Congratulations! Your hard work is paying off and you got the call for a job interview! They loved your cover letter and resume and they want to meet you. Don’t underestimate yourself just because you are in high school. You can do this! This is the next step in your job search. Every resume, cover letter, and interview brings you one step closer to your dream job.
Follow these tips so you are prepared for your first job interview.
How to prepare for a high school job interview
If you believe you are ready to get a job, you also need to be ready to take on more responsibilities in your life. You need to learn to be more independent. You will be doing this on your own. No parents or teachers to tell you what to do.
This is going to be your job. It’s up to you to be prepared. So, bravo for finding this article! Follow these tips and you should be hired quickly!
1. Confirm the interview details.
When you schedule the interview, you need to ask the hiring manager a few questions to get all the important details.
Date and time.
Location. Some businesses have multiple locations or a separate business offices. Be sure to confirm the exact address, suite, floor, etc.
Who are you meeting with? Ask for the names and titles of all the people you will be meeting with. Sometimes you will meet with the business owner, a shift manager, or even a co-worker.
How long do they expect the interview to last? You need to plan your personal life activities around the interview. If someone is driving you, they need to know how long they are expected to wait.
Is there a dress code? Many businesses are very casual. I doubt anyone will expect you to wear a business suit! But your clothes should be appropriate for the business. Do your best to wear clean clothes with no wrinkles, and no torn holes. Leave the “Who Farted?” shirt at home!
What should you bring? Do you need to bring your driver’s license, birth certificate, report card, or references? Even if they don’t ask for these things, it’s a good idea to be prepared, just in case. I also bring a pen and paper to take notes and extra copies of my resume.
2. Study the job description.
If you really want to prepare for the interview, you need to do a little homework. Go through each line of the job description and prepare an answer for each item. The most common questions will be related to the job posting.
Throughout my career, I have had many interviews where the hiring manager went from bullet point to bullet point in the job description. This is like having the answers to the test!
3. Research interview questions and answers.
Make a list of interview questions you think they might ask. You can base this on the job description. You can also Google “interview questions for a waiter/waitress” or “interview questions for a lifeguard.” Some articles may give you sample answers too.
Write up your own interview answers. Yes, I said to write them down. Pen and paper or on your computer. Then practice answering the questions out loud. Reread your answers. Read them out loud. The more you prepare, the more confident you will be.
Here are a few sample interview questions someone might ask high school students:
Tell me about yourself.
Why are you interested in this job?
Why do you want to work for this company?
Do you have any related past experiences from other jobs or school projects?
Do you have reliable transportation?
Are you available to work weeknights from 5-9 pm during the school year?
What is your greatest strength?
Can you give me an example of you being a strong team player?
Do you have any experience working in stressful situations?
Have you ever taken a leadership role on a group project for school?
4. Plan your own interview questions.
Part of the interview can be spent with you asking your own list of questions of your potential employer to make sure this job is a good fit for you.
Can you explain the process you go through when you make the schedule? What if I need to ask off work so I can study for a big test?
Is there a dress code I need to be prepared for? Will I need to buy special shoes?
Do I need to buy my own uniform or will you provide that?
I don’t have my own car so I will be taking the bus. What happens if I am late because of the bus?
Can you describe the work environment?
What traits does your ideal candidate have?
You can even write these down and bring them into the interview. This may make a good impression on the interviewer when they see you’ve done your research and planning.
5. Research the interviewer.
If you were able to get the name(s) of who you will be meeting, do a quick Google search or find them on LinkedIn. Anything interesting come up that you can use in your conversation? Did they go to the same high school as you? Do they know someone that you know?
6. Research the company.
Read through the company’s website and social media. Make sure you know a little bit about their business and mission. The “About Us” section is a good place to find this information. This is a good way to find out about the company’s culture too.
7. Review your resume.
Be ready to explain anything you wrote about on your resume. If you do not have a resume and filled out a paper or online application, make a cheat sheet. Write down the same info you put on the application to remind yourself of the things they may ask you about. If you have past work experience, great! If you are a recent graduate, you may focus more on your good grades and extracurricular activities.
8. Plan your wardrobe.
Hopefully, you asked about the dress code. Is it professional attire, business casual, or jeans? Figure out what you are going to wear in advance. Don’t wait until the morning of the interview to decide. What if something doesn’t fit? If you need a new outfit and don’t have a lot of extra money, check out thrift stores.
9. Plan your commute.
With the GPS and map apps on almost every phone, there is no excuse to be late for an interview. They offer directions if you are walking, biking, mass transit, or driving. Plan your commute so you arrive 10-15 minutes early.
Your parents, friends, or family members may be helping you with this process. They may even need to drive you to the interview. But the rest you need to handle on your own. They need to wait in the car and not participate in the interview process.
10. Arrive early.
If you follow the tips above, you will arrive 10-15 minutes early. I like to wait outside until 5-10 minutes before my appointment. Use this extra time to scan your interview question cheat sheet one more time for a last boost of confidence.
11. Silence your phone.
You can also turn your phone off. At least silence the ringer.
12. Go in alone.
This is your job interview. Parents, friends, and family members can wait outside.
13. Bring your materials.
A notebook to take notes. A copy of your resume or application if you have not already submitted it. Your references. Any other documentation they asked you to bring.
14. Be friendly to the staff.
When you enter the place of business, you will probably encounter another staff member, not the person you are interviewing with. This person may also be a future coworker of yours! Be nice! Be polite and friendly. I wouldn’t be surprised if the interviewer asked for their opinion of you. First impressions matter!
15. Greet the interviewer.
Do your best to smile and make eye contact. Show off your positive attitude. Greet them with a firm handshake. Crush the interview, not their hand!
16. Be positive and show interest.
Take your time with your answers. Try not to say “like, um, you know.” It’s ok to pause for a second before you immediately start answering the question. Try not to ramble or give unnecessary details. Pay attention to your body language. Sitting up straight and leaning into the interviewer can also convey your interest.
17. Take notes.
If the interviewer begins explaining the job details, taking notes is okay. This will make you look really interested and thoughtful. And, if you get the job, some of your notes may be helpful on the first day.
18. Answer the questions honestly.
Hopefully, you followed tip #3 and researched sample job interview questions and answers. If you’ve read and reread these, you should be well-prepared and be able to answer with confidence. If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s ok to say that you don’t know. You do not want to lie!
19. Speak clearly.
Many jobs require strong communication skills. Listen carefully to the questions, pause for a breath, and then answer the question. Speak clearly and don’t rush.
20. Ask about next steps.
If it feels like the conversation is coming to an end, ask the prospective employer about the next steps in the process. They may offer you the job right away. They may ask you to come back to meet other team members. You don’t want to leave the meeting wondering what happens next.
21. Ask for the job.
If you like what you have heard and you really want the job, make sure you tell the interviewer. “This sounds like a great opportunity! I am really interested in the job. Is there anything that might keep you from offering me the job? I’d like to clear that up before I leave.”
22. Thank them for their time.
At the end of the interview, before you leave the room, be sure to smile and thank them for their time.
23. Write a thank you note.
Ask for the interviewer’s contact information or business card at the end of the interview. Now that you have their title, the correct spelling of their name, and their email, you can write a thank you note. Thank them for their time and express your enthusiasm for the job.
If you are applying for a part-time job at a fast food chain or retail store, you may think some of these tips are overkill or super nerdy! And you may be right! Lots of people get part-time jobs without researching interview questions or writing thank-you notes. But these are great habits to learn now and apply in the future.
If you are a high school student looking for a full-time job after graduation, I think all of these tips apply to your situation. Following this advice will help you go a long way in your future career path. Good luck!
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