Two members of our Diocesan Team volunteered at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College last week, to help students practice mock interviews. The aim was to help the students, particularly those who are looking to go into apprenticeships or work straight from school, practice with a professional rather than with one of their teachers – in a normal interview, you’re unlikely to know your interviewer!
Cathy Laird, Operations and Governance Manager, and Jo Waller, PA to the Diocesan Secretary, spent Thursday morning conducting the interviews for Year 12 students, through a scheme run by the careers department. Each year the college asks local businesses to donate staff time to support the mock interviews, with students signing up to participate.
Over the course of the morning, Cathy and Jo saw nine students between them, asking standard interview questions, alongside questions specific to the industry each student was looking to enter into. For example, if a student wanted to get an engineering apprenticeship, the interview was conducted as if an engineering apprenticeship were on offer.
For the majority of students, this was their first experience of a professional interview. Some were therefore understandably nervous – but hopefully through doing practice interviews like this the real thing won’t seem as bad!
Cathy Laird
Feedback was offered on each student’s CV as well as their interview skills, and the students were helped to develop examples of their transferrable skills. Cathy and Jo also offered tips on interview technique such as the importance of dressing smartly and engaging with the interviewer through eye contact and active listening. At the end of each interview, the students then had the opportunity to ask the volunteers questions about the world of work.
Both Cathy and Jo thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were delighted to share their wisdom and experience. “Going through the application and interview process is never easy, especially for the first time, so it was great to be able to help a bit. I just wish someone had told me what I know now when I was 17!” said Cathy.
