GOWANDA – Never underestimate the power of a first impression. Students in teacher Mrs. Melissa Rosier’s classroom dressed for success recently for the annual mock interview experience at Gowanda Middle School.

The students in sixth grade prepared in advance and brought with them resumes tailored for the job openings of Youth Recreation counselor and Tim Hortons worker. They were encouraged to show up in interview-appropriate attire and to be supportive of one another.

Rosier notes students were nervous about their interviews with Director of Learning & Continual Improvement Ashley Wakelee, technology integrator Meagan Radoani, Assistant Principal Mr. David Smith, Head of Buildings and Grounds Mr. Richard Smith and Director of Special Education Janine Jalal. The student job candidates create a resume, fill out an application and go through the interview process with Rosier. They also discuss the “do’s and don’ts” of employment interviews.

“I like to have them sit down with someone who they may not be entirely comfortable with so they have more of a feel of walking into a true interview,” says Rosier.

Wakelee was proud of all students and touched by their performances. She noted that interviews can be nerve-wracking even for adults who have been in the workforce for decades.

“This was not only an opportunity to gently encourage students to use what they learn in the classroom in a real-world scenario,” says Wakelee. “But also a great chance to make some meaningful connections. They all came prepared and were very polite.”

Graded on a rubric, the students were assessed on their greeting/first impression, appearance, poise/voice, preparedness, communication and non-verbal behavior.

They thoughtfully answered in-depth questions such as “What is your greatest strength?” and “How would you handle a situation where two students were involved in a conflict?”

“I was truly impressed by all the job candidates,” says Radoani, who enjoyed getting better acquainted with the students through the various questions. “This was a low-stakes assignment with a high level of enthusiasm from the students. They were overall very articulate and had some insightful, funny and relevant responses.”

This experiential learning exercise also helps students gain confidence when seeking future employment.