At The Fortune Society, the Employment Services (ES) program offers numerous services to help participants pursue and achieve their professional goals. Through soft-skills workshops, sector-based skills training, and support from Fortune staff, the ES program equips participants with the tools necessary to thrive in their careers.   

 Interview preparation is a fundamental piece of the ES program, helping job seekers develop the confidence needed to succeed during the job search. To prepare participants for the application and interview process, Fortune volunteers conduct mock interviews, offering guidance on answering challenging questions and proper interview etiquette.    

One mock interview volunteer, Jim, began working with ES in 2021 after a lengthy career as a marketing professional which has continued as a mentor for small business entrepreneurs and nonprofits. For Fortune he draws from his extensive professional expertise to prepare participants for job searches in various industries.

“I’d say the ES program is a growth experience not only for the participants but for me personally.  You get tremendous thanks from the participants, and I love having the opportunity to help one-on-one.”

During the job search, participants can expect to face some difficult questions. For example, “Tell me about yourself?” or “Were you ever convicted of a crime?” can be particularly challenging. Volunteers ask these tough questions during mock interviews to help participants become more comfortable talking about themselves and build confidence. Through repetition and interviewing with several volunteers, participants practice and refine their answers. 

Participants are encouraged to approach each mock interview as though attending a job interview in their anticipated field. The ES expert staff teach a proven effective curriculum to highlight credentials and background relating to the job they are applying for. Participants are also instructed by ES staff to come up with a list of hard and soft skills to emphasize during a job interview. 

After each mock interview, participants are evaluated based on a Fortune formula. Volunteers grade everyone from one to three on critical points such as eye contact and body language, understanding of the role they are interviewing for, and how they answered and segued from the question about their conviction history. 

Alongside his role as a mock interview volunteer, Jim coaches some of the ES participants. Interview coaching allows Jim more time to offer specific advice and support. He works with people to craft answers to interview questions based on each participant’s unique career goals.

“During the coaching session we often get involved in terms of advice about their careers. Sometimes, people will say they want to do something different than their previous job or experience. We’ll talk about their goals, and then we will talk about opportunities that may be available to them.”  

Jim enjoys giving back through volunteering at Fortune and feels inspired by the determination he sees in the participants.  As a volunteer, he finds it a privilege to contribute to the participants’ success.  

If you are interested in volunteering at The Fortune Society, see our open positions here.