How to Prepare Students for Job Interviews
Interview skills are important for students to learn as they prepare for adulthood. But, job interviews can feel scary for anyone, especially for students new to the working world.
As special education teachers, it’s our job to help our transition students feel confident and prepared when doing job interviews. Understanding the basics of interviews can be valuable in boosting their confidence and increasing their chances of getting hired.
So, let’s go over some simple and easy ways to prepare your students for job interviews!
#1 Introduce Job Interviews
The best way to start is by helping your students understand what a job interview is. Make sure to keep it simple and clear, explaining basic concepts like the purpose of an interview, and why it’s important that they are prepared.
You can use a simple Google Slides presentation or even an animated video that explains all about job interviews. This way, learning about job interviews can be more fun and easy to digest.
#2 Practice Communication Skills
Communication skills are essential skills that your students need in job interviews. Practice communicating clearly and confidently by teaching them to use complete sentences, avoid filler words like “um” or “like,” and speak at a steady pace.
Practicing active listening skills is also helpful to ensure that they understand the questions being asked during the interview. Show them how to listen carefully, nod occasionally, and ask follow-up questions if needed.
To practice these skills, you can prepare a set of mock questions and answers that your students can try reading and saying aloud.
Additionally, some students may need to use technology or assistive devices for communication. You can also guide them on how to use these appropriately during job interviews.
#3 Practice Non Verbal Skills
Non-verbal cues are just as important as verbal responses and can also impact your students’ performance in job interviews.
Explain how the proper facial expressions, eye contact, and hand movements can help an interviewee make a good impression.
Practice scenarios where your students:
- Maintain eye contact (or look towards interviewer’s forehead) without staring
- Give a firm handshake
- Sit up straight
- Keep arms relaxed and uncrossed to appear open
- Use a friendly smile to show engagement and nod to show interest
- Use fidgets or other stims minimally, if possible
Note – every student has a different capacity for how they present visually to others – so these examples do not apply to everyone.
You can use video demonstrations to show good versus poor body language, and also provide feedback after practicing these skills.
#4 Teach How to Dress for Interviews
Another helpful thing to teach is appropriate dress codes when doing job interviews. This is important because it plays a big role in giving a good first impression and showing respect for the interviewer.
To do this, you can have a short lesson using visuals or examples. You can also have your students compare pictures of casual and formal outfits, and discuss why one is more appropriate for job interviews.
Lastly, finish the lesson by having a “Dress-up Day” where your students wear interview-appropriate clothes!
#5 Discuss Anticipated Questions
Practicing common interview questions is a great way to build confidence because repetition helps your students feel prepared and less nervous.
Introduce common interview questions, like:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Why do you want this job?
Break down how to answer these questions with examples and guide them in writing a short script for each answer. Make sure not to use generic answers, though. The answers should be personalized for each student, and highlight the student’s skills and personality.
#6 Explain What Employers Look for
After practicing some mock questions, help your students understand what employers expect or look for in job candidates. Explain that employers often focus on traits like punctuality, a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and teamwork.
When having this lesson, you can use relatable examples and visuals, like how arriving on time for the interview shows that the student is respectful and can be relied on.
Encourage your students to share examples from their own experiences when they’ve shared these traits, so they can confidently share these during their interviews.
#7 Talk about Interview Etiquette
Next is talking about interview etiquette—it’s all about showing respect and professionalism during an interview. Think of it as a way to make the best first impression!
Here are some simple tips:
- Dress for success.
- Greet the interviewer.
- Focus when the interviewer is talking.
- Avoid distracting movements like tapping fingers or playing with hair.
- Thank the interviewer at the end.
The best way to teach this? Role play! Act out the dos and don’ts together so your students can see what works and what doesn’t.
#8 Role Play Interviews
Since we’re already talking about role-playing interviews, well, one of the best ways to help your students get comfortable with interviews is through role-playing. It’s like practicing for a play, but instead of lines, they’re practicing answers and behaviors.
You can start by setting the scene, where you can play the role of the interviewer or let your students take turns being the interviewer and the candidate. You can do interviews for different types of jobs—like a cashier, a librarian assistant, or even a dog walker.
After each role-play, remember to give kind and helpful feedback. By the time the real interview comes, they’ll feel ready to show off their skills!
#9 Prepare Important Items
Getting ready for an interview isn’t just about practicing answers—it’s also about being prepared with the right things! Help your students get the items they’ll need ready.
Examples are:
- Resume or application form (Practice filling out our job application forms!)
- Identification (ID)
- Notebook and pen
- Comfort items like fidget tool
Talk about how preparing these items ahead of time can help them feel more confident and focused. Being prepared is also a great way to show they’re responsible and ready for the job!
#10 Research the Company and Position
Before walking into an interview, it’s helpful for students to know a bit about the company and the job they’re applying for. This shows the employer that they’re genuinely interested and serious about the role.
Encourage your students to research the company and job by exploring its website or social media to understand its mission and values. Review the job description together, and help them connect their experiences to the role.
#11 Practice Getting There
Getting to the interview is just as important as preparing for it. Help students plan how they’ll travel to the location so they feel confident and on time.
Help them figure out the route, look up the interview location, and decide the best way to get there. A lesson about transportation would be great for this!
You can also teach about timing, like arriving at least 10-15 minutes early. Work backward to decide what time they should leave, considering things like traffic or bus schedules.
By planning ahead, they’ll start the interview right on foot!
#12 Encourage Self-Advocacy
Interviews are a perfect opportunity for students to practice self-advocacy, which is speaking for themselves and their needs. Help them understand that it’s okay (and even important) to share what they’re good at, what they need help with, and what they’re looking for in a job.
You can teach students how to highlight their strengths, explain their needs, and ask questions. Role-play can help here, too! Practice situations where they might need to explain something about themselves or ask for clarification, and remind them that it’s okay.
Set Your Students Up for Success!
Preparing your students for job interviews will help them transition into adulthood and the workforce. By focusing on skills like communication and self-advocacy, along with practical lessons, we can boost their confidence and prepare them well.
Need a little help? Check out this Job Interview Skills Unit – this bundle has editable lessons and activities made for special education students, including how to dress and how to prep for an interview. With these lessons, your students will be ready to tackle any interview.