Practice interviews are important for job seekers; they help build confidence and relieve some of the stress that comes from the interviewing process. To help future educators prepare for the process, Millikin University's School of Education held its 5th annual Interview Boot Camp for students on Feb. 28.
More than 20 Millikin graduates, who are now school administrators from across Illinois, came back to campus to donate their day and interview over 30 Millikin seniors. The alumni helped the students prepare for what to expect in actual interviews.
The boot camp was started by a few alumni as a way to give back in their own way to Millikin. One of the alums was Tom Mahoney '90, superintendent of CUSD #220 in Oregon, Ill.
"It's a great opportunity for alumni in the field of education to come back and meet with students, and expose them to what the interview will be like for them," said Mahoney. "We give them three or four opportunities to not only interview with a real administrator but also get immediate feedback on how they can become better and more polished as they enter the workforce."
The boot camp included a panel discussion that covered topics such as what to expect as a first-year teacher and how to take advantage of networking opportunities.