On 15th November 2019, 200 year 11 students experienced a mock interview with a business volunteer. Volunteers came from a range of local businesses and organisations including Butlins, Wilmott Dixon, Next Steps South West, EDF, Magna Housing and Job Centre Plus.
Students had a 15 minute interview, including time to receive feedback and were given a written feedback with the things they did well and areas they could improve on their interview skills.
One student said:
“It was really useful to have someone spend time with me one to one asking what I wanted to do. My interviewer worked in construction, which is what I want to do, so it was ideal”
Andy Kingston-James, a business volunteer who runs his own HR business said:
“The students asked some really thought-provoking questions. They were very inquisitive and interested to find out what I find difficult about my job and whether I’d conducted any challenging interviews.”
“Some students started a bit nervous, some were really confident straight away, but once you sat them down and started talking you could see them all coming out of their shell. They were very polite and grateful to have the opportunity.”
“I interviewed a student who I mentored last year, he said how the mentoring had helped him and to see the difference in confidence was amazing.”
Another student said:
“It was really insightful. Rather than being sat behind a desk being taught something, I got to experience it and that was really useful.”
Jess Cartwright, a Nuclear Engineer at EDF energy, is an ex-pupil of West Somerset College. She enjoyed the opportunity to come back and give something back to the current students:
“The students were all trying hard and engaged with the process, which is really nice. I’ve told a couple of them that I used to come here and they were surprised. It’s given them some awareness of what you can go on to do.”
“There have been some great questions. Some of them were very nervous at the start but they have all been positive. As an interviewer you want them to do well and I think they realise that and it helps them build their confidence.”
Deborah Eele, Head of Business Studies at West Somerset College, organised the day. She said:
“It takes a lot of planning to organise a day like this, getting the business volunteers and scheduling in the interviews for the students, but it’s worth it when you see the impact that it has on the students and their confidence levels.”
