Module 03 — Employment & Job Readiness
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Module 03 of 08  ·  2-Hour Facilitator Guide  ·  Ages 16–24

Employment & Job Readiness Workshop

Prepares AMB participants for the workforce — resume building, mock interviews, professional appearance, and action steps.

15–30 Participants 2 Hours Halftime or Standalone Employment Component
  Ready to Facilitate Employment Component  ·  MBL Program™
Training Video — Module 03 Slideshow Presentation
AMB Facilitator Training Video  ·  Module 03

Employment & Job Readiness Workshop — Facilitator Walkthrough

9 Slides ~8 min
Association of Midnight Basketball
Employment & Job Readiness Workshop
Module 03  ·  2-Hour Facilitator Guide  ·  Ages 16–24
15–30
Participants
2 Hours
Session Length
Halftime or Standalone
Format
Workshop Overview
Preparing Youth for the Workforce
This workshop equips AMB participants with the real-world skills, documents, and confidence they need to enter the job market and start building their careers.
Resume Building
3 template levels
Mock Interviews
Peer practice
Professional Appearance
Dress for success
Action Steps
Leave with a plan
Before You Begin
Materials Checklist
Prepare these items before the session begins. Print enough for all participants.
  • Sample Resumes — 3 printed templates: entry level, no experience, some experience
  • Job Application Forms — Blank standard job application per participant
  • Dress Code Visual Guide — Professional vs. casual visual comparison sheet
  • Local Job Fair / Employer List — Current hiring businesses in your area
  • Pens & Folders — One folder per participant to keep their materials
Session Agenda
2-Hour Workshop Breakdown
0:00–0:15
Icebreaker "What's your dream job?" — open discussion, set energy
0:15–0:45
Resume Building Walk 3 templates, participants draft their own
0:45–1:15
Mock Interviews Pair participants, rotate common interview questions
1:15–1:35
Professional Appearance Dress code discussion, what employers look for
1:35–2:00
Action Steps Complete job application, distribute employer list & next steps
Segment 1  ·  0:15 – 0:45
Resume Building
Template 1 — Entry Level
No work historyFocus on skills, sports, volunteer work, school activities. Emphasize reliability and willingness to learn.
Template 2 — No Experience
First-time job seekerCommunity involvement, character references, AMB participation as relevant experience.
Template 3 — Some Experience
Part-time / seasonal workBuild achievements into bullet points. Use numbers: "Served 50+ customers daily."
✦ Facilitator Tip Walk through each template on screen. Have participants identify which template fits them best before they start writing.
Segment 2  ·  0:45 – 1:15
Mock Interviews
Pair participants — one plays the applicant, one plays the employer. Rotate after 10 minutes.
Q 01
"Tell me about yourself."
Q 02
"Why do you want to work here?"
Q 03
"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
Q 04
"Describe a time you solved a problem."
Q 05
"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
TIP
Debrief after each rotation — what went well? What felt awkward?
Segment 3  ·  1:15 – 1:35
Professional Appearance
Employers make a first impression in seconds. Dress code matters — even for entry-level jobs.
Do Wear
Clean, pressed clothes that fit well
Closed-toe shoes in good condition
Minimal jewelry and fragrance
Neat hair and clean hygiene
Avoid
Ripped jeans, graphic tees, hoodies
Visible underwear or baggy clothing
Strong cologne / perfume
Headphones in or hat during interview
Segment 4  ·  1:35 – 2:00
Action Steps
Close the session with a concrete next step for every participant. No one leaves empty-handed.
  • Complete a Job Application — Fill out a real blank form during the session to practice accuracy and handwriting
  • Employer List — Each participant receives a printed list of local employers currently hiring, with contact info
  • Personal Next Step Card — Each person writes down ONE action they will take this week toward employment
  • Follow-Up Date — Set a check-in date (2 weeks) to report back on applications submitted
Follow-Up & Resources
Connect Every Participant
Don't let momentum stop here. Connect participants to partners and track outcomes in AMB's case management system.
American Job Centers
Free training, GED & job placement services
You & Five-0
AMB partner — community police program
Local Workforce Development
City/county offices & One-Stop Career Centers
Case Management
Track employment outcomes in AMB system
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Employment Resume Building Mock Interviews Professional Appearance Required for facilitators

