Story posted Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thomas, South Students Practice Job Interviews
By TIM O'CONNOR Journal & Topics Reporter
Arlington Hts. students at Thomas and South middle schools are about to become the youngest job seekers in the area.
Eighth grade students at both schools are preparing for a job interview program that includes one-on-one interviews with more than 30 local businesses, such as the park district and Arlington Theaters.
Successful interviews may not end with a job offer, but students will earn an A in the schools' language arts program.
Thomas Middle School Program Coordinator Carol Toussaint said the program prepares kids for getting part-time jobs in high school and beyond.
"It's something that the kids learn a lot from," she said. "It gives them an opportunity to at least have a peak at what looking for a job is going to be about."
She said some students even apply for jobs with the interviewing company after they turn 16.
"We encourage the kids to keep track of the papers that they accumulate from the interview," Toussaint said.
At Thomas Middle School alone 309 students will go through the mock interviews, which take place in the school's library from Feb. 23-26.
Students have some choice in which company they interview for, Toussaint said.
"Often when they come out they'll say, 'I got the job!'" Toussaint said.
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