Taking 'steps to success' in the business community

I recently had the opportunity to prepare a few local high school students for future job interviews they no doubt will encounter shortly after graduation.

Amity Shedd

The Southeast Missouri State University College Access program hosted a Step-to-Success conference for Cape Girardeau Central High School students in early April. The conference provided an opportunity for students to sharpen their interview skills with community professionals.

we judged students not only on their ability to answer questions commonly asked during interviews, but also on their appearance, how they presented themselves and the quality of their answers.

Most, if not all, the interviewers were impressed with the students. Handshakes could have been stronger, some eye contact could have been more frequent, and a few needed their confidence pulled up to the surface a little bit. But overall, the students brought their A-game, and some could have been hired that day if we really were looking for employees.

One of the students I interviewed came from a background of numerous moves and school transfers. She aspired to be a pediatrician. She was quiet, but I could tell that confidence was in her. Then I asked her why she wanted to be pediatrician, and I knew she had nothing to worry about.

Without hesitation, she told me about her sister being in and out of the hospital when they were younger, and that she had just learned how to help a friend coping with the loss of a child. My student knew what she wanted, why she wanted it, and she knew she had it in herself to do it.

One of the only pieces of advice I gave her was to not to be so nervous. Future employers are people, too. They will ask questions, she will answer them, and the two of them will have a conversation -- something everyone can do.

As the students will learn, working to better your professional self doesn't stop after you are hired. For this issue of Business Today, we took a look at how businesses can improve what they do though marketing and hiring.

ashedd@semissourian.com