Job Interview Activity for Students | Interview Day Storyboard

Q: What are the steps of a job interview for students?

Six steps cover the whole process: research the business, prepare answers and materials, arrive early , handle the interview itself, close by thanking the interviewer and asking about next steps, and follow up with a thank-you note within 24 hours. Storyboarding all six shows students how much of an interview happens outside the room.

Interview Day from Start to Finish - Job Interview Skills Example

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Lesson Plan Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Lesson Plan Overview

Most students picture a job interview as the 20 minutes in the room. Employers see it differently: the interview starts when you research the company and ends when your thank-you note arrives. In this activity, students storyboard an entire interview day in six steps, so they can see everything they control before, during, and after the conversation. It is a strong opening for any unit on job interviews, because every later activity in this guide zooms in on one of these steps.

The example follows Jordan, the student whose lost hoodie came home thanks to TagBack in our Entrepreneurship guide. Now Jordan is applying for a part-time job at TagBack, packing orders and answering customer messages after school, and has an interview with the manager, Ms. Grant.

Before You Begin

Time needed: one 45-minute class.
Choose a job: students can follow Jordan, or pick a real entry-level job they might apply for (a grocery store, camp counselor, library page, or restaurant host).
Discuss first: ask students what an interviewer notices before the first question is asked. Most will name clothes; push them toward punctuality, preparation, and how they treat the receptionist.
Assessment: all six steps are shown in order, each cell includes at least one specific action, and the follow-up step names when and how to thank the interviewer.

The Six Steps

STEP	WHAT IT MEANS	EXAMPLE: JORDAN AT TAGBACK
1. Research	Learn what the business does and what the job needs.	Jordan reads TagBack's website and notices that customer messages need a reply within one day.
2. Prepare	Practice answers, choose an outfit, and print the résumé.	Jordan practices "Tell me about yourself" with a friend and prints two copies of the résumé.
3. Arrive Early	Plan the route and arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.	Jordan arrives at 3:50 for a 4:00 interview and greets the receptionist politely.
4. The Interview	Greet the interviewer, answer with examples, and ask a question.	Jordan explains how they kept the school store organized and asks what a typical shift looks like.
5. The Close	Thank the interviewer and ask about next steps.	"Thank you for your time. When do you expect to make a decision?"
6. Follow Up	Send a short thank-you note within 24 hours.	That evening, Jordan emails Ms. Grant a three-sentence thank-you note.

Differentiation

Grade 8 and career exploration classes: use four steps (prepare, arrive, interview, follow up) and give students the job.
Grades 9–12 and work-based learning: students storyboard an interview for an internship or a job they really want, and add one thing that could go wrong at each step and how to recover.
CTSO prep: students preparing for FBLA or SkillsUSA job interview events can use the storyboard as a checklist for event day.

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Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a six-cell storyboard that shows a job interview day from start to finish.

Click "Use This Template" from the assignment.
Choose a job to interview for, or follow Jordan's interview at TagBack.
Cell 1: show how you research the business and the job.
Cell 2: show how you prepare: practice answers, choose an outfit, and print your résumé.
Cell 3: show yourself arriving 10 to 15 minutes early and checking in.
Cell 4: show the interview: your greeting, one answer, and one question you ask.
Cell 5: show how you close the interview.
Cell 6: show your follow-up thank-you note.
Write one or two sentences under each cell explaining what you did and why it matters.
Save and submit your storyboard.

Interview Day from Start to Finish - Job Interview Skills Template

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 1 (Introducing / Reinforcing)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: Diagram a Process

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Lesson Plan Overview

Before You Begin

Time needed: one 45-minute class.
Choose a job: students can follow Jordan, or pick a real entry-level job they might apply for (a grocery store, camp counselor, library page, or restaurant host).
Discuss first: ask students what an interviewer notices before the first question is asked. Most will name clothes; push them toward punctuality, preparation, and how they treat the receptionist.
Assessment: all six steps are shown in order, each cell includes at least one specific action, and the follow-up step names when and how to thank the interviewer.

