Plains students get a taste of the real world

PLAINS – Communication is the key to success and the seniors of the Jobs for Montana Graduates class in Plains got a crash course in just that last week.

The annual career fair took off in full swing on Tuesday, Feb. 11 with 18 professionals lining tables in the library and in classrooms throughout the building. The opportunity gave the seniors a chance to have their cover letters and resumes critiqued while learning valuable interview skills.

The mock interviews typically lasted 15 to 30 minutes, although some stretched much longer. The goal was for each student to sit down and interview with five professionals throughout the night.

“The goal is to gain life skills and give them the confidence they need to land the job they want,” explained JMG teacher Annawyn Griffin.

The students dressed for success, rocking the business casual look. Griffin explained that typically the students would dress for the job they were interviewing for but since the night consisted of a handful of different interviews, the goal was to look nice for any situation.

Before the event, the kids went on a field trip to Missoula for Dress for Success day and were able to get their hair cut and styled, while also getting the chance to pick out some business attire at JC Penny’s.

“Some kids bought things for tonight if they didn’t have anything,” Griffin explained. “We try to have them looking nice for tonight.”

The two events have been going hand and hand for many years although the exact number was unknown.

Although nerves were high at the beginning of the night, as the interviews progressed, the high school students had a new confidence to them.

“They start off the evening with the hives and the sweating, the terrified deer in the headlight looks. By the time the night is over, they are confident, they are speaking better and they are smiling,” Griffin said.

Griffin knows the kids are building life skills that will be invaluable later on in life. No matter what their path after high school, the skills they learn in the JMG class will help them become an effective communicator.

“In the job market right now, they are going against so many people that have so many more skills and experience that they really need to know how to land a job,” Griffin said. “People are competing. They need to be well practiced and know how to market themselves the best for the jobs they are applying for.”

To Griffin, the experience is rewarding. She gets to see the kids gain and harness these skills. Griffin sees the nervous hives and the sweaty palms but she also sees where the kids progress.

“It’s very rewarding for both of us,” Griffin said.