Summer Job Interview Questions for Teens
by Marcia Robinson Thursday, March 24, 2011
For 13 years, Marcia Robinson has coached, written and trained on career, workplace, employment, human resources and entrepreneurship issues. She has a MBA with emphasis in Strategic HR Management and career management experience in Higher Education, Technology and Hospitality. Send her questions through the ASK Us at TheHBCUCareerCenter.com.
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Although the overall unemployment rate has dipped tos 8.9%, there is still an unemployment rate of 23.9 percent for teenagers. That means there will still be strong competition for summer jobs this year. Here are seven more job interview questions high school teens should know how to answer when they go for summer job interviews.
Summer job interview question #1 - May I call your last supervisor?
Sometimes employers will ask teens in the job interview for the information for former supervisors. Employers will want to call and speak to the last employer of the teenager. The teenager's reaction, even just body language, might give the employer some insight into whether or not the teen had a positive experience with the last employer and is not afraid of this employer caling to ask about work. It is always best to answer "Yes" to this question.
Summer job interview question #2 - What do you know about the company?
Employers will ask this question because they want to know if the teenager has done any company research in preparation for the job interview. It doesn't matter if the company is big or small. Teenagers still have to do some company research to learn about the job. If teens know what a company does, they will be able to say more about what you would enjoy about working there.
Summer job interview question #3 - What was the most fun part of your last job?
The answer to this question will help the employer learn more about the teenager as a person. Did they enjoy working on projects by themselves or did the teenager prefer to work as part of the team? Did they prefer helping customers at the front counter or prefer to be in the back pulling stock? Teenagers should not fake answers here but be honest about what they liked to do. The teen's answer could give the employer ideas about where you can be assigned if they get this summer job.
Summer job interview question #4 - Give me an example of a class you were failing; tell me how you performed?
The employer is looking to see how teenagers handle challenges and issues. If a teen says they stopped going to the class, the employer might think the teen is not a problem solver. If the teen says they took extra
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steps such as tutoring sessions and did extra credit work to make up grades, the employer will see them as a motivated person who goes the extra mile to do a good job. Employers like to hire teens who demostrate this behavior.
Summer job interview question #5 - How did you get along with people on your last job?
The employer is trying to find out what kind of team player the teen will be at work. Teens should remember not to speak badly about any former supervisor, worker or company. The teen who is asked this question should focus on what THEY did. Did they have a good reputation because they showed up on time, were always willing to help or train other new workers? Or were they the person that the team felt was not pulling their weight at the job.
Summer job interview question #6 - What do you think are your strongest skills?
Whether a teen is looking for the first summer job or has worked before, they should be able to say what they bring to the job. Employers knows that teens won't have a lot of experience so they are not looking for complex answers. Simply sharing skills like friendly, quick learner and dependable are good. Whatever the teen identifies as a strong skill, be able to back it up with a real example.
Summer job interview question #7 - Who are your references?
There is a phrase that teens have probably heard before -"show me your friends and I will tell you who you are." Well this is kind of what the employer is saying here too. Tell me who your references are and you will be telling me about who you are. For example will your reference be neighbor for whom you baby sat? A coach? A teacher who advised an extracurricular activity? A leader in a local community church? A former employer?
Teenagers looking for summer jobs should names and contact information or at least 3 references.
Summer job interview question #1 - May I call your last supervisor?
Sometimes employers will ask teens in the job interview for the information for former supervisors. Employers will want to call and speak to the last employer of the teenager. The teenager's reaction, even just body language, might give the employer some insight into whether or not the teen had a positive experience with the last employer and is not afraid of this employer caling to ask about work. It is always best to answer "Yes" to this question.
Summer job interview question #2 - What do you know about the company?
Employers will ask this question because they want to know if the teenager has done any company research in preparation for the job interview. It doesn't matter if the company is big or small. Teenagers still have to do some company research to learn about the job. If teens know what a company does, they will be able to say more about what you would enjoy about working there.
Summer job interview question #3 - What was the most fun part of your last job?
The answer to this question will help the employer learn more about the teenager as a person. Did they enjoy working on projects by themselves or did the teenager prefer to work as part of the team? Did they prefer helping customers at the front counter or prefer to be in the back pulling stock? Teenagers should not fake answers here but be honest about what they liked to do. The teen's answer could give the employer ideas about where you can be assigned if they get this summer job.
Summer job interview question #4 - Give me an example of a class you were failing; tell me how you performed?
The employer is looking to see how teenagers handle challenges and issues. If a teen says they stopped going to the class, the employer might think the teen is not a problem solver. If the teen says they took extra
AdChoices
steps such as tutoring sessions and did extra credit work to make up grades, the employer will see them as a motivated person who goes the extra mile to do a good job. Employers like to hire teens who demostrate this behavior.
Summer job interview question #5 - How did you get along with people on your last job?
The employer is trying to find out what kind of team player the teen will be at work. Teens should remember not to speak badly about any former supervisor, worker or company. The teen who is asked this question should focus on what THEY did. Did they have a good reputation because they showed up on time, were always willing to help or train other new workers? Or were they the person that the team felt was not pulling their weight at the job.
Summer job interview question #6 - What do you think are your strongest skills?
Whether a teen is looking for the first summer job or has worked before, they should be able to say what they bring to the job. Employers knows that teens won't have a lot of experience so they are not looking for complex answers. Simply sharing skills like friendly, quick learner and dependable are good. Whatever the teen identifies as a strong skill, be able to back it up with a real example.
Summer job interview question #7 - Who are your references?
There is a phrase that teens have probably heard before -"show me your friends and I will tell you who you are." Well this is kind of what the employer is saying here too. Tell me who your references are and you will be telling me about who you are. For example will your reference be neighbor for whom you baby sat? A coach? A teacher who advised an extracurricular activity? A leader in a local community church? A former employer?
Teenagers looking for summer jobs should names and contact information or at least 3 references.