A student sits down with NMDWS Secretary Bill McCamley for a mock interview Tuesday at Manzano High School. Photo by Rebecca Sisneros

Students practice responses to common interview questions with business professionals Tuesday at Manzano High School. Photo by Rebecca Sisneros

NMDWS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — As part of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s initiative to increase youth career and college readiness opportunities, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) and New Mexico Workforce Connection are supporting schools around the state in providing mock interview opportunities for students.

Mock It Till You Rock It! is designed to provide students throughout New Mexico with the opportunity to enhance their soft skills, and help reduce the stress and anxiety that may surround a young person during their first interview, whether it’s for college or a career.

In total, 45 schools across New Mexico have registered to host a mock interview event.

“The Governor wants every New Mexican as ready as possible to get a job,” NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Bill McCamley said. “Employers across the state have told us that improving interview skills is one of the biggest things that can help people get employment. The mock interview events will give our students a huge boost in being able to find and keep a career. It’s so important that I will be, and have been, personally part of the interviewing teams at several schools across the state.”

NMDWS has provided schools with a toolkit to help them plan, prepare, and host a mock interview event for their students. Some schools are working in partnership with their local New Mexico Workforce Connection to locate business professionals to be interviewers.  

Schools are encouraged to hold pre-event workshops to prepare the students with resume building activities, interview skill building, and professionalism classes.

A list of participating schools can be found here.