Lesson Plan

Interview Preparation
Created: 03/2015 by the National FFA Organization

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing these activities students will
1. Formulate tailored responses to commonly asked interview questions.
2. Practice answering common interview questions.
3. Analyze responses to interview questions to determine ways to improve the answer.

TIME REQUIRED: 60 minutes (Tip: Spread these activities over two or more class periods.)
RESOURCES: FFA.org My Journey
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES NEEDED:
1. Copies of Tell Me about Yourself for every student.
2. Copies of What Can I Say? for every student.
3. Mock Interview Question Cards (one card for each student, will need to cut apart prior to distribution)

THESE ACTIVITIES ARE ALIGNED TO THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS:

AFNR Performance Element

CS.03. Performance Element: Career Success: Demonstrate those qualities, attributes and skills necessary to
succeed in, or further prepare for, a chosen career while effectively contributing to society.
Common Career Technical Core
AG5 Describe career opportunities and means to achieve those opportunities in each of the Agriculture, Food &
Natural Resources Career Pathways.
NASDCTEc
AGC08.01 Demonstrate workplace ethics specific to AFNR occupations in order to reflect effective stewardship of
resources.
Common Core- Reading: Informational Text
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including
figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning
and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).
Common Core- Speaking and Listening
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one,
in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas
and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Common Core- Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects: Writing
WHST.9.10.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate
to task, purpose, and audience.
Partnership for 21st Century Skills
Communication
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Initiative and Self-direction
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LESSON PLAN:
1. Interest approach: Show one of the videos listed below to provide examples of poor responses and undesirable
behavior in a job interview. Follow with discussion about why these were bad interviews. With younger students it
might be necessary to begin the discussion with what happens in an interview and how interviewers use answers to
their questions to determine who will get a job. If the class is made up of older students ask them to share what
they know about interviews and interview questions.
a. Video: Bad Job Interview Answers
i. Summary: Shows interviewers asking common questions with people failing to answer or giving
undesirable responses. No explanations of what is wrong, but definitely good examples of what not
to do. This video is somewhat humorous.
ii. http://youtu.be/YtBD-SnwwiU
b. Video: What Not To Do During a Job Interview
i. Summary: Shows interviewers asking common questions with people failing to answer or making
bad impressions. No explanations of what is wrong, but definitely good examples of what not to do.
ii. http://youtu.be/jBaoY3ColRA
c. Video: What Not to Do in a Job Interview
i. Summary: Shows a bad interview and explains what is being done wrong; it then shows a good
interview and explains why the improvements helped.
ii. http://youtu.be/U9rn5kuTpHw

2. Give each student a copy of the Tell Me about Yourself and What Can I Say? worksheets, included with this
lesson. Students will use these worksheets to develop responses to the most commonly asked interview questions.
The worksheets provide tips for answering each question.

3. Activity: After students have developed their responses give each student one of the Mock Interview Question
Cards. Questions can be duplicated so that every student has a question card. Have students pair up and do a
mock interview using the question on their card. The card provides the person who asks the question suggestions
on what to look for in the response. Students can help each other tweak their answers using these suggestions.
Rotate the students into different pairs as much as time allows.
a. There are questions on the cards that are not on the worksheets. This is to help students realize they will
always get at least one question in an interview for which they are not prepared.

4. Follow-up Discussion: After students have had several mock interviews have them share what they learned. If time
allows have one or two students volunteer to do a mock interview with the teacher in front of the class using
questions from the cards.
a. Remind students that practicing for interviews is important. Encourage students to check out the video
labeled Job Interview Practice available on the Student Build page of My Journey. The video will allow
them to respond to questions asked by a hiring manager. Again, these questions will not perfectly match
their worksheet, but many of the answers they have developed can be used.
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Tell Me about Yourself

DIRECTIONS:
One of the most common interview questions is tell me about yourself. Interviewers are typically looking for a range of
information in your answer and are actually asking several questions in one. Complete the following concept map to design a
complete answer to the most common interview question.
.

Background (where you grew up

like on a farm, inner city,
suburban community, etc. or
Your education (where you go to that you moved around a lot):
school, favorite subjects): How has your background impacted
who you are today? (If possible
relate this to a skill/attitude needed
for the job.):

Tell me about yourself

by answering these prompts.

