Tasks: Sorting books, putting things away, keeping desks neat.
LEVEL C (HARDER)
👑 Boss Script Cues:
👤 Applicant Helpful Tips:
Cut along dotted lines to separate into hand-out cue cards. First Impression Lab Mock Interview Scenarios
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🗣️
The interviewer wants to learn about you. Share your name, your grade, and something positive you enjoy doing.
💪
The boss wants to know what you are good at doing. Talk about being neat, on time, or helpful to teammates.
❓
The interviewer was speaking softly, and you did not understand what they asked. Draft a polite request to repeat it:
🤝
At the end, the boss invites you to ask a question. Write down one great question about the shift times or training:
White response blocks are completely blank to allow comfortable student handwriting. First Impression Lab
“I don't like to gossip or complain. It's not helpful.”
Be professional: focus on your job and treat people with respect. When Plans Change →
SCENARIO 4 Being Flexible
Sometimes at work, plans change. Your shift might shift, or you might be asked to help with a new task.
Take a deep breath and remember: it is normal for tasks to shift. Being helpful makes you a superstar!
If the boss asks you to do a new task:
"Sam, can you help wipe tables instead of sorting boxes today?"
Your response:
"Sure, I can be flexible and help with that!"
Being flexible means saying "Yes, I can try" to safe, new requests. Schedules & Appointments →
SCENARIO 5 Appointments & Days Off
If you have a doctor's appointment or need a day off, you must tell your boss early (ideally 1 to 2 weeks beforehand).
Share your notice:
"Sam, I have a dentist appointment next Thursday, October 15th."
Ask politely:
"Can I please take that afternoon off from work?"
Sharing schedule changes early shows that you are highly responsible! Review Game →
GAME TIME Let's Choose!
Let's make excellent choices on the job!
🤫
Pretending to know how to do a task.
NO - ASK POLITELY!
⏰
Saying "Sure!" when asked to do a different, safe job.
YES - RESPONSIBLE & FLEXIBLE!
💬
Saying: "I don't like to gossip or complain. It's not helpful." when peers complain.
YES - AVOIDS GOSSIP!
🧹
Cleaning up and asking the boss "What's next?"
YES - EXCELLENT WORKER!
Outstanding job! You are ready to work on the job cards! End of Quest • Level Up!
LEVEL 3 (CHALLENGE / LOWEST SUPPORT)
Read the workplace scenario, think of your answer, and draft it on the lines below.
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🧹
You just completed your cleaning job, and there are 2 hours left on your shift. Write down what you would say to your boss:
🔄
The boss says: "The floor is clean, so I need you to help pack bags today instead." Write down a positive, flexible response:
🤐
Another worker whispers to you: "Sam is giving us too many hard tasks." Write down what you can say to politely avoid gossip and complaining:
📅
You have an appointment next Tuesday afternoon. Write down the polite request you would say or write to your boss:
White response blocks are completely blank to allow comfortable student handwriting. Workplace Manners Lab
Worker says: "Sam, my brother graduates on Saturday, June 6th. Can I please have that shift off?"
Manager says: "Thank you for letting me know early! I will get someone to cover you."
0
Your phone buzzes in your pocket during shelf stacking.
Situation: Resist the urge to check it immediately. Keep stacking shelves until break time.
Inner Thought: "My phone is vibrating. I want to check it, but I am stacking glass jars right now."
Action: Leave the phone alone. Wait until break, sit in the breakroom, and check your texts safely.
👥
A customer asks you: "Where are the trash bags?"
Situation: You don't know the answer. Do not say "I don't know" and walk away. Ask a teammate!
Worker says: "I'm not sure, but let me find a coworker to check for you right now."
Teammate says: "Oh, those are down on Aisle 4, right next to the cleaning supplies!"
💪
Your legs are very tired, but your shift has 1 hour left.
Situation: Do not sit down on the floor or walk out. Ask your manager for a brief water drink or stretch break.
Worker says: "Sam, my legs are a bit stiff. Can I take 2 minutes to stretch and drink some water, please?"
Manager says: "Yes, take a quick drink and stretch your legs in the lobby. Thank you for asking!"
Dashed outlines indicate cutting borders. Ideal for paired verbal mock practice. Workplace Manners Lab
PART 2: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Decide together: what is the best choice? These cards do not give the answer!
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🥤
Topic: Safety & Initiative
The Situation: You are carrying items in a grocery aisle and see a bottle of sticky juice has spilled onto the floor. No one else has noticed it yet, and people are walking nearby.
