Local Business Volunteers Join Lower Sixth For Employment Skills Enrichment Event
On the final Friday of the Epiphany term, the Lower Sixth spent an engaging afternoon with a host of business volunteers as part of an employment skills enrichment event.
Members of the local business community visited the School to act as ‘real’ interviewers, giving the pupils an opportunity to be totally immersed in the interview experience. This follows on from an earlier session pupils had attended, in which they were given a presentation on how to be powerful in the interview process, addressing skills such as how to prepare and present themselves, plus strategies for giving strong answers to competency-based questions.
Pupils were interviewed under a scenario wherein they would be applying for a gap year within the School, enabling them to interview for subjects they were passionate about such as roles in sport and music. Working from a set of open questions, the interviewers enabled the pupils to develop conversations and present the best version of themselves. Judith Baker, one of the volunteers, described it as a “Phenomenally worthwhile event,” explaining that when entering the workforce “the transition is enormous; those of us in the workplace should give a little back and help them make that transition”. George Bunting, a fellow volunteer and Chair of the Old Wellensians, said it was a “Fascinating experience with some really bright kids”.
Graham Norris, Director of Coaching, Mentoring and Student Leadership, organised the event to support pupils with their professional development and prepare them for the working world. They won’t have to wait long before putting their new abilities into practice however as interviews for head boy and head girl are taking place next term!
Members of the local business community visited the School to act as ‘real’ interviewers, giving the pupils an opportunity to be totally immersed in the interview experience. This follows on from an earlier session pupils had attended, in which they were given a presentation on how to be powerful in the interview process, addressing skills such as how to prepare and present themselves, plus strategies for giving strong answers to competency-based questions.
Pupils were interviewed under a scenario wherein they would be applying for a gap year within the School, enabling them to interview for subjects they were passionate about such as roles in sport and music. Working from a set of open questions, the interviewers enabled the pupils to develop conversations and present the best version of themselves. Judith Baker, one of the volunteers, described it as a “Phenomenally worthwhile event,” explaining that when entering the workforce “the transition is enormous; those of us in the workplace should give a little back and help them make that transition”. George Bunting, a fellow volunteer and Chair of the Old Wellensians, said it was a “Fascinating experience with some really bright kids”.
Graham Norris, Director of Coaching, Mentoring and Student Leadership, organised the event to support pupils with their professional development and prepare them for the working world. They won’t have to wait long before putting their new abilities into practice however as interviews for head boy and head girl are taking place next term!