What is a hobby you enjoy? What is something that makes you

(Choose one that relates to what you are different or makes you stand out from the
interviewing for. Example: applying at a crowd?
greenhouseyou enjoy participating in the (If you cant think of anything that is ok.
Nursery/Landscape CDE with FFA.) This is just an easy way to make the
interviewer remember you!)

Aligned to the following standards:

CS.03; AGC08.01; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.4; CCSS.ELA-
Literacy.SL.9-10.1; WHST.9.10.4; AG5
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What Can I Say?

DIRECTIONS:
Use the table below to develop your answers to frequenctly asked interview questions.

Tell me about yourself. Use the Tell Me about Yourself concept map to create your answer and then put it all together
here.

Answer tip: Brief details and examples are

good!

Time Tip: This is a long answer. It should

take 30 seconds to one minute when spoken
aloud.

Tell me about a time when you participated in a team project.

Answer Tip: Briefly describe the project, your

role, and give one excellent example of how you
used your skills.

Time Tip: This is a long answer. It should

take 30 seconds to one minute when spoken
aloud.

Tell me about your extracurricular activities. This does not mean your hobbies.

Answer Tip: Share activities that have helped

you gain useful skills like team work, dedication,
and people skills.

Time Tip: This is a short and sweet answer.

It should take 15 to 30 seconds to answer when
spoken aloud.

What are your greatest strengths?

Answer Tip: Provide a brief example of how you

use the strength.

Time Tip: This is a short and sweet answer.

It should take 15 to 30 seconds to answer when
spoken aloud.

Tell me about a time when you faced an obstacle and how you overcame it.

Answer Tip: Use a real example from your life

and describe the skills you used. Skills could be
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perseverance, thinking outside the box, making

quick decisions, etc.

Time Tip: This is a long answer. It should

take 30 seconds to one minute to answer when
spoken aloud.

Why did you want to interview with us?

Answer Tip: Show you know what the company

is about/does and relate it to your interests.

Time Tip: This is a short and sweet answer.

It should take 15 to 30 seconds to answer when
spoken aloud.

Why should we hire you?

Answer Tip: Highlight skills youve already

mentioned and show how you can apply them to
this job in a unique way.

Time Tip: This is a short and sweet answer.

It should take 15 to 30 seconds to answer when
spoken aloud.

Aligned to the following standards:

CS.03; AGC08.01; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.4; CCSS.ELA-
Literacy.SL.9-10.1; WHST.9.10.4; AG5
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Mock Interview Cards

DIRECTIONS:
Cut out each of the question cards below. Give each student one card. (Cards can be duplicated so that every student has a
question card.) Have students pair up and do a mock interview using the question on their card. Rotate the students into
different pairs as much as time allows.

Tell me about yourself. Tell me about a time when you participated in a

team project.

What to look for: What to look for:

Interviewees answer should include: background, Interviewees answer should briefly describe the project,
education, how their background has impacted them, their role and give one excellent example of how they
hobbies that are somehow connected to skills needed for used their skills.
the job and something that makes the person stand out.

Tell me about your extracurricular activities. What are your greatest strengths?

What to look for:

This does not mean hobbies! Interviewees answer What to look for:
should share activities that have helped them gain useful Interviewees answer should provide a brief example of
skills like team work, dedication and people skills. how they use the strength.

Tell me about a time when you faced an obstacle Why did you want to interview with us?
and how you overcame it.

What to look for: What to look for:

Interviewees answer should use a real example from Interviewees answer should show they know what the
their life and describe the skills they used. company is about/does and relate it to their interests.

Why should we hire you? What are your goals for the future?

What to look for:

What to look for: Interviewees answer should show they have put some
Interviewees answer should highlight skills theyve thought into their future and have a plan. This could
already mentioned and show how they can apply them to mean getting more education, rising to the top levels of
this job in a unique way. an organization or being recognized for outstanding
work.

How do you handle failure? If you were an animal what animal would you be?

What to look for:

What to look for: Interviewees answer should require brief thought.
Interviewees answer should show they understand Their answer should be specific and explain what
failure can happen. Examples of how they have handled qualities the animal has that relates to qualities they
a failure in the past and how they grew from it are possess. The qualities should ideally be useful in the job
excellent. for which they are interviewing.