Class Discussion Questions:
🖥️
Topic: Remaining Calm
The Situation: You are helping a customer checkout at the store register. Suddenly, the entire computer screen goes black and turns completely off. There is a line of 3 customers waiting.
Class Discussion Questions:
🔊
Topic: Self-Advocacy & Sensories
The Situation: Today, the cleaning crew is vacuuming nearby, and loud music is playing overhead. The noise is very loud, and your head is starting to hurt. It is making it hard to focus on your task.
Class Discussion Questions:
📦
Topic: Safety Boundaries
The Situation: A coworker asks you to lift a very heavy wooden crate of library books with them. You try to lift it, but you realize it is far too heavy for you to lift safely without hurting your back.
Class Discussion Questions:
These discussion cards promote critical thinking and active communication. Workplace Manners Lab
PART 2: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Decide together: what is the best choice? These cards do not give the answer!
PAGE 4 OF 5
🚌
Topic: Punctuality & Communication
The Situation: You are riding the bus to your shift, but the bus is stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. You check your watch and realize you will be about 15 minutes late to work.
Class Discussion Questions:
👔
Topic: Uniforms & Integrity
The Situation: You arrive at your restaurant job, walk into the breakroom, and realize you forgot to bring your official restaurant apron and name tag from home today.
Class Discussion Questions:
👥
Topic: Cooperation & Responsibility
The Situation: You are assigned to stock boxes with a partner. However, your teammate keeps walking away to talk to friends, leaving you to do almost all of the heavy lifting alone.
Class Discussion Questions:
😠
Topic: Dealing with Difficult Clients
The Situation: A customer approaches you and speaks in a very loud, angry voice because the store is out of paper towels. They sound very frustrated with you directly.
Class Discussion Questions:
These discussion cards promote critical thinking and active communication. Workplace Manners Lab
PART 2: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Decide together: what is the best choice? These cards do not give the answer!
PAGE 5 OF 5
🥱
Topic: Motivation & Focus
The Situation: Your task is to shred stacks of old paperwork for three hours. It is very repetitive and boring, and you are starting to lose focus and feel sleepy.
Class Discussion Questions:
📅
Topic: Work-Life Balance
The Situation: You look at the weekly schedule board and see your name is written down for Thursday. However, you have school on Thursdays and cannot work during those hours.
Class Discussion Questions:
💻
Topic: Handling Tech Issues
The Situation: You sit down to clock in for your shift on the work computer, but you cannot remember your password. After typing it in three times, the screen says: "Account Locked."
Class Discussion Questions:
💵
Topic: Cashiering & Integrity
The Situation: You hand change back to a customer after they buy some juice. The customer smiles and says, "Oh, I think you gave me back $5 too much change by accident."
Class Discussion Questions:
These discussion cards promote critical thinking and active communication. Workplace Manners Lab
If a peer takes a cart you were using:
"I'm using this cart to move my boxes."
Your calm "I" Statement:
"I was using this cart to finish my stocking task. Can we share it?"
Keeping your voice calm solves the problem twice as fast! Self-Care & Well-being →
SELF-CARE Managing Your Well-being
To do a great job, you must take care of yourself! It is essential to speak up if you feel:
🤮 Feeling Sick
🥵 Overheated
🤕 In Pain
🤯 Overwhelmed
If you feel too dizzy to stock shelves:
"I'm feeling very dizzy standing up."
Your request:
"Excuse me, Sam. I am feeling dizzy. May I please sit in the breakroom for five minutes?"
Telling your manager about safety and health prevents accidents! Review Game →
GAME TIME Let's Choose!
Speaking up respectfully for ourselves!
🤕
Hiding that your foot hurts and carrying heavy boxes.
NO - TELL YOUR BOSS!
📝
Saying "I work best when tasks are written down."
YES - GOOD ADVOCACY!
🤬
Getting angry when a peer takes a cart you used.
NO - SPEAK CALMLY!
👍
Saying "Thank you, I will practice that" when corrected.
YES - PERFECT ATTITUDE!
Incredible! You have completed the Workplace Readiness Academy slides! End of Quest • Level Up!
Read the workplace scenario, think of your answer, and draft it on the lines below.
PAGE 3 OF 3
👍
Your manager tells you: "You need to wipe tables faster." Write down a calm, professional response:
📝
You find it hard to remember verbal instructions. Write down how you respectfully ask your boss for a written list of tasks:
🧘
A coworker takes a cart you were using without asking. Write down a calm "I" statement to solve this together:
⏳
The store lights are very bright and vacuum noises are hurting your ears. Write down how you respectfully ask your manager for a short stretch break:
White response blocks are completely blank to allow comfortable student handwriting. Self Advocacy Lab
