Running through mock interviews is an activity that helps students, especially those without work experience, prepare for job hunting. It also helps young culinarians better understand the hiring manager role.

First, I divide students into groups and give them one of two roles to play during the first interview round, either that of interviewer or interviewee. I created two fictitious businesses and students role play being an interviewee during one round and an interviewer in the next round. They need to be prepared to play their role and know the character’s backstory for both mock interview situations. I encourage them to create prep cards with their information for each role.

By being prepared, I mean they must know their character’s history and must dress and act the part. Prior to the interviews, students turn in three questions for each character. Students on the interview panel should have a logical question order prior to beginning the interview and come to a quick hiring decision at the conclusion, like a real hiring panel. Students acting as applicants must fill out a job application right before the interview, act the part including attire and attitude, and chose to answer or not interview questions. They too must ask questions of their “potential employers.” I also prompt one student to ask an illegal hiring question to see how the other team responds.

Students, with permission, can alter their character. But, it must be preplanned and the other team would be informed of the change.

I have found the interview questions asked to be good questions and ones they may experience during a “real” interview. On the opposite side, as the interviewer, students can grasp what goes into hiring new employees.

It’s a fun activity that you can make as serious or as fun as you want. I use this as a quiz grade in a Human Resource class after we learn about resumes, interviewing, staging, etc. 

Group one attachments:
Business application Watermelon Café
Applicant #1
Applicant #2
Applicant #3
Applicant #4
Watermelon Grill Managers Script

Group two attachments:
Business application Black and Blue
Application #1
Application #2
Application #3
Application #4
Black & Bleu Managers Script

Quiz 2 Guideline
Quiz 2 Rubric

Chef Jennifer M. Denlinger, PhD., CCC, CHEP, is the Culinary Management Program Department Chair at the Poinciana Campus of Valencia College. She is also the vice president of ACF’s Central Florida Chapter. Additionally, Chef Denlinger earned the 2020 Innovation Award, sponsored by CAFÉ and the Idaho Potato Commission, for a creative escape room based on safe food handling procedures. She also earned the 2021 Green Award sponsored by the United Soybean Board and was runner up in 2021 for the Postsecondary Education of the Year sponsored by Sysco Corporation.