Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Hosts Mock Interviews for More then 330 Students

This Fall, the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District (ISD) conducted mock interviews for more than 330 students with the help of 80 community volunteers. Students from both Colleyville Heritage High and Grapevine High showed off the professional skills they have developed over the past year, including clear communication and critical thinking.

“This event was primarily for juniors and seniors who have completed our soft skills curriculum,” said Dr. Stephanie Speaks, Director of Career and Technical Education for the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. “By the time they sit for the mock interview, they have experience developing resumes, creating elevator pitches, and providing cohesive answers.”

The event is designed to provide students with job interview experience in a low-stress environment, where they can receive constructive feedback, strengthening students and businesses across the Grapevine community. 

Students Sit for 20-Minute Interviews with Local Volunteers

The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD strives to create a real-world environment for students during the interview process. Each volunteer comes from a professional background, and many are used to hiring or evaluating candidates. This allows them to provide detailed feedback to each student.

“In the real world, you don’t get much feedback after a job interview,” said Speaks. “You either get the job or you don’t. Very few interviewers offer constructive criticism either way. These mock interviews allow for detailed feedback that students can apply in the future.”  

Nicole Lyons, Executive Director of Communications for the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, who volunteered to interview students, says she noticed a difference between older and younger students. The seniors carried themselves more confidently and spoke more clearly than the underclassmen who participated in this experience. This highlights how a few more years of intentional instruction and experience can make a difference. Lyons also says that these seniors might have been more confident because they participated in mock interviews before or attended real-life interviews as they reached working age.  

Students Applied What They Learned in the Classroom

Educators across the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD teach soft skills alongside their core coursework. Soft skills development is part of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards.

“We teach soft skills in a robust way where students have true know-how,” says Lyons. “It’s one thing to learn about them, but we want students to implement these ideas and assets successfully.”

The emphasis on soft skills comes from community feedback, with the District modifying curriculum in response to comments from employers. Teachers also play a significant role in making students career-ready by honing skills like problem-solving and communication.

According to Speaks, self-reflection is a large part of soft skill development. Students need to understand themselves and be honest about their strengths and weaknesses. Once again, this is why the mock interview feedback is so valuable. A student might not have a clear picture of how they present themselves or how they can improve until someone points it out. 

Community Volunteers Were Impressed

While the mock interviews are an opportunity for students to flex their skills, they also provide volunteers with a chance to see what Grapevine’s next generation is like. The interviewers were business leaders in the region, and many were members of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, Grapevine Young Professionals, or Leadership Grapevine.  

Overall, many community members were impressed with the participating students. In an email to Speaks, Dave Custable at TriVAN Roofing shared, “I was so impressed with your students and this event, I can’t stop talking about it.”

Eddy Alaniz, Partnership Manager at Edmentum, also had a good experience. “It truly was such a pleasure to be part of this incredible event,” he says. “Seeing the students’ energy, growth, and professionalism was inspiring, and I’m so grateful I had the chance to contribute.”

Lyons says opportunities to get involved in the school district bust the “kids these days” myth that passes from one generation to the next.

“It gives them a renewed sense that the younger generation is prepared and more impressive than the world of social media might make them think,” she explains. “Educators continue to move the needle and leave our world better than we found it.”

The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD plans to run another round of mock interviews in January. Local businesses looking to get involved can contact the school district or follow it on social media for event announcements. 

Economic Development Creates Jobs for Successful Students

The educators and administrators at Grapevine-Colleyville ISD are preparing their students to succeed after graduation. Organizations like Grapevine Economic Development build up businesses and attract new organizations so graduates can step into exciting roles. This partnership between the schools and economic development teams will help the next generation in Grapevine (and future generations) thrive.

Learn more about what we’ve been up to and how economic development makes Grapevine a place where ISD graduates want to stay.