Interviews can be scary.
As Ward Halverson ’92 spoke about his interview to work for Hamilton’s Admissions Office, he remembered “that was the first real interview that I’d ever really had, and I just kind of bombed it. I was so nervous and my mouth was dry.”
Alumni like Halverson, along with about 50 other parents, staff members, friends of the college, and community members, volunteered on Jan. 27 for the Career Center’s Communicate 301. The event, in its seventh year, provided seniors with two practice interviews and an interview crash course workshop led by Janine Oliver, associate director of career development. By the end of the day, seniors were well equipped to talk about themselves and feel comfortable in an interview situation.
The event is one of the Career Center’s invaluable resources for students to begin their career exploration and achievement. Mia Rogers, senior assistant dean of admissions, also volunteered for Communicate 301. She said she “talk[s] about this event and how available it is” with prospective families. Similarly, Virginia Whitfield ’00 described the event as “really good real-life experience, and any real-life experience opportunities for students is a good one.”
Beyond the interviews themselves, the interviewers were valuable resources for students, offering some great advice for seniors and underclassmen alike. Because of a major career change, Whitfield spoke of the importance of recognizing that “real life experiences can change what people want, and that’s okay.” Whitfield’s advice is key for students as they begin considering their careers after Hamilton, a process rich with some daunting decisions. Though intimidating, Rogers suggests that students should not “be scared to try something that you think you’re interested in but not sure about.”
While interviews may seem daunting, Communicate 301 instills students with the practice and confidence necessary to tackle an essential component of their career development.
