

Dress for Success (workbook p. 179): - Dress one level above the job - Stick to neutral or classic colors - Wear clean and appropriate shoes - Keep grooming in mind - Limit accessories - Be comfortable and confident

Getting Ready for an Interview (workbook p. 180): - Research the company - Practice common questions - Plan your outfit the night before - Bring the essentials (resume, notebook, pen) - Use good body language - Prepare 1-2 questions for the interviewer - Arrive 10-15 minutes early - Stay calm and confident

Remote & Phone Interviews (workbook p. 180): - Test your tech (internet, camera, mic) - Find a quiet space with good lighting - Dress professionally even on video - Speak clearly - Engage actively

Follow-Up (workbook p. 180): - Send a thank-you email - Address the employer by name - Thank them for meeting with you - Mention something you enjoyed - Reinforce why you're a great fit - End with "Best Regards" and your full name

Project the highlights on the screen as students read along. Do a quick check-for-understanding by asking 3 students to name one tip they didn't know before today.

Facilitation Tip

Some students think interviews are intimidating because they imagine perfect adults asking trick questions. Reframe: interviewers are trying to figure out if you'll show up, do the work, and treat people well. Most interview questions are about that, not gotchas.

Activity 2: Mock Interview Practice (20 min)

Source: H&L Workbook Ch 11, p. 181, "Practicing for a Job Interview"

Pair students up. Each pair practices BOTH sides, interviewer and interviewee. Partners swap halfway.

Step 1: Choose a Job (from workbook p. 181). Each student picks ONE of these jobs to interview for:

  • Warehouse Associate (packing and shipping orders)
  • Office Assistant (paperwork and phone calls)
  • Social Media Assistant (creating posts and managing accounts)

Step 2: Practice Interviewing (workbook p. 181). The interviewer asks these 8 questions:

  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. Why do you want this job?
  3. What are your strengths?
  4. What are your weaknesses?
  5. Describe a time you solved a problem.
  6. How do you handle stressful situations?
  7. Why should I hire you?
  8. Do you have any questions for me?

Set a timer: 8 minutes per round (about 1 minute per question), then swap. After both rounds, students give each other feedback on:

  • Body language (eye contact, posture)
  • Clarity of answers
  • Confidence
  • One thing to improve

DOK 3: What conclusions can you draw about why interviewers ask "What are your weaknesses?", what are they really trying to learn?

Activity 3: Draft a Thank-You Email (8 min)

Source: H&L Workbook Ch 11, p. 181, "Step 3: Write a Thank You Email"

Students draft a short thank-you email using the workbook structure (p. 180). The email must include:

  • A greeting using the interviewer's name (use "Mr./Ms. Smith" as a placeholder if needed)
  • A thank-you sentence
  • One specific thing they enjoyed about the interview
  • 1-2 sentences on why they would be a great fit
  • A closing sentence inviting follow-up
  • "Best Regards," and the student's full name

The email is 5-7 sentences total. Students draft in their notebook or in a Google Doc.

Exit Ticket (2 min)

EXIT TICKET (Mini-Case / Scenario Application) · Printable PDF:

Scenario: Maya has an interview tomorrow for a Salon Assistant job at Reset Studio in Las Colinas. The interview is on video call. Maya just realized she does not know what to wear, what to say first, or how to follow up after.

  1. What should Maya wear, and why? Use one tip from today's "Dress for Success" list. (d(6)(C))
  1. When the interviewer says "Tell me about yourself," what is the FIRST thing Maya should say? Write the opening sentence Maya should use.
  1. Write the first TWO sentences of Maya's thank-you email (greeting by name + thank-you sentence naming one thing from the interview). (d(7)(B))

Differentiation

  • Support: Provide question cards with sentence stems for each answer: "When asked 'tell me about yourself,' I would say: 'My name is _. I have experience in . My strongest skill is __.'"
  • Extension: Practice a phone interview (sit back-to-back with your partner so you can't see each other) and notice how it changes your body language and answers.
  • ELL: Pre-teach: Interview = Entrevista, Strength = Fortaleza, Weakness = Debilidad, Confident = Seguro/a. The mock interview can be conducted bilingually, many real workplaces in Texas are bilingual.