A school district event on Thursday taught students what to expect when they begin applying for jobs.

Almost three dozen employers and industry organizations lined the ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront, where seniors who take career and technical education classes in each of the city’s three public high schools lined up for “interviews.”

“It’s an opportunity for students to sharpen their interview skills during mock interviews with representatives from business and industry,” explained Gail Bess, the district’s career and technical education coordinator.

Before the event, which was held for the 24th time, teachers worked with students to craft their resumes. In their classrooms, they also practiced interviewing, Bess added.

“For many students, this is the first opportunity they are face-to-face with people from business and industry,” Bess said. “They call them ‘real people.’”

Most of the Career Expo’s business participants had returned after supporting the event in previous years. But six were new, including Turntine Insurance Agency.

“I’ve been really impressed with how prepared they are,” agency owner Angela Turntine said. “The teachers they have been working with have really raised the expectations, and they have lived up to it.”

Turntine said she kept a copy of one student’s resume. “I’m definitely going to follow up with her after she graduates,” she said. “I’m interested in her becoming a part of our team.”

One King’s Fork High School student, Bryan Gray, said he’s mostly interested in joining the military. But he interviewed with Newport News’ Liebherr Mining Equipment, he said.

“My mom’s boyfriend works there, and the person who interviewed me knows him,” Gray said.

The students were given a list of expo participants before the event so they could do some homework and select their interviewers, Bess said.

“They usually get at least four interviews,” she said.

Practice booths were also set up, where members of the CTE Advisory Council, which organized the event, grilled students.

“A lot of the businesses have been very impressed overall, not just with the students, but the whole event and the purpose of the event,” Bess said. “So I’m sure they will continue to be a part of it.”