What You'll Cover

  • Running an icebreaker effectively
  • Walking through 3 resume templates
  • Facilitating mock interview pairs
  • Teaching professional dress standards
  • Closing with concrete action steps
  • Connecting youth to workforce partners

Session Timer

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Facilitated By

AMB Chapter Director or Employment Coach
Association of Midnight Basketball
Employment & Life Skills Component  ·  MBL Program™

Facilitator Guide — Full Workshop Reference
2 hrs
Total Duration
15–30
Participants
16–24
Age Range
5
Session Segments
3
Resume Templates
5
Interview Questions
Materials Checklist
Prepare before the session — click items to mark complete
  • Sample resumes — 3 templates: entry level, no experience, some experience (print 1 set per participant)
  • Job application forms — 1 blank standard application per participant
  • Dress code visual guide — professional vs. casual side-by-side comparison sheet
  • Local job fair / employer list — current businesses hiring in your community
  • Pens and folders — one folder per participant to collect all materials
Tip: Prepare folders in advance with the resume templates, application form, and employer list already inside — hand one to each participant at the start of the session so materials are ready to go.
Session Segments — Step-by-Step Facilitation
1
Icebreaker — "What's Your Dream Job?"
0:00 – 0:15 (15 min) Build energy, set tone Full group
  • 1
    Welcome participants and introduce yourself as the facilitator. Briefly explain what today's workshop will cover and why employment skills matter.
  • 2
    Go around the room — each person answers: "What's your dream job, and why?" Keep it moving, 20–30 seconds per person.
  • 3
    After everyone answers, draw connections: "Notice how many of us said [common theme] — all of those jobs require the skills we're going to practice today."
  • 4
    Set ground rules: stay positive, support each other during mock interviews, no phones during interview practice, folders stay open on desks.
  • 5
    Distribute folders. Tell participants everything inside is theirs to keep.
If the group is slow to open up, share your own dream job first — vulnerability leads. Use humor to break tension but keep it professional.
2
Resume Building — 3 Templates
0:15 – 0:45 (30 min) Hands-on drafting Individual + group
  • 1
    Hold up or display Template 1 — Entry Level (No Work History). Walk through each section: name/contact, objective, skills, activities/sports/volunteering, references.
  • 2
    Show Template 2 — No Experience. Explain how AMB participation itself is relevant: "Being here, showing up, working as a team — that's on your resume."
  • 3
    Show Template 3 — Some Experience. Demonstrate how to turn job duties into achievement bullet points using numbers: "Served 50+ customers daily," "Stocked 200+ items per shift."
  • 4
    Ask each participant to identify which template fits them. Hands up or verbal. Now give them 10 minutes to start filling in their template.
  • 5
    Circulate the room. Help any participant who is stuck. Ask questions: "What are you good at?" "Have you ever helped someone?" "Do you play any sports?"
Many participants will underestimate their experience. Help them see that babysitting a sibling, helping neighbors, or being a team captain all count. Reframe life skills as work skills.
3
Mock Interviews — Peer Pairs
0:45 – 1:15 (30 min) Role play Paired
  • 1
    Pair participants. If odd number, create one group of three — the third person observes and gives feedback.
  • 2
    Explain the format: Person A is the applicant, Person B is the employer. Employer asks the 5 questions on the sheet; applicant answers as if in a real interview.
  • 3
    Run round 1 — 8 minutes. Call time. Quick debrief: "What felt good? What felt awkward?"
  • 4
    Switch roles — now Person B is the applicant. Run round 2 — 8 minutes. Call time and debrief again.
  • 5
    Full group debrief (5 min): What was the hardest question? What answer surprised you from your partner? Facilitator provides 2–3 model answers for the toughest questions.
Model a mock interview yourself first — do one "bad" answer (eyes down, mumbling, "I dunno") then a "great" answer (confident, specific, smiling). The contrast is memorable and energizes the room.
4
Professional Appearance — Dress for the Job
1:15 – 1:35 (20 min) Visual guide discussion Full group
  • 1
