Becky Hassett from Iowa Works, left, conducts a mock job interview with MHS student Jazmin Ibarra on March 8. Ibarra is part of the MHS 4-H Club, which was learning how to develop communication skills for interviews.

Students in the Marshalltown High School 4-H Club were able to sharpen their interview skills in a relaxed setting after school on March 8.

Students took part in mock interviews with local professionals to learn what works and what doesn’t when looking for a job or a scholarship. Interviewers included Becky Hassett and Emily Babinat from Iowa Works, Terri Hungerford from Marshalltown Community College and Sarah Erikson from Emerson/Fisher.

“Students participated in practice interviews to develop communication skills and self-confidence in situations that they would be in during work and scholarship interviews,” said Caleb Carver, a leader of the 4-H group from Iowa State University Extension.

Other leaders of the 4-H group include Karina Hernandez from Mid-Iowa Community Action, Scott Johannes from Marshalltown High School and Samuel Ibarra from Emerson/Fisher.

The MHS 4-H Club was formed to boost higher education aspirations for Latino and Latina youth.  The focus of the 4-H Club is to help youth navigate the pathways to higher education through career development, college tours, networking with community partners and service learning.