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As part of a unique and innovative program, the students had already studied and practiced the process of applying and interviewing for a potential job, and this would be part of their final test, preparing for and interviewing with volunteers from the local business and retirement community.
The night before the last phase of their test, the seniors checked over their cover letters, resumes and laid out their best clothes for the next morning.
When their scheduled interview time arrived on Tuesday, they were led into an area that looked very much like a waiting room area in a business environment. One of the program organizers, Patsy Ferguson, the business-education manager at the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, called this area “the hot seat.” There they waited with other “job applicants” to be called for their interview.
Their potential new bosses were people who really could hire them in the future. Ten volunteers from local businesses, such as the Halifax County Department of Social Services, Flambeau, BB&T, Roanoke Valley Energy, the Halifax County Health Department, RBC Centura Bank and the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, had interview tables set up in semi-private areas throughout the RRHS library.
One of the interviewers, retired school teacher Suetta Scarbrough was very impressed, not only with the program itself, but also with the students.
“I’ve been very impressed ... they are very serious about this,” said Scarbrough. “Several already have jobs and some have been through this process to get them.”
Scarbrough said she learned much about these students while doing these interviews over the past few years. “I asked them which is more important, the job or the salary and almost without an exception, (all but) three out of 60 – said the job was more important. I wouldn’t have thought this age group would think that already.”
Three of the students waiting in “the hot seat” agreed with Scarbrough. Ann Rogers, Jael Cisuentes and Laura Bynum sat waiting with their resumes on their laps. They were serious and looked professional.
Rogers admitted to being a little nervous, but was well prepared. “I’m applying for an ultrasound technician position,” she said. “I’ve researched it more on colleges than interviews, but I’m trying to take it step-by-step.”
Cisuentes thought she was prepared for whatever questions might come her way as she applied for a nursing assistant position. “I’m not sure what I’ll be asked; I’ll probably play it by ear I guess,” she said with a smile.
Byrum had already been through this process several times in the real world and it showed. “I’m applying for a nursing position. I’ve been taking applied health classes and this fit with what I’m working on,” she said confidently.
Ferguson, through her work with the Chamber, does this job interview program at six high schools throughout the Valley, two times a year. “We have a large pool of volunteers from industry, government and hospitals who we can call on to interview the students,” she said. “We will take it to KIPP (high school) next year too.”
“We have a wonderful pool of interviewers,” Ferguson continued. “Some, that have retired and live on the lake, came to us asking how they could become involved. We have a retired brigadier general, David Johnson, who was a former director of the National Weather Service, Frank Harmon, from the USO and Ken Hendricks, a retired IBM executive from Chicago. These are some really influential people these kids will be talking to.”
Ferguson said there have already been some great success stories that have gotten back to her.
Gwen Jones, owner of Rainbow Realty on Lake Gaston, has been in the interviewer pool for some time. Jones told Ferguson one of her student interviewees called her two years later from Raleigh, where she is now employed. She had called to thank Jones for the questions she had asked her two years previously and credited Jones with helping her land the job she is very proud of now.
Senior Kyle Kincaid, who had just finished up with his interview, was relieved and impressed with what he learned. “I think it went well. This is the first formal interview I’ve had and it showed me I know somewhat about what I’m doing,” he said smiling.
Asked what he would do differently in the real world, Kincaid laughed and said, “I’d probably rehearse more on my own. We did it in class, but I will rehearse more for next time.”
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