Students in Leksell’s English class have been busy preparing resumes and cover letters, practicing tying ties, and learning how to give a proper handshake.

“We have spent a lot of time on handshakes,” Leksell said.

On Thursday, students participated in mock interviews.

Mock interviews place a student with an adult from the surrounding community who holds a job the student is interested in.

The interviews are a culmination of the work students have put in throughout the semester.

Students were asked a series of questions relating to the career they chose to pursue at the start of the class.

Colton Poncin, 17, entered the class raring to go.

“Who’s ready to interview?” Poncin asked. “Let’s go.”

Poncin previously interviewed with Eagle Grove Elementary Principal Joe Erickson.

Poncin said the interview helped prepare him for the real world.

“We have done resumes and cover letters, too,” Poncin said. “So as adults we won’t be stranded trying to find help in how to do all this stuff. It helps a lot.”

On Thursday it was Niko Padilla’s turn to interview.

Padilla, 16, was interviewed by Andy Newell, an athletic trainer at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital.

Padilla opened the door to the classroom, shook hands with Newell and sat down for questioning.

Newell asked Padilla about previous injuries he had and if he would be a positive or negative athletic trainer.

“I would be positive based on what I went through,” Padilla said. “I would help them recover faster.”

Newell asked about 10 questions.

One piece of advice Newell offered was knowing when to be sympathetic to patients, but also knowing when to push them.

Ben Nessa, 17, also participated in a mock interview.

He was interviewed by a reporter.

The class found one question, in particular, to be a little odd.

Nessa was asked if he was an animal, what animal would he be and why?

The question didn’t phase him.

“I would be a dog because they are loyal and always there when you need them,” he said.

Nessa was also asked how he handles deadlines.

“I make sure I get all my homework done and my projects in on time,” he said.

When the interviews concluded, students met with their interviewers in the hall where they received further advice.

Students are to be graded on their interview performance, including the handshake, according to Leksell.

Twenty-four students in all will have completed a mock interview by the time the class is over, Leksell said.

Some interviews have been very formal, while others have been more casual, according to Leksell.

Logan Hansen, 17, interviewed with a welder.

He said his interview was casual.

“We compared scars,” he said.

Hansen got his love of welding as a sophomore.

“I am more of a hands-on guy,” Hansen said. “I like working with my hands. I tried welding as a sophomore and ended up really liking it.”

At the end of the school year, Hansen will be finished with one full year of the welding program at the North Central Career Academy located in Eagle Grove.

Not every student knows what they want to do for a career yet.

About seven students said they weren’t sure what career they wanted to pursue when the class started.

Ravyn Armstead, 17, said she’s still not totally comfortable interviewing, but the experience has benefited her.

“I didn’t even know about cover letters before this,” she said.

Armstead admitted she still didn’t know how to tie a tie.

Jacob Nett, 18, appreciated learning to to write a resume.

“When we learned to write a resume, that’s really going to help us when we try to find a career,” Nett said.

Most students agreed that learning what to expect when interviewing will help them.

“If you have never had an interview, you just don’t know what to expect,” Leksell said. “This at least gives them an idea of what to expect.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

• Yes
• No