Students, employers get value from job-interview training | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Palatka City Commissioner Justin Campbell, right, speaks to Palatka Junior-Senior High School student Mykaela Anderson, left, in a mock interview Friday.
Home Depot Manager Pankell Elliot shakes hands with Palatka Junior-Senior High School student Tivon Adams during a round of mock interviews Friday.
Interviewers speak to a student at Palatka High to prepare her for the job search.
Positively Putnam FL

Palatka Jr.-Sr. High School students interviewed with local employers Friday morning at the culmination of a career readiness class.

High schoolers and businesses alike said this was a valuable experience that may lead to real-world results.

Students’ attitudes varied as they sat down with interviewers at round tables in Palatka High’s Panther Den. Some seemed relaxed and confident, while others were a bit nervous.

Regardless of their approach, however, students agreed that their interviews and the class leading up to them were worth the effort.

“I think the program has helped to grow my understanding of the workforce,” said Palatka High student Mykaela Anderson.

“I learned a lot,” said high schooler Tivon Adams.

Slated interviewers spanned a wide range of fields and included Clay Electric, Corky Bell’s, the Florida Department of Health, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Palatka.

Employers were excited to be there. Not only did Friday offer students a chance to learn, but some interviewers said it helped them scout possible employees.

Palatka City Commissioner Justin Campbell, who interviewed Anderson, said the City of Palatka has hired “quite a few” interns based on interviews at Palatka High. He said the students have generally been quite successful.

“They are professional, always on time, willing to work,” Campbell said.

Although Palatka High has offered career readiness classes for several years, the endeavor took on a new guise this year as the Putnam County School District EXCEL program. EXCEL stands for Experience, Community, Employability and Leadership.

In addition to preparing for interviews, students created resumes and developed job-related skills over the school year.

Crescent City Jr.-Sr. High School also participates in the EXCEL program and recently hosted interviews.

“Students obviously value the additional support and time that people are investing in them,” said Jonathan Hinke, the school district’s executive director of strategic initiatives.

Campbell said he hopes to see the program grow moving forward.

“This should be something that every high school student takes part in,” he said.