Every year, the nonprofit Portland Workforce Alliance teams up with the Portland Human Resource Management Association to organize mock interviews for students at the NW Youth Careers Expo. This is a great opportunity for HR professionals (and other caring adults with interviewing experience) to help teenagers build their interviewing skills and career readiness.

We’re looking to sign up 150 volunteers to do mock interviews and lead short career talks. (Contact Sara Stowe, PWA volunteer committee co-chair, if you want to recommend someone to do a short dynamic “Career Talk” presentation on a topic such as Interviewing Essentials. Materials provided. Her email is: sds.recruiting@gmail.com.)

More than 1,000 students have already registered for mock interviews. These one-on-one conversations are among the most popular and valuable parts of the annual NW Youth Careers Expo, the Northwest’s largest career-education experience for high school students. Exhibitors at the Expo include the region’s leading employers in every major sector, as well as community colleges, apprenticeship training centers and four-year universities.

Check out our 2019 Expo photo gallery and watch our quick Expo highlight video made by PPS students from Wilson High School.

Did you know?

PWA also works year-round to recruit HR volunteers and facilitate mock interviews and resume workshops at Portland-area high schools, working in close partnership with the Portland HR Management Association. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about year-round volunteering options for you or your colleagues.

Why volunteer?

Help Oregon schools: Did you know Oregon has one of the nation’s lowest graduation rates, and a below-average college completion rate?

Support young people: Whether students are thriving or struggling in school, most need assistance developing their confidence and oral communication skills.

Give back to your community: Help students learn best practices for job search, networking, and interview/resume skill building.

Rejuvenate: Many HR professionals have volunteered at the Expo for many years. It’s an energizing day and a great opportunity to connect with young people who are full of potential.

Volunteers: Please find mock interview resources and materials here.