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.
| 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. |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Create a six-cell storyboard that shows a job interview day from start to finish.
Start with a quick discussion and steer students toward punctuality, preparation, and how they treat everyone they meet.
Show Jordan's six steps at TagBack and point out what happens before and after the interview itself.
Students follow Jordan or pick a real entry-level job they might apply for.
Students show one specific action in each cell and write one or two sentences explaining why it matters.
Partners swap boards and add one thing that could go wrong at a step and how to recover.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.