Page 7 - Sanger Herald 4-12-18 E-edition

SANGER HERALD 7A THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018
The senior exit interview tradition goes high tech
Herald staff report
What started many years ago as a joint project of Sanger High School and the Sanger Rotary Club has expanded to include community leaders, the Sanger Woman's Club, Sanger Community Task Force and administrators and staff of the Sanger Unified School District.
The more than 700 mandatory senior exit interviews con- ducted Tuesday are designed to remove some of the fear and anxiety from the job interview process.
For years they were done, a few at a time, from January through March solely by members of the Sanger Rotary Club. Then Rotary and the high school decided to get the inter-
views over with much quicker in just a day or two.
A logistics problem was solved by recruiting outside the
Rotary Club for interviewers.
The new system worked well.
About 60 volunteers — mostly professional types with lots
of experience — went 17 rounds with about 730 high school seniors on Tuesday. And those were 15-minute rounds.
Grueling? Not so much, according to those who took part in Sanger High's senior exit interviews. But they are must- pass to graduate. And the seniors dressed formally and gave it their best.
"They were good," said Aaron Abeytia, news reporter at KMJ Radio in Fresno, a Sanger High graduate and one of the interviewers. "A number of kids admittedly were unprepared, and there were a number of kids who knew where they were going." One in the latter camp was Jazleny Maldonado, who said she wasn't stressed in the least. "It was a breeze," she said. Omreep Mander, Apache soccer standout, also had a plan. He said he's already been working a couple of months at an accounting firm, getting a leg up on his chosen college major. "You've got to be confident," he said. Mander wore
Photos by Mike Nemeth/Sanger Herald
High school senior Omreep Mander is dressed for business dur- ing his senior exit interview.
an impeccably tailored suit. He said his goals are to get an education and be successful. He said it also helps that he likes numbers. Each senior was asked six questions, and the interviews were done in two sessions — morning and afternoon.
Thomas Soto, deputy principal, oversaw the operation, which ran with quiet precision.
The Sanger Rotary Club has been involved in the program since it was started in 1996 by Rotarian Rita Evans. Evans said she attended a Rotary district conference where she was impressed by the interview program the Kerman Rotary Club had started.
“Sanger Rotary wanted to start a program with Sanger High School and the high school wanted to get a senior exit program going,” Evans said. “It was a perfect marriage.”
In the early years of the program students were not re- quired to participate; now their diplomas depend on it. They are also given specific guidelines about how to put together their portfolios.
“By having this program students learn what an inter- viewer is looking for, how to be prompt and how to dress properly,” Evans said. “We are giving them the proper tools for their future.”
Community leaders who were involved for the first time three years ago praised the project and asked to be included this year.
"This is a much better way to do the interviews, rather than to spread them out over a couple of months," said Super- intendent Matt Navo.
Students have been getting ready for this interview since their freshman year. They are advised to show up on time, dress professionally, have organized portfolios, maintain eye contact, speak in a clear voice, smile and have a confident at- titude, said Soto.
The portfolios, now presented on iPads showing highlights from the students websites, are like resumes, reflecting strengths and accomplishments and showing off their best school and volunteer work. Portfolios show the wide range of interests and community involvement of Sanger High School seniors. The portfolios have been graded by English teachers before the interview.
The purpose of the interview is to help students experi- ence a 'Real World' interview in order to be prepared for similar interviews when it's time to look for a job or talk to college recruiters, said Evans.
Seniors are provided with a list of ways to prepare for the interview:
• Wear a solid-color conservative suit with a coordinated shirt or blouse.
• Wear conservative shoes.
• Keep hair well groomed and neat.
• Wear little perfume or cologne.
• Wear moderate jewelry.
• Make sure your outfit fits correctly before wearing it to
your interview.
Photos by Mike Nemeth/Sanger Herald
High school senior Matthew Macias is obviously nailing his se- nior exit interview.
• Have nothing in your mouth during your interview - gum!!
• Bring a note pad and pen to take valuable tips from the interviewer.
They are told the real key is to keep cool and be confident. Students who don't show up on time have to reschedule. The reaction from the students to the new format has been
very positive.
"They all seem happy to get in and get it over with," said
Evans.
"This is just another one of the many very relevant pro-
grams of Sanger Rotary," said Rotary Club President Gina
Photos by Mike Nemeth/Sanger Herald
High school senior Jazleny Maldonado, dressed for success, making eye contact during hier senior exit interview.
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