How to help your teen ace any interview
When your teenager needs to go to a job interview, they will probably be a bag of nerves and, while you can't go with them and hold their hand (sorry!), you can help them be well prepared so they know how to answer questions without getting flustered.
It's also important they look clean, tidy and dressed to impress - and most teens will certainly need your help with this one!
Here are the steps to take to ensure your child is ready to make a good impression and land that job...
Get them work-ready
Ensure your teen has had some kind of prior work experience - perhaps helping out at a family friend's office or serving in their local charity shop - so they're used to a professional environment and feel less daunted talking to strangers.
This will also give them something impressive to add to their CV. Make sure they get feedback and a reference so they know how they're shaping up as a potential employee and what areas they need to work on.
Help bulk up their CV
Your teen may not have a mountain of work experience or accomplishments to list on their CV, but any relevant experience should be given in some detail so employers get a sense of what they're capable of.
If your son or daughter has been a prefect or a team captain, headed up an impressive school project, organised a party, helped create scenery for a school performance, volunteered for a charity, created their own blog, or undertaken any other initiative that really stretched them, it's important to detail what this entailed and what skills were learnt in the process.
Equally it's important to give employers a sense of the kind of person they are, listing their qualities and interests. They may be outgoing and a "people person" or more methodical and patient, with great attention to detail. They may be tech-savvy, an animal lover, creative, good at problem solving or at taking responsibility.
Be honest, but make sure that their true nature is painted in a positive light. Such qualities might make them right for the role in question, or for another role that may come up later.
Be prepared
It's vital that your son or daughter finds out as much as possible about the company and their role. Whether it's serving food in a pizza restaurant or helping out in a pet shop, being knowledgeable and enthusiastic in a job interview will make a great impression.
A potential employer will want to know that a new employee will take pride in their work and represent the company in a positive way, so get your teen to check out the company website and social media to find out all the latest news prior to the interview.
Do a practice run
Get your teen used to answering questions in a positive and impressive way. Run through a typical interview scenario, asking a few likely questions, such as, "What interests you about this role?" and "What do you think you will bring to it?" to give your son or daughter the chance to prepare some great answers.
Help them work out how to frame lack of experience or insufficient exam grades in a way that still shows them in a good light. Phrases like "I pick things up quickly" and "I'm a great team player" work well, but they need to be prepared to give examples too.
Help them create the right impression
Smart, clean and ironed clothes really make a difference. Depending on the job, a formal suit and tie might not be necessary, but a neat appearance can work wonders in any situation.
Basic grooming, like clean nails, combed hair, smelling fresh and a clean shave or natural make-up will show your son or daughter means business.
A bright smile will help your teen look warm and feel self-assured, which will impress the interviewer, so make sure their teeth are clean and breath is fresh by encouraging them to brush with Oral-B Pro-Expert toothpaste.
And remind your child to look the interviewer in the eye - this shows confidence and maturity, but it may take some practice at home first!
End on a high
Encourage your son or daughter to ask questions once the interview is over. An interviewee who wants to know more shows initiative and intelligence, so get them to raise a query or two at the end of the interview, such as, "What are you looking for in an employee?"
And however they feel the interview went, make sure your child ends it on a positive note, thanking the interviewer for the opportunity. Not having all the right answers doesn't mean disaster. Attitude counts for a lot.
How do you prep your teen for an interview? Let us know your tips in the comments section below.