The agricultural industry desperately needs individuals who are prepared for the workforce. Moreover, there is a drastic need to support employee development so qualified applicants are not only applying for positions but can also thrive once hired. One element of preparing students for the workforce is training in interviewing and interpersonal communication skills. Guided by the most common interview questions published by Indeed.com, we used a popular culture analogy via Netflix reels to help students (n = 144) in [Course] at [University] brainstorm life experiences and prepare for future job interviews. We started by asking students to develop a Netflix “trailer” of life events by brainstorming notable experiences and drafting them on a worksheet to summarize a concise and accurate response for the most common interview question, “Tell me about yourself.” We then asked students to summarize pivotal moments into Netflix “episodes” that showcased germane work experiences and skills mentioned in the respective job postings. We designed these episodes to help students connect previous life experiences to anticipated interview questions to develop confidence in relating their experiences to the employer’s desired skills. We also encouraged students to think critically and elaborate on life experiences to make meaningful connections to the employer’s mission statement and core values. This activity targeted multiple learning styles by allowing students to write and draw their experiences, which also helped foster confidence and creativity in the interviewing process. As a result, we recommend allowing ample time for students to brainstorm. If needed, allow students to complete the assignment as homework where they can look through photos, visit with family members, and evaluate takeaways from lived experiences. We also recommend encouraging students to map connections in listings before completing the exercise, so they can better identify relevant experiences to share in an interview.
10135 100 St NW
Edmonton AB T5J 0N7
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Greg Brooks, New Mexico State University
Trevor Rawdon, New Mexico State University
Taylor Rodriguez, New Mexico State University
Shannon Norris-Parish, New Mexico State University