By Mary Owen
“What is your most negative trait?”
This simple question, posed by most employers, is not always easy for prospective employees to answer, but Stayton High School seniors will learn how to turn the “negative” into a “positive” at the upcoming Interview Fair on March 19.
This is the third year for the event, which counselor Jan Fiedler said was started as a method to teach career-related learning standards as required by the state Department of Education for students to graduate. All SHS seniors are required to attend, Fiedler added.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what businesses will be represented,” Alyssa Huddleston said.
Brad LaMarche agreed, adding, “I want to see what businesses are looking for in potential employees.”
Lupita Garibaldi is looking forward to practicing her interviews. Regardless of their expectations, these seniors will get a heads up and hands up on getting a job in today’s tough employment market.
“The objective is to get students to develop the skills necessary to write a good resumé, fill out a job application, and interview for a job,” Fiedler said.
Community volunteers will conduct the interviews, helping to ease the nerves that often overtake first-time interviewees.
“We have them do a minimum of two, and you can see their confidence build by the time they do the second one,” Fiedler said. “Some students have even opted to do more than two, saying that they learn more each time. I have heard many positive comments from students about how helpful it was.”
Fiedler also gets a thumbs-up on the process by most of those giving the interviews.
“Some have commented they were impressed with the students and wished they had a job to offer them,” she said.
At the Interview Fair, students will also learn to craft a resumé that will land that interview they seek.
“We have someone proof read it and then revise it,” Fiedler said.
Students also learn to dress appropriately.
“You only have one opportunity to make a first impression,” Fiedler said.
Making It Count, an educational service provider for students and parents, will present information through its “Making College & Career Count” program to help students gain the appropriate skills and information they need for prospective job interviews. Making It Count is a business unit of Monster Worldwide, Inc., which operates a job search Web site.
Also speaking will be: Gary Kuhn and Glen Miller from Chemeketa Community College on “Job Seeking Skills in a Tough Economy” and Randy Brammer, owner of Precision Towing, who will share his life and job experiences with the students.
“I want to thank the many volunteers who donate their time and expertise to make the Interview Fair a meaningful experience for our seniors,” Fiedler said.