    Display or distribute the Dress Code Visual Guide. Walk through the "Professional" vs. "Casual/Avoid" columns side by side.
  • 2
    Ask the group: "Have any of you ever been judged by what you were wearing before you even opened your mouth?" Let 2–3 participants share briefly.
  • 3
    Discuss what employers look for beyond clothing: firm handshake, eye contact, sitting up straight, putting phones away, arriving 5 minutes early.
  • 4
    Cover the "budget-friendly professional" message: thrift stores, community closet programs, ironing basics. Looking professional does not require expensive clothes.
  • 5
    Remind participants: "Your resume gets you the interview. How you show up gets you the job."
If your chapter has an AMB community closet or can connect participants to one, mention it now. Barrier removal (access to appropriate clothing) is often what stands between a young person and employment.
5
Action Steps — Leave with a Plan
1:35 – 2:00 (25 min) Completion Individual
  • 1
    Distribute the Job Application Form from each participant's folder. Everyone fills one out completely — this is practice for the real thing.
  • 2
    Point out common mistakes: leaving blanks instead of writing "N/A," sloppy handwriting, no references prepared. Walk through each section.
  • 3
    Give each participant the Local Employer List. Go through 3–4 employers together — what they do, where they're located, what entry-level positions are available.
  • 4
    Ask every participant to write down ONE action they will take this week on the back of their folder: apply online, visit a business, update their resume, call a reference.
  • 5
    Close: "You walked in today without a resume. You're leaving with one. That's already further than you were two hours ago." Set a 2-week check-in reminder in AMB's case management system.
Record each participant's "one action" commitment in the AMB case management system. Follow up at the next session to celebrate wins and troubleshoot any barriers.
Key Interview Questions to Practice
Q 01
"Tell me about yourself."
Coach participants to give a 30–60 second answer covering: who they are, what they've done (school/activities/work), and why they're interested in this job. No life story — stay relevant and positive.
Q 02
"Why do you want to work here?"
Encourage research beforehand. Even a simple answer like "I shop here and I like how the staff treats customers" shows awareness. Avoid "Because I need money" as the only answer.
Q 03
"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
Strengths: pick 2 relevant to the job. Weaknesses: pick something real but show self-awareness — "I sometimes take on too much, but I'm learning to ask for help earlier." Never say "I have no weaknesses."
Q 04
"Describe a time you solved a problem."
Teach the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Any real-life example works — it doesn't need to be from a job. A sports story, family situation, or school project counts.
Q 05
"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
Employers want to see ambition + stability. A good answer shows both: "I'd like to grow with this company and develop skills in [area]. Long term I want to [goal]." Be honest but forward-looking.
BONUS
Body Language Reminder
Firm handshake. Eye contact (not staring — every 5 seconds is natural). Sit up straight. Smile when appropriate. No phone on the table. Arrive 5 minutes early. Silence your phone before you enter.
Follow-Up & Workforce Partners

Connect participants with local workforce development programs. Track employment outcomes in the AMB case management system. Follow up at every session until employment is secured.

You & Five-0
AMB community police program partner. Bridges the gap between law enforcement and youth — building trust, reducing conflict, and creating pathways to positive community engagement.
Local Workforce Development
Connect youth to city/county workforce development offices, American Job Centers, and One-Stop Career Centers for free training, GED, and job placement services.
AMB Case Management
Log every participant's workshop attendance, resume completion, job applications submitted, and employment outcome in the AMB case management tracking system.
Track Employment Outcomes: Enter each participant's job placement status in the AMB case management system within 30, 60, and 90 days post-workshop. These outcomes feed into AMB's annual impact report and grant compliance documentation.
Module 03 Complete

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