Name:
Date:
How to use this worksheet. An interview is a chance to show someone who you are and why you'd be great for a job or volunteer role. Thinking about these questions ahead of time will help you feel more confident!
- Work through each part in order. Answer the questions first, then use the Practice My Answer boxes to turn your notes into full sentences you can say out loud.
- Every part has a Clarify hint. Try the part first; read the hint if you get stuck. It gives you a strategy, never the words to copy.
- There are no wrong answers here — this is your practice space. Be honest about what you're good at and what you still want to prepare.
PART 1
Opportunity Check-In
Start by picking the ONE opportunity you are preparing to interview for. If you don't have one yet, pick one you are very interested in applying for.
1.Organization Name:
2.Role / Job Title:
Clarify — Choose a real opportunity if you can — a job, an internship, or a volunteer role. Picking something specific makes every other answer on this worksheet easier and more honest.
PART 2
Researching the Opportunity
It's important to learn a little about the place you're interviewing with. What can you find out?
3.What does this organization do? (Example: "They help people find homes," or "They clean up parks.")
4.Why do you want to work / volunteer with THIS organization?
Clarify — Look at the organization's website or ask your mentor. You only need one or two true facts. Knowing what they do lets you explain why they — not just any place — is a good match for you.
PART 3
Thinking About Your Skills
Look at the job posting (if you have it) or think about what this role would need. Then match it to YOU.
5.List 2–3 skills or abilities they are looking for. (Example: "good listener," "can follow directions," "works with a team.")
6.Which of YOUR skills or experiences match what they are looking for? (Think about school, home, or volunteer work.)
Clarify — Line up their list next to yours. For every skill they need, try to name one time you showed it — a class, a chore, a team you were on. A real example is stronger than just saying "I'm good at that."
PART 4
Common Interview Questions: Let's Plan Your Answers!
These questions come up often. Thinking about them now means you won't be surprised later. Jot notes, then practice each one out loud.
7."Tell me about yourself." (This is usually the first question! Keep it short — talk about your education, interests, and what kind of opportunity you're looking for.)
8."Why are you interested in this role / our organization?" (Show them you know a little about them and why you picked them.)
9."What are your strengths?" (What are you really good at? Give an example if you can!)
10."Do you have any questions for us?" (It's important to ask a question at the end! It shows you are interested. What's one question you could ask?)
Clarify — Notice how these connect: your research (Part 2) powers Question 8, and your skills (Part 3) power Question 9. Keep "Tell me about yourself" to three sentences. And always have a question ready for the end — it shows you care.
📝 Practice My Answer — try building "Tell me about yourself" out loud using this frame.
"Hi, my name is .
I am studying / interested in .
I am looking for a
where I can use my skill of ."
PART 5
Your Get-Ready Plan
What will you do to get ready for your interview (or next mock interview)? Check all that apply, or add your own ideas!
- Practice my answers out loud.
- Ask a mentor or family member to ask me questions.
- Make sure I know the time and place of the interview.
- Plan what I will wear.
- Research the organization's website.
- Get a good night's sleep before the interview.
11.Other idea of my own:
Clarify — Don't just check the boxes — pick the one you'll do first and decide when. A plan with a day and a time actually gets done. Practicing out loud is the single best way to feel less nervous.
💡 Tips for You: Walking In With Confidence
- Practice out loud, not just in your head. Saying your answers to a mentor or a mirror makes them feel natural when it counts.
- It's okay to pause. If you get a hard question, it is fine to say "Let me think about that for a second." A short pause looks thoughtful, not nervous.
- Bring a question with you. Have one question ready for "Do you have any questions for us?" — it's the easiest way to show you're interested.
Reflection
What question do you still have about interviews or preparing for them? Which part of getting ready feels the hardest, and who could help you with it?
FOR MENTOR USE — WORK THROUGH THIS TOGETHER
Mentor Guide
How to help your student prepare for a real interview
1. What this worksheet builds
It walks the student from a specific opportunity → research → matching their skills → rehearsed answers → an action plan. The aim isn't a script to memorize; it's the confidence that comes from knowing what to expect and having said the words out loud at least once before interview day.
2. Anchor it to one real opportunity
- If the student has an actual interview coming up, use that role throughout — every part becomes true preparation.
- No opportunity yet? Help them pick one they genuinely want. A concrete role makes Parts 2–4 far easier to answer.
- Have the job posting or the organization's website open if you can — Part 2 and Part 3 lean on real details.
3. Using the Clarify hints
Let the student attempt each part first; read the Clarify box only if they stall. The hints coach strategy ("give a real example," "connect your research to Question 8"), never the answer itself. Point out how the parts feed each other — research fuels "Why this organization?", and their skills fuel "What are your strengths?"
4. Rehearse out loud — run a mock interview
- Once Part 4 is drafted, play the interviewer. Ask the four questions in a warm, real-ish tone and let them answer aloud.
- Normalize pausing: model "Let me think for a second" so a silence never feels like failure.
- Keep "Tell me about yourself" to about three sentences — gently trim if it runs long.
- Do it more than once. The second and third run-throughs are where nerves fade and answers get smoother.
5. Close with an action plan
- Turn Part 5's checkboxes into commitments — help them attach a day and time to at least one item.
- Cover the practical basics together: knowing the time and place, planning what to wear, and getting good rest.
- End on their reflection question about interviews — answer it honestly, and name who they can turn to for help before the big day.