Homeschool Teens & Jobs: Nailing the Interview

The most nerve-wracking part of the whole finding a job experience is the interview.  As a parent, you can help them learn to navigate interviews.  Interviews are the most important part of landing a job.  I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that, but telling teens that can be a whole other story.  Some get it, and some just blow it off as no big deal.  Here are some real ways you can help your teen nail their job interviews.

1.  Dress for success!  You’ve heard the expression, dress for the job you want and I think it’s true even for teens.  Even if the job is going to be working at a grocery store or a job where they get dirty, you should show your potential boss that you care about yourself.  That translates to the boss that they care about the job.  Be clean, cleanly shaved if you’re a guy and wear clean clothes.  Two of my kids are already in positions where they pre-interview potential employees and you’d be so surprised how some teens and even adults show up.  Even if they’re going to wear jeans, make sure they are clean and have a nicely pressed shirt on.  Make sure the outfit is appropriate and doesn’t show too much skin.  They are going to be representatives of the company they will be working for and should dress like it.  Hair should be clean and makeup should not be overly dramatic.
2. Shake hands!  Teach your teens the proper way to shake hands.  Not limp and indecisive, and not I’m going to crush you with my bare hands, but proper.   Practice it.  Teach them to shake at meeting the interviewer and upon leaving.  This is a good time to review etiquette.  Do remember, this is a teenager interviewing here and not a 40-year old interviewing for a corporate position.  So don’t freak them out with too much to remember!
3. Eye contact!  In this day of looking down at our phones, eye contact isn’t there with a lot of teens.  It is an important skill to have.  Looking someone in the eyes, tells them you are genuinely interested.  No employer is going to waste their time on someone that can’t look at them or their customers.
4. Again, manners!  Yes sir, no sir, yes ma’am, no ma’am.  Thank you.  Enough said.  Remind them to use their manners.  And don’t slump in the interview chair!  Sit up!
5. Practice an interview with your teen.  Ask them questions that a potential interviewer would ask.  Ask questions like, “What hours are you available?  What days can you work?  What are your college plans?  Do you have anything like sports that I need to know about?  Can you work during the day?”
6. Tell them it’s ok to turn down a job if it isn’t a good fit for them or your family.

Hopefully, these tips will help your teen nail their first interview and land their first job!

Next week “What you and your homeschool teen need to know about working”  For last week’s post click here Great Job Ideas for Homeschool Teens  To start at the beginning click here New Series! Homeschool Teens and Jobs