{"id":3561,"date":"2024-12-19T14:24:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T22:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols-redesign-dev\/2024\/12\/19\/self-determination-class-turns-the-tables-on-interviewing\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T14:32:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T21:32:16","slug":"self-determination-class-turns-the-tables-on-interviewing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/2024\/12\/19\/self-determination-class-turns-the-tables-on-interviewing\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Determination Class Turns the Tables on Interviewing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p>This fall, OLS Bellevue College (OLSBC) students in the Self-Determination in the Workplace course stepped into the role of interviewers, experiencing the other side of an interview for the first time. This course focuses on key workplace skills, including understanding coworker dynamics, workplace social norms, and the rights and laws that protect employees. Through this unique activity, students practiced essential skills that will help them succeed in future interviews and internships.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper aligncenter\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing1.jpg\" alt=\"OLS students pose with job applications at the mall.\" class=\"wp-image-4928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing1.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing1-232x174.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p>While OLSBC students are familiar with mock interviews and being interviewed, this assignment flipped the script. As interviewers, the students visited a local mall to interview employees at three different stores. They prepared their questions in advance and took the lead during the conversations. This exercise pushed students out of their comfort zones, building their confidence and empowering them to take charge in a new role.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-row row\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-column col-md\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing2.jpg\" alt=\"OLS students seek out job opportunities at the mall.\" class=\"wp-image-4929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing2.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing2-232x174.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-column col-md\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing3.jpg\" alt=\"OLS students seek out job interview opportunities at the mall.\" class=\"wp-image-4930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing3.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2025\/07\/interviewing3-232x174.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Students Had To Say About the Activity<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p><strong>Q: How do you think this helped Activity could help you prepare for Mock Interviews in the Spring?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><br>A: Because they are both interviews and helps know how they work.&nbsp;<em>&#8211; Anonymous<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p><strong>Q: Did you feel confident going into this Activity? <\/strong><br>A: No. I stepped outside my&nbsp;comfort zone, but I would do it again.&nbsp; <em>&#8211; Ryan<\/em><br>A: I did a little bit before. But after I felt more.&nbsp;<em>&#8211; Anonymous<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p><strong>Q: What skills did you use from OLSBC classes to take part in this Community Activity?&nbsp;<\/strong><br>A: Some of the skills that I used from OLS classes last year and the year before to take&nbsp;part in the activity yesterday were being more professional by dressing up in&nbsp;professional clothing, learning to communicate with employees in Communication in the Workplace, and practicing mock interviews in an office with one employer who is not part of the Bellevue College community. <em>&#8211; Calvin<\/em><br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p><strong>Q: When you were done did you feel more or less confident?&nbsp;<\/strong><br>A: When I was done, I felt more confident.&nbsp;<em>&#8211; Anonymous<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p><strong>Q: Was it hard or easy to find people to interview?&nbsp;<\/strong><br>A: It was a mix of both easy and hard. <em>&#8211; Ben<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Self-Determination in the Workplace Course<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p>Self-Determination in the Workplace is taken in the third year of the OLSBC program and is one of the many&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/discover\/curriculum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">courses students take<\/a>&nbsp;to earn their associate degree. Students in this course study methods for advocating for themselves in a professional environment during an interview, how to ask for accommodations, and ask for help as needed. The course includes learning interviewing skills both in group and one-on-one situations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Occupational &amp; Life Skills Bellevue College<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/\" target=\"_blank\">Occupational &amp; Life Skills Bellevue College (OLSBC)<\/a>&nbsp;is an associate degree program for students with learning disabilities. In our uniquely supportive skills-based program, students apply academic knowledge through community activities, service learning and social experiences. Students identify a career pathway, gain marketable, workplace-ready competencies, develop better interpersonal skills and complete an internship in alignment with their career goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p>Learn more about our program at an upcoming&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/application-process\/information-sessions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Information Session<\/a>, open to all prospective students, family members\/guardians, educators, counselors and other service providers. Come learn why OLS Bellevue College is one of the best colleges for students with learning disabilities.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/2024\/12\/10\/olsbc-environment-course-visit-gates-foundation-discovery-center-exhibit\/&amp;display=popup&amp;ref=plugin&amp;src=share_button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"block-wrapper alignstandard\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This fall, OLS Bellevue College (OLSBC) students in the Self-Determination in the Workplace course stepped into the role of interviewers, experiencing the other side of an interview for the first&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1276,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-course-student-stories"],"acf":{"summary":"Self-Determination in the Workplace is a course that focuses on key workplace skills that help students succeed in future interviews and internships.","featured_media_type":"image_horizontal","featured_image_horizontal":"","featured_image_vertical":"","featured_video_url":"","caption":"","author_override":"Maile Allen","contact":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1276"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3561"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4941,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3561\/revisions\/4941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/ols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}