Choose two volunteers. Ask one volunteer to come into the classroom smiling and standing up straight. This student should walk around the room shaking hands and saying hello to classmates. Tell the other volunteer to slink into the classroom, give a weak handshake, and mumble hello without looking the other students in the eyes.

After the volunteers have greeted several of the students, ask the class, “What was your impression of the two volunteers? Whom would you be more inclined to hire? Why?”

Explain to students that it is important to show that they are confident individuals while on an interview. Tell students that they learned about preparing for an interview in Lesson 2, and now they are going to explore ways to show their self-confidence.

Purpose: Students identify techniques for greeting someone with confidence.

1. Students identify what makes a good handshake.

Ask students, “What makes a good handshake?” Write responses on the board. (Students may say: strong, firm, confident, not limp.)

Explain that the best way to shake hands well is to master the “web to web” handshake. Place the part of your hand where the thumb and index finger are connected (the “web”) against the web of the hand you are shaking.

Ask for a volunteer to help demonstrate the “web to web” handshake. Explain that it is important to have a firm, but not too strong, handshake. Tell students that it is not a contest with the other person; an interviewer would not be likely to hire someone who hurts their hand in a handshake.

2. Students identify what other actions are involved in a good handshake.

Remind students of the starter and ask them to identify some of the other differences between the ways the two volunteers entered and walked around the room.

Lead students to the understanding that to complete the impression of a confident and friendly person, an interviewee needs to look the interviewer in the eye and say (while they are shaking hands) that they are pleased to meet them.

3. Students practice their greeting.

Tell students that they have all of the ingredients for a successful greeting. They know the “web to web” handshake, how to make eye contact, and what to say.

Tell students to walk around the room and practice greeting each other. Allow a few minutes for this. Move around the room and shake hands with every student.

Tell students that the first part of an interview is very important. Some experts say that a decision to hire or not to hire a candidate is made in the first three minutes, and that the balance of the time is spent justifying the decision. A good greeting can get the student off to a positive start in an interview.

Purpose: Students practice answering difficult interview questions.

1. Students review difficult questions and identify ways to respond.

Divide the class into pairs. Tell students that the best way to be prepared for a difficult interview question is to practice what to say if asked one.

Distribute copies of the “Tough Questions” activity sheet. Explain that the activity sheet has some diagrams on it to stimulate thinking about answers to difficult questions.

Tell students how to complete the activity sheet:

• In the first space, identify a weakness you have.
• In the second space, write about how the weakness makes you work harder or pay attention to details—characteristics any employer wants in an employee.
• In the third space, describe a positive strength that comes from overcoming this weakness.

Allow students several minutes to complete the activity sheet.

2. Students see the importance of ending an answer positively.

Ask students to explain what they observe about the last boxes for the questions on the activity sheet.

Lead students to understand that they should always conclude their answers with something positive. Point out that they should respond to all interview questions, even straightforward ones, with a positive answer.

3. Students practice responding to difficult questions.

Write the following question on the board: “If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?” Tell students to reflect on how they would respond to an interviewer who asked this question.

Remind students to focus on something positive. Tell them to practice their responses with their partners.

Students may feel anxious about an interview after going through this exercise. Remind them that they know the answers to the questions and they are prepared to go into the interview.

Explain that an interviewer has a problem to solve: they must select and hire someone. The interviewee’s task is to show that they are capable of handling the job.

Purpose: Students discuss last-minute interview preparation techniques.

1. Students recognize that it is normal to be nervous going into an interview.

Tell students that everyone is nervous about an interview. Point out that even interviewers likely had to interview to get their job—and probably felt nervous, too! Students should keep in mind that the goal is not to eliminate anxiety, but to keep it from getting in the way.

2. Students review how to prepare for an interview.

Distribute copies of the “Interview Preparation Checklist” activity sheet. Ask a volunteer to read the checklist out loud to the class. Have students identify items they feel unsure of and discuss ways they can be better prepared.

Explain to students that when they feel nervous while on an interview, they should remind themselves that they are well prepared. This is the best strategy for staying calm.

3. Students use relaxation techniques.

Ask students to identify the signs that might indicate that a person is nervous. Write student responses on the board. (Students might respond: sweaty palms, fidgeting, tapping feet, tapping pencils, avoiding eye contact, speaking in a low voice, giving short answers to questions.)

Tell students to review good communication skills (see Module One: Communication Skills). Explain that interviews are good opportunities to use active listening skills and to pay attention to the nonverbal messages they are sending.

Remind students of the stress management techniques learned in Module Six: Skills for School and Beyond. Tell students to remind themselves, while on an interview, that they’ve done all the right things to prepare for it and that they are ready. Ask students to visualize a successful interview. What images do students see?

Ask students to describe the characteristics of a successful job interview. Elicit from students the following key points that were taught in this lesson:

• A firm handshake and eye contact imply confidence.
• Prepare answers for difficult questions by focusing on and ending with something positive.
• Everyone feels nervous about an interview, but relaxation and stress management techniques can be used to remain calm.