The Six Steps

STEP	WHAT IT MEANS	EXAMPLE: JORDAN AT TAGBACK
1. Research	Learn what the business does and what the job needs.	Jordan reads TagBack's website and notices that customer messages need a reply within one day.
2. Prepare	Practice answers, choose an outfit, and print the résumé.	Jordan practices "Tell me about yourself" with a friend and prints two copies of the résumé.
3. Arrive Early	Plan the route and arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.	Jordan arrives at 3:50 for a 4:00 interview and greets the receptionist politely.
4. The Interview	Greet the interviewer, answer with examples, and ask a question.	Jordan explains how they kept the school store organized and asks what a typical shift looks like.
5. The Close	Thank the interviewer and ask about next steps.	"Thank you for your time. When do you expect to make a decision?"
6. Follow Up	Send a short thank-you note within 24 hours.	That evening, Jordan emails Ms. Grant a three-sentence thank-you note.

Differentiation

Grade 8 and career exploration classes: use four steps (prepare, arrive, interview, follow up) and give students the job.
Grades 9–12 and work-based learning: students storyboard an interview for an internship or a job they really want, and add one thing that could go wrong at each step and how to recover.
CTSO prep: students preparing for FBLA or SkillsUSA job interview events can use the storyboard as a checklist for event day.

Copy Activity

Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a six-cell storyboard that shows a job interview day from start to finish.

Click "Use This Template" from the assignment.
Choose a job to interview for, or follow Jordan's interview at TagBack.
Cell 1: show how you research the business and the job.
Cell 2: show how you prepare: practice answers, choose an outfit, and print your résumé.
Cell 3: show yourself arriving 10 to 15 minutes early and checking in.
Cell 4: show the interview: your greeting, one answer, and one question you ask.
Cell 5: show how you close the interview.
Cell 6: show your follow-up thank-you note.
Write one or two sentences under each cell explaining what you did and why it matters.
Save and submit your storyboard.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 1 (Introducing / Reinforcing)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: Diagram a Process

Copy Activity

How to Teach the Steps of a Job Interview

Ask what an interviewer notices first

Start with a quick discussion and steer students toward punctuality, preparation, and how they treat everyone they meet.

Walk through the example

Show Jordan's six steps at TagBack and point out what happens before and after the interview itself.

Choose a job

Students follow Jordan or pick a real entry-level job they might apply for.

Storyboard the six steps

Students show one specific action in each cell and write one or two sentences explaining why it matters.

Compare storyboards

Partners swap boards and add one thing that could go wrong at a step and how to recover.

Frequently Asked Questions about Teaching the Job Interview Process

What are the steps of a job interview for students?

Six steps cover the whole process: research the business, prepare answers and materials, arrive early, handle the interview itself, close by thanking the interviewer and asking about next steps, and follow up with a thank-you note within 24 hours. Storyboarding all six shows students how much of an interview happens outside the room.

How early should students arrive for an interview?

Ten to fifteen minutes early is the usual advice. Arriving much earlier can put pressure on the interviewer, so students who get there sooner can wait nearby. Encourage students to plan the route the day before, check bus times or parking, and treat everyone they meet, including the receptionist, as part of the interview.

What should students research before an interview?

Four things are enough for a first job: what the business sells or does, what the job involves day to day, one thing the business says it values (often on its website), and one question they would like to ask. In the example, Jordan notices that TagBack replies to customers within a day and connects that to the job.

Can middle school students do this activity?

Yes. For grade 8 or career exploration classes, use a four-step version (prepare, arrive, interview, follow up) and give students the job, such as a summer camp helper or library volunteer. The goal at that level is understanding the sequence, not polishing answers, so the storyboard can be simpler and the job less formal.

How should I grade the interview day storyboard?

Give up to 2 points per cell: 1 for showing the step clearly and 1 for a specific action, such as "prints two copies of the résumé" rather than "gets ready." Add 2 points if the follow-up cell says when and how the student will thank the interviewer. That makes a 14-point storyboard that is quick to score.