Recently, CareerConnect hosted a mock interview event designed to help individuals improve their interviewing skills by providing a simulated interview experience. During the event, participants were paired up with business professionals who were the interviewers. The interviewer asked a series of common interview questions, and the interviewee responded as they would in a real interview. After each interview, the mentor provided feedback to the student on what they did well and what they could improve upon. The event also included tips for successful interviews, such as how to prepare for an interview, how to answer common interview questions and how to make a positive impression.
“I think this event helped me get a sense of how to improve my answers to typical interview questions, as well as grasp what the typical process looks like,” said Lucas Chen, grade 9. “This way, I have a better understanding when I’m actually being interviewed and will perform better.”
Interviewers and interviewees were both engaged in the process, making it a beneficial experience for all students. “I really enjoyed this experience, passing down tips and my knowledge down to students,” said interviewer Grace Wu. “It also gave me a sense of what kids are up to these days, and I had lots of fun listening and learning about each students unique aspirations and goals”.
Overall, the goal of the mock interview club event is to provide participants with a safe and supportive environment in which they can practice and improve their interviewing skills, ultimately increasing their chances of success in future job interviews.
Last week, CareerConnect, Harker’s student-run networking and career preparation program, led a leadership workshop featuring Helen Zhu ’21, who discussed journalism leadership and clubs at Harker, and Avi Gulati ‘20, who talked about the student council and volunteering in high school. Both alumni shared their experiences in finding their passions in high school, experiencing new classes and clubs, and being involved in student leadership.
Claire Cheng, a freshman who attended the session said, “I think that the event was very interesting, because I learned how two successful Harker students were able to navigate their way through high school and obtain leadership positions even in college.”
The workshop was intended to help guide grade 9 students to explore new opportunities, electives and extracurriculars before they settle. Organizers strove to make the experience memorable for the freshmen and sophomores who attended, but also the alumni speakers. “Even though I was halfway across the country from the upper school campus, it was really heartwarming to be able to see the freshman and sophomores in the classrooms through the Zoom screen,” Zhu said. “I was so glad to be able to give back to the Harker community and I really hope the attendees learned something new!”
On Oct. 27, CareerConnect brought nine students on a day trip to Constellation Research’s three-day Connected Enterprise business conference, held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Half Moon Bay, to help them better understand what is currently happening in the business world as well as what is predicted to happen in the future. The participants heard from many highly qualified speakers, many of whom are executives in Fortune 500 companies including Amazon and Salesforce. The students learned about the applications of technology and business models in various industries.
One of the notable speakers was Colin Bryer, a former executive at Amazon as well as the author of “Working Backwards,” which provides an inside perspective on the methodology and culture of Amazon. He discussed his experiences working closely with Jeff Bezos and how businesses like Amazon plan for the long term. Another was Geeta Nayyar, the executive medical director at Salesforce, who described the technological changes in the medical industry as a result of COVID-19.
Overall, the trip was a success and provided inspiration for students interested in business. When asked what he wanted the students to gain from Connected Enterprise, R “Ray” Wang, Constellation’s founder and CEO, explained that he wished for all the students to “see what trends are happening and meet people.” He further elaborated that everyone at the conference was approachable and happy to give advice to the students. Sophomore Claire Miao, reflecting on the benefits of the event, commented, “I thought it was a great experience to meet industry professionals that are at the top of their industry. All of the talks were great, and everyone had a topic to listen to that they were interested in. I also had so much fun at the hotel to see the views.”
The trip proved to be a valuable experience for the attendees, with the nine Harker students networking with new people and gaining a more comprehensive understanding of how the business world works.
CareerConnect recently hosted a speaker panel to help students better understand how small businesses have transitioned from the pandemic. On March 5, Susan Dworak and Andre van der Bergh shared their insights on business management and how their companies have pivoted due to COVID-19.
Dworak is the CEO of ID Training, a startup that helps companies and government agencies verify identity. She discussed how her company adjusted the target market and business model to tailor more to individuals and also the future of identification. Meanwhile, van der Bergh, who is the founder of Team ID, introduced his company that offers business education through simulations. He shared the importance of listening to customers and transitioning the curriculum to online modules. In addition, both speakers answered many questions from students, giving insights into managing a startup and the importance of continual innovation.
The event gave students a deeper understanding of the many facets businesses have to consider in light of the pandemic. One student recalled an anecdote that Dworak introduced, “I found it interesting that an incident as small as an underage person ordering an alcoholic drink with a fake ID could lead to significant consequences like the employee being held accountable, which accentuates the importance of distinguishing between a real and fake ID,” said Kevin Zhang, grade 9. Junior Ysabel Chen commented that, “The event was enlightening because it shows just how far the impact of the pandemic reached and how we can’t always control everything, but we should do our best for what we can control.”
In all, the speaker panel was a rewarding experience for students, with everyone gaining a more comprehensive understanding of business operations and decision-making in these challenging times.
On Sept. 25, CareerConnect held a Harker alumni panel via Zoom. Three alumni, Haley Tran ’17, Lucas Wang ’17 and Vignesh Panchanatham ’18, talked about things students should know before graduating from high school. They discussed founding and joining clubs, finding summer opportunities, their college experiences and more. In addition, they answered many questions from students.
“This event helped me learn more about the little niches in school and outside of school to do before graduating high school,” said Jessica Zhou, grade 10, commented. “Fostering a connection with teachers in the subjects you are interested in can help you down the road when doing events or projects related to it and making sure to do what you enjoy is extremely important.”
The event was a great success and helped students learn about how to get involved in the Harker community and make the most of high school!
On Sept. 25, CareerConnect held a Harker alumni panel via Zoom. Three alumni – Haley Tran ’17, Lucas Wang ’17 and Vignesh Panchanatham ’18 – talked about things that students should know before graduating high school. They discussed founding and joining clubs, finding summer opportunities, their college experiences and more. In addition, they answered many questions from students, giving insights into what to know before graduating high school and ways to learn more about topics professionally.
In all, the event was a success and gave students a chance to learn more about how to take advantage of all the opportunities Harker has to offer. “This event helped me learn more about the little niches in school and outside of school to do before graduating high school,” said Jessica Zhou, grade 10. “Fostering a connection with teachers in the subjects you are interested in can help you down the road when doing events or projects related to it and making sure to do what you enjoy is extremely important.”