This week, 11th grade Economics and Personal Finance students at Eastern View High School (EVHS) and Culpeper County High School (CCHS) participated in Mock Interviews. The Mock Interview program, sponsored by Culpeper Economic Development through Career Partners, Inc., aims to give students practice applying and interviewing for a job in a simulated environment where they can practice their skills and obtain real-time feedback from their interviewer.
Interviewers are local business and community members who volunteer their time to work with students. This semester 323 juniors were interviewed by 42 volunteers. Mock Interviews take place at both high schools each fall and spring. The spring event will take place at the end of January 2026.
For the students, Mock Interviews is not just a short interview on the day of the event. Prior to interview day, students create a resume and complete a job application for the hypothetical job they choose. During the event, interviewers review the students’ written material before facilitating a 10-minute job interview. After the interview, students received feedback on their written materials and their responses to interview questions. The feedback portion is valuable because students learn what they are doing well and what they need to work on so they will be better prepared when they face interviews on their own.
Career and Technical Education Director Randi Richards-Lutz praised Culpeper Economic Development and Career Partners, Inc. for sponsoring this program for our students. Mock Interviews continue to empower our juniors to approach their future career opportunities with confidence. These interviews extend the classroom experience, connecting students with business and school professionals for realistic, hands-on practice. Through this process, our students sharpen their communication skills and build the resilience they need to succeed in their future careers. This opportunity goes beyond resumes and interviews, it’s an experience that truly shapes their lives.
During the event, held at Eastern View on Tuesday and Culpeper County High School on Wednesday, the students were the shining stars. Some students already have jobs and have been through an interview process, but for many, Mock Interviews is a first interview experience. Regardless, the experience is beneficial because they get on the spot feedback from the interviewer about the interview and also about their resume and cover letter. This invaluable feedback allows students to celebrate the things that they have done well, and also gives them tips for how they might improve in the future.
The Economics and Personal Finance course is part of the Career and Technical Education program and is a requirement for high school graduation. In addition to fulfilling that requirement, Richards-Lutz explained that Mock Interviews are an important component in preparing students for their futures. “The goal of our Career and Technical Education program is to graduate productive members of society and this is a proven way to prepare our students for their first or next interview,” she said. “I was so proud to see students boost their confidence and refine their interviewing skills. We cannot thank Career Partners, Inc. and Culpeper Economic Development enough for their time and support!”
