Williams Helps Start Employment Readiness Class for High School Students

MAY 28, 2025|

Photo – A high school senior practices interview process – Courtesy City of Rawlins

Rawlins high school seniors participated in mock job interviews to improve their employment readiness.

Over four days last month, Rawlins High School students learned how to write resumes and prepare for job interviews. The exercise was designed to improve their ability to find jobs after graduating.

Bigfoot99 sat down with Williams Echo Springs Operations Supervisor Katie Smith and Rawlins High School Career and Technical Educator Heidi Helm to discuss the initiative.

Williams Operations Supervisor Katie Smith explained that before the COVID-19 pandemic, she interviewed hundreds of candidates for each open position at her company. However, after COVID hit, she noticed a sharp decline in applicants. During this time, Smith realized that many people, both young and old, seemed to have lost their ability to handle job interviews.

Smith said applicants struggled with experience-based questions, where they were asked to describe their leadership and problem-solving skills.

Smith said she decided to hire two Rawlins High School graduates, despite their poor interview performance. Those applicants ended up being great additions to the Williams team, leading Smith to determine that they simply lacked job interview experience.

Smith approached Rawlins High School Career and Technical Educator Heidi Helm about conducting mock job interviews to better prepare students for employment after graduation. Smith said Helm immediately saw the value of the initiative.

Beginning on Monday, April 21st, Helm devoted four days of her Senior Intervention and Enrichment classes to job readiness.

On the first day, Wyoming Workforce Services taught students how to craft a resume. Helm said the remaining days were focused on interview preparation and practice.

Approximately 40 high school seniors participated in mock interviews with representatives from more than 10 local entities, including Williams, HF Sinclair, and Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. After each interview, the student was given both verbal and written feedback from the interviewer.

Helm said she plans to hold another mock interview event next year, expanding it to include high school juniors as well as seniors. The Career and Technical Educator said she appreciated that Wyoming Workforce Services taught students how to prepare a resume. However, she wished the students had the opportunity to put that instruction into practice.

Additionally, Helm said she would like to set aside more time for the mock interviews next year, as not all students had the opportunity to participate.

Williams Echo Springs Operations Supervisor Katie Smith said she is working with Carbon County Higher Education Center Executive Director Jennifer Moore to offer a similar class for adults.

Career and Technical Educator Helm thanked Smith and all the industry partners who helped with the initiative.