Douglas High seniors participate in mock interviews

More than 70 Douglas High School seniors participated in mock interviews in the school's library on Thursday, as part of English teacher Melissa Nikolai's initiative to prepare her students for the real world.

The week leading up to the event, Nikolai worked with her students on their interview skills, resume-building, personal presentation and personal budgets.

"We've been preparing for real-life world experience," she said. "I just want the kids to be as prepared as possible. I don't think they really anticipate the severity of the economy out there and how competitive it is."

Nikolai said one thing that really stunned the kids was their work on personal budgets, projecting future revenues and expenses, including rent, food and utility bills.

"They learned what it means to be an adult," she said. "Some were just in shock. But the beautiful thing is that they can look at their situations and make adjustments."

Members of the community volunteered to interview the students, including Raley's Store Leader Hank Paxson, Douglas County Human Resources Manager Darcy Worms, Shele Pandl and Lauren Saunders of Century 21, and District Superintendent Carol Lark.

Interviewers took notes and scored students on their performances. Nikolai said the scores would later be translated into grades, equivalent to a 50-point assignment.

"I think I would have gotten the job," senior Laura McCloskey said after her interview with Paxson for a customer service position. "I think he was impressed with some of my answers."

McCloskey, 18, wants get an associate's degree in biological science and then join the Navy and become a flight surgeon.

"With what Mrs. Nikolai has been teaching us, I think everyone in the class, with the right effort, can get a job in this economy," she said.

McCloskey said her strengths during the interview were her bubbly personality and her ability to empathize. She said the hardest part of her interview was trying to answer questions with one answer, without elaboration.

Classmate Crystal Camp, 17, was also interviewed by Paxson.

"I think it went very well," she said. "The hardest part was naming my strengths and weaknesses."

Camp said one of her weaknesses is shyness.

"I have a good personality, good posture and a good smile," she said. "But I could speak a little louder."

Having worked two part-time jobs in the past, Camp has been through the interview process before. She said there were more questions this time around, though she was more confident in asking her own questions and setting some of her own conditions.

"I asked if the job had a flexible schedule," she said, " and he said yes: It was flexible."

Lark said she was impressed by the students' overall performances.

"It was a wonderful experience," she said.