VIDBE-Q Volume 65 Issue 4
link. Small group instruction on how to prepare for an interview and dress for
success preceded the interviews. The day of the interviews, students were expected
to dress nicely and arrive to the virtual appointment to be interviewed by someone
they did not know. A teacher was present for observation and supervision. Many
students returned with stories about what went well and what they could have done
differently. One young lady immediately said she needed to remove some
inappropriate material from her social media account because the interviewer
planned to view the student's artwork online! The following day, students were
notified of work experience offers. Students who did not answer their phones or
check their voicemails were left not knowing if they were "hired" or what position
they were offered and wound up calling their teacher days later.
During the work experience, students were assigned both a teacher job coach
for daily "work" and a supervisor from the employer with whom we partnered.
Students were required to sign into a designated video conference platform or
conference call line to report for job duties as scheduled. Their assigned job
coaches provided instruction and guidance specific to the work experience. The
supervisor gave an overview of the company, explained the importance of their
work, provided real world advice on being effective employees, and offered
feedback each week. If students required materials or supplies to complete their
assigned duties, teachers arranged with them ahead of time to drop off the